Poll: Kid-friendly comic books/graphic novels?

[TheRiddler]

So, here's the deal. I have a 12-year-old kid sister who wants to know what comic books are good. However, my tastes in comics have always fallen more on the mature side. I can't think of much in my (admittedly meager) collection that I could just hand over to her. So, I was wondering if any of you guys have any suggestions.

I mean, it doesn't have to be blatantly kiddy. Just something that doesn't have any sexual content. Light swearing is fine. Romance is fine. Violence... use your own judgement. Nothing too gratuitous.

Thanks in advance.

PS: I also wanted to resolve a debate with a friend without wasting a whole thread. Thus, the poll. Personally, I prefer the term comic book. "Graphic novel" sounds sort of pretentious to me.

 

[sky14kemea]

I always thought Comic Books were different from Graphic Novels.

For instance, comic books are the thin ones, most of which have super heroes, etc. (I say most, I bet there's tons that don't have superheros, but I'm not a huge comic fan).

On the other hand, graphic novels usually refer to Manga[footnote]Them kids with their animeys and their mangos....[/footnote] or similar styled books, since they're more a book than a comic (By shape and sheer number of pages?).

If that's not true, then I guess I'd go with Comic Book too, just because it sounds less silly saying "comics" than it does saying "manga".

 

[shrekfan246]

Unfortunately the only graphic novels I've read to date are the Dreamkeepers series, a rather seldom-updated one currently sitting at three released volumes. I wouldn't say it's necessarily too graphic for younger audiences, but it does have some instances of relatively "mature" themes and graphic violence. Sorry I can't be more help.

But I have to agree with Sky, I don't really see comic books as the same thing as graphic novels. I'm not really one to get all uppity about classification, but to torture an analogy, I see graphic novels as being to comic books as films are to television serials. A graphic novel tells a more "full" story, occasionally split into multiple parts or with extra narrative branches that feature the same characters or universe, while a comic book is more bite-sized, something you follow on a weekly basis or whatever for a quick bit of thrill and enjoyment.

 

[Flutterguy]

The Scott Pilgrim one was actually quite good. Providing you have an interest in gaming, otherwise many jokes would fall flat. Although it was many years since I read it, it could be less kid friendly then I remember...

I used to read Marvel comics and random ones that showed up at a dollar store near my house which generally involved space travel and monster fighting. To be honest action comics like that bored me. Then at about 13 or 14 i started reading things like 'Johnny the Homicidal Maniac' and 'Fred the Possessed flower', I recommend avoiding these particular titles for your sister.

Honestly your best option, buy whatever graphic novels are cheap and accessible to you. Some of my favorites I bought for a dollar from a bargain store. Scott Pilgrim I bought before the movie-hype for only 5$. Word of warning: Beware of downloading digital copies of comics/comic reading programs. I got a crippling virus on the two I tried.

 

[Auberon]

Depending on the degree of sexuality, most of Sandman sans a few issues seem fine from my perspective (Calliope comes to mind first). I'm a sucker for Vertigo flagships though, which probably doesn't match kid perspective.

 

[molester jester]

Sandman, Sandman and more sandman, most of it is pretty youngster friendly, If your looking for cape stuff Daredevil has easily some of the best comic run's in history, Miller Brubaker Bendis and Waid each had fantastic runs, accessible and nothing to hardcore while at the same time being great stories.

 

[Tautology]

If she's into fantasy, I would recommend Bone. That is all the help I can be. Everything else I've read probably isn't suitable for a twelve year old girl.

 

[Nouw]

Graphic novel is a term made up who knows when and by whom but popularized by Will Eisner. I like to think that it's partly to do with avoiding the stigma comic books have and I can certainly understand why considering how hard he tried to defend and advance comic-books as a legitimate artform. I have sympathy and it's easier to understand the context when making making a comparison with something I'd call close enough as its equivalent, the videogame; it's difficult to justify comics as an artform to the masses when people are prejudiced and have negative connotations with the term. Hence, graphic novels such as Watchmen and Maus are for 'mature grown-ups' and comic-books like Batman and the Avengers are for 'immature kiddies.'

What distinguishes a graphic novel the most though of course is its format and the fact that they tell a more contained story. Graphic novels are the comic-equivalent of novels. The final product is clear but really any company can slap on the term 'graphic novel' in a collection of a limited series but that's not gonna change much is it? Hell, Watchmen is actually a 12-issue limited series but you'll rarely hear someone calling it a comic-book. It's just such a loose term used whenever companies see fit that it's become rather confusing. You'll have comics that were written for the graphic novel format such as Maus and you'll have comics that were written as part of a limited series then later on compiled together and re-published as a graphic novel.

It's just something I felt needed to be and addressed and personally I don't see any harm in it, in fact I'd love to see more comic-books strive to be taken seriously but as Neil Gaiman put it, "all of a sudden I felt like someone who'd been informed that she wasn't actually a hooker; that in fact she was a lady of the evening."

EDIT: Almost forgot a recommendation haha. Tell her to check out Anya's Ghost, a terrific read that's best experienced without any prior knowledge.

 

[Subbies]

Get Atomic Robo. It's witty, nicely drawn, kid friendly (but still for all ages), and has a time traveling Doctor Dinosaur bent on invading the world. You can't go wrong with a time traveling dinosaur. If you want to check it out, they did some free comics of it here [http://www.atomic-robo.com/free-comics/].

