Saw this on Heidi’s Comics Beat:
“ICv2 ran a three-part interview with DC co-publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee which is, if not the most substantial comics business site-run interview with the duo ever, then the most comprehensive since the reboot. Brigid runs down all the high points but in case anyone missed it, here’s Part 1, Part 2 andPart 3. It covers everything from the obvious “Why ARE you doing this?” — to questions on mass market, digital, and so on.”
But late on in Heidi’s piece I saw this – the question:
In these new initiatives you’re undertaking, how is DC changing its approach to getting kids as comic customers?
And the answer from Dan Didio:
Right now we’re determining kids as being teenagers at this moment and that’s where our focus is with the New 52 books. But we’re also still publishing a kids line for 11 and younger, and that hasn’t changed at all. We continue to try to find ways to get those products into other marketplaces as well in order to get them into kids’ hands.
Well, that is a head in hands moment – one of the biggest comic companies decides they simply can’t really be that bothered to even think about anyone under 13.
After all, I don’t know anyone who got into comics as a pre-teen and stayed with comics for life. I’m just sat here open-mouthed at the insanity of that idea. It’s so much easily to sell stuff to children and convert them into long-term converts than it is to teens and above.
Sure, DC have a kids line, but would it be impossible to write the new DC Universe well enough to make it appeal to older children AND adults – you know, the way superhero comics used to be, when they had a bigger readership?
August 31st, 2011 at 10:10 pm
To be fair to DC they’re in a difficult position. If their existing fanbase gets a whiff of comics that are too young for them they’ll be off and there might not be enough new younger readers to make up for that. So instead they’re pitching the comics at young teens knowing that most of their adult readers won’t notice.
Anyway I suspect kids of 10 or 11 should still get a kick out of the comics – if they bother to buy them that is. Young kids like comics that they think are a little bit older for them and the Teen rating is still safe enough to exclude anything parents might be concerned about presumably.
August 31st, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Oh yes, absolutely Lew.
I’ve got no issue with DC making their comics look grown up and attracting existing readers, after all, that’s what we saw when we were kids.
My problem is that DC have effectively decided to give up even trying to make great comics for ALL ages, providing the sorts of stories that provide excitement for all.
They’ve managed to forget how it’s done and just chased the next “adult” theme.
To mix my media, and use the example of another genre medium…. superhero comics should have the appeal of Doctor Who. Unfortunately DC are making them like Torchwood.