Comic books for trick or treaters - rating question/thoughts

[slugbug]

I subscribe to about 18 comic titles direct from Marvel and DC. Last year I decided to try handing out some of these comics to kids on Halloween, to see how it went. You know, Superman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, etc. I gave the kids a choice of candy or comics. About half of them chose a comic instead of the candy. I also got positive remarks from a number of the parents, happy that their kids would be reading, and glad to see something other than candy being handed out.

This year I was going to do the same thing again, only I'm handing out snack size slim jims instead of candy. I've already bought the slim jims, and have about $50-$60 worth of them ready for trick or treating. I was also getting the comics ready when I remembered something that changed partway through the year.

Many of the titles I receive got a revised "T+" rating partway through the year. This seems to reflect some adult language and more adult themes that have crept into the comics since last year. I won't let my own kids read these, and now I'm thinking it probably wouldn't be appropriate to hand these out to the kids for trick or treating either, which is a shame. (most of the same titles as last year, just a different age rating) I rather liked the idea of offering reading materials, and possibly helping introduce kids to comics, but giving a T+ comic to a kid half the teenage age probably isn't such a hot idea, and could make some parents complain.

Most of the ~150 kids that came by last year were between 4 and 12 years old, with the average age probably around 7-10. Because people can read them online (or in trades), there no longer seems to be much of any market for recent comics anyway, so I thought of this as a great way to "recycle" my comics. It also helped keep our Halloween budget down. Since I'm a writer, and my wife is a librarian, giving kids something to read made a lot of sense for us.

I'm at a complete loss as to how we might salvage this, and am hoping someone out there might see a possibility that I've overlooked. Anyone? I feel stupid for waiting until the last minute, and then being reminded of this just now. Easiest resolution would be to buy more comics, but I've already spent our Halloween budget on the slim jims, so that isn't an option.

Thanks for your suggestions!

[Scampsters]

Hang on erm. So it was fine to hand them out when there wasnt a rating sticker on them and now it is not right ?

Ratings are a rediculos way for parents who dont pay enough attention to what their kids are doing to make them feel better about their parenting skills.

Thank God these literary nazis cant force book vendors who sell 'the classics' to have to add a rating to book covers. Whats next ratings on art exhibitions and museum exhibits.

[marg_fan]

You are right not giving out the T+ comics to the trick or treaters. It is the only responsible thing to do.

While it has been years since I've walked into a comic book store, they used to have a section of low cost, older comic books. You could buy four or five for a dollar. If that is out of your budget, perhaps a local shop might make a deal with you. Offer to affix their business cards to the comics that you hand out if you can get them at a discount (or even for free). Maybe that could help generate traffic to their store.

[Maleficent]

Hang on erm. So it was fine to hand them out when there wasnt a rating sticker on them and now it is not right ?

Ratings are a rediculos way for parents who dont pay enough attention to what their kids are doing to make them feel better about their parenting skills.

Thank God these literary nazis cant force book vendors who sell 'the classics' to have to add a rating to book covers. Whats next ratings on art exhibitions and museum exhibits.

What a load of crap. Ratings are helpful tools. You think movies shouldn't be rated, either? TV shows? Video games?

You think every parent should watch every single movie and show, play every video game, read every book/comic before their kid does to see if it's acceptable or not? Hell, that'd suck up all your free time, and then some! :lmao:

When you have kids, maybe you'll gain some better perspective on stuff like this.

You are right not giving out the T+ comics to the trick or treaters. It is the only responsible thing to do.

:iagree:


While it has been years since I've walked into a comic book store, they used to have a section of low cost, older comic books. You could buy four or five for a dollar. If that is out of your budget, perhaps a local shop might make a deal with you. Offer to affix their business cards to the comics that you hand out if you can get them at a discount (or even for free). Maybe that could help generate traffic to their store.

That's a good idea! If this won't work, just hand out the slim jims and skip the comics this year.

[Scampsters]

If you cant devote 100% of your time to your child maybe you shouldnt be having kids.