As for your poll, I prefer the term BD (bande dessiné). Comics sounds to specific to the super hero genre and Graphic Novel is way to pompous. Whereas bande dessiné (which means "drawn strip" from french) is more general and more descriptive.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

snip

Bone [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_(comics)]

The ultimate family friendly comic/ graphic novel. Get the version published by Scholastic, those are in color.

Seriously this is the best to get a youngin started. The story is good, but not overly sugary, it's mature (by younger standards) so won't insult the intelligence of a younger reader and the artwork is beautiful.

Spoiler

 

[Dansen]

The Scott Pilgrim one was actually quite good. Providing you have an interest in gaming, otherwise many jokes would fall flat. Although it was many years since I read it, it could be less kid friendly then I remember...

I used to read Marvel comics and random ones that showed up at a dollar store near my house which generally involved space travel and monster fighting. To be honest action comics like that bored me. Then at about 13 or 14 i started reading things like 'Johnny the Homicidal Maniac' and 'Fred the Possessed flower', I recommend avoiding these particular titles for your sister.

Honestly your best option, buy whatever graphic novels are cheap and accessible to you. Some of my favorites I bought for a dollar from a bargain store. Scott Pilgrim I bought before the movie-hype for only 5$. Word of warning: Beware of downloading digital copies of comics/comic reading programs. I got a crippling virus on the two I tried.

Scott pilgrim is far from kid friendly. Its not that a kid couldnt read it its just that there is just a lot in it a twelve year old wouldn't fully appreciate unti they were older.

Damn it, I was ninja'd. Bone is a excelent book that Im sure most kids would enjoy.

 

[ToastyMozart]

PS: I also wanted to resolve a debate with a friend without wasting a whole thread. Thus, the poll. Personally, I prefer the term comic book. "Graphic novel" sounds sort of pretentious to me.

I always just used it to refer to the book's form factor: The magazine type books are comics, while the digest issues get the Graphic Novel designation.

Also, I third the BONE Suggestion.

 

[Queen Michael]

About Sandman? I wouldn't recommend it to a kid. There are some scenes that definitely aren't kid-friendly, and it's not a good idea to only let the kid read it unless she gets to read all of it. It's no fun otherwise.

What I'd recommend is Runaways. You start with book one:

There are several good reasons to pick this one.

1. All the main characters are completely new, so there won't be any backstory to atch up on. There will be appearances by extablished heroes here and there, but you can tell her she doesn't need to know aver single character in order to enjoy it.

2. It's very well-written and also funny.

3. It's not the kind of thing that requires you to be a comics fan before you start reading it.

4. You don't need to read any of the cross-over stuff. There are a couple of cross-over specials. I've read both, and there's no need to read them. Reading the collected edition of the regular Runaways series is all you need to understand the series.

And concerning Bone, I fourth it. It's a great series. I'd recommend the balc-and-white omnibus; I prefer black-and-white. She might want color, though...

 

[Worgen]

Get the My Little Pony, graphic novels, those are awesome, there is also Girl Genius and that one is really awesome also.

 

[Muspelheim]

Depending on where you are, there will be loads of Donald Duck comics available. Trust me, they're wonderful, well worth having a go at.

They're not as vacuous as they seem, either. I recommend anything done by Don Rosa or Carl Barks the most. Well worth it, if you can find them. They are well written, and really does more with talking ducks than you'd think would be possible.

 

[ryderawsome]

DC has some good heroines in wonder woman and batgirl and the most mature they tend to get is innuendo, though I can understand if the costumes make it a little much. Likewise there are some insanely good X-men stories but they range from kiddy to really quite dark

 

[In Search of Username]

Yet another Bone suggestion from me. I'm drawing a blank on anything else though, most of what I read in terms of comics is fairly adult. That said, I don't really hold with the whole idea of sheltering kids from everything remotely explicit, so... Saga. ;D

 

[SoranMBane]

Mouse Guard, perhaps?

Spoiler

It's pretty much exactly what that cover makes it look like; a beautifully-illustrated fantasy series where anthropomorphic mice have to survive in a world full of much larger predators using medieval weaponry. Content-wise, there is a bit of blood, but nothing gory. In fact, I don't think this series even gets as violent as some of the stuff you'd read about in your average Redwall novel.

 

[friend called 'Five']

Mouse Guard, perhaps?

It's pretty much exactly what that cover makes it look like; a beautifully-illustrated fantasy series where anthropomorphic mice have to survive in a world full of much larger predators using medieval weaponry. Content-wise, there is a bit of blood, but nothing gory. In fact, I don't think this series even gets as violent as some of the stuff you'd read about in your average Redwall novel.

Here's another vote for Mouse Guard. My daughter and I both enjoyed reading Fall 1152.

 

[Raikas]

I'll throw another vote to both Bone and Mouse Guard. If she's into superhero books, Marvel has an "adventures" line that's basically more kid-friendly stories for their main characters.

I also wanted to resolve a debate with a friend without wasting a whole thread. Thus, the poll. Personally, I prefer the term comic book. "Graphic novel" sounds sort of pretentious to me.

I voted "other" because I use both to mean different things. I use "comic book" to mean the floppy monthly issues and "graphic novel" to mean the longer books (or collected issues) with a bound spine.