[Maleficent]

If you cant devote 100% of your time to your child maybe you shouldnt be having kids.

Actually, that's not true at all. You have to have some time for yourself, otherwise you'll go crazy.

If you spent 100% of your time with your child, you'd quickly burn out. My son's pediatrician talked with me in length about this when he was a toddler, because it happened to me, as it does to a lot of moms, especially in the first few years. They spend all their time taking care of the baby/child, and have no time for themselves. It affects their mood, their disposition. They become more irritable and unhappy, etc. Which then makes them worse mothers, not better.

It's important for every parent to have a regular break.

Do some research on the subject perhaps, and maybe you'll be better informed.


Could you do your job every waking second without ever having a break? Would that make you a better employee?

[Scampsters]

Actually, that's not true at all. You have to have some time for yourself, otherwise you'll go crazy.

If you spent 100% of your time with your child, you'd quickly burn out. My son's pediatrician talked with me in length about this when he was a toddler, because it happened to me, as it does to a lot of moms, especially in the first few years. They spend all their time taking care of the baby/child, and have no time for themselves. It affects their mood, their disposition. They become more irritable and unhappy, etc. Which then makes them worse mothers, not better.

It's important for every parent to have a regular break.

Do some research on the subject perhaps, and maybe you'll be better informed.


Could you do your job every waking second without ever having a break? Would that make you a better employee?
Please provide links to studies that prove this otherwise its just speculation at best ;)

[Maleficent]

Please provide links to studies that prove this otherwise its just speculation at best ;)

There's plenty of stuff on it. Ask any pediatrician.

http://family.go.com/parenting/pkg-back-to-school/article-717881-mom-needs-a-break-t/

http://hope-wilbanks.hubpages.com/hub/Why-Every-Mom-Needs-A-Break

http://www.babycenter.com/0_indulgences-how-mothers-stay-sane_3421.bc

http://www.babycenter.com/0_taking-care-of-yourself-during-your-babys-first-months_10343197.bc

Check babycenter - it's a great resource for parenting. They have tons of different experts, pediatricians and doctors to answer questions. I'm sure there's more, that's just what I found in a couple minutes.


It's not just "speculation." Ask just about any parent you know. You'd know that too, if you had kids.


And you didn't answer my question: could you devote 100% of your time to your job without a break? Would that make you a better employee?

[Iaaaiws]

If you cant devote 100% of your time to your child maybe you shouldnt be having kids.
:iagree:

People who do things without their kids are just plain selfish. How can a parent even think about having a job while raising kids? The right thing is for both parents to quit working and spend every waking moment with their kids.

And when the kids are in school there is no reason for the parents not to be right there in the classroom with them.

[Maleficent]

:iagree:

People who do things without their kids are just plain selfish. How can a parent even think about having a job while raising kids? The right thing is for both parents to quit working and spend every waking moment with their kids.

And when the kids are in school there is no reason for the parents not to be right there in the classroom with them.

:lol2:

Oohhh, if we do that, we're going to have to raise taxes. A LOT. We'll have to make every single classroom 2 to 3 times bigger to accommodate the parents. Not to mention stocking each classroom with another 30+ adult-sized chairs.

[420]

I'd probably refrain from handing these out to small kids. Now if they were my kids coming to your door, I'd tell you to go right ahead. The way I swear, I am sure my kids have heard far, far worse.

[thearteest]

Please provide links to studies that prove this otherwise its just speculation at best ;)

I know of an excellent reason that is just plain common sense and have witnessed it first hand. A very good friend of mine felt the need to devote every waking minute to her toddler. She had only been a handful of places without him by the time he was about 3 1/2. Then she had to have surgery and was in the hospital for 4 days. The trauma of separation anxiety that this poor kid experienced was horrible! He cried for her the entire time she was gone. Because her immune system was very compromised, he could only see her through a window, which made things worse. Children need to understand that the vast majorities of periods of separation are temporary and that while they miss their parent(s) sometimes it is unavoidable.