Justice League Comics for Children
Comics for Kids - Justice League Unlimited Graphic Novels
Jun 9, 2008
Comic Books are Just for Kids, Right?
Wrong. According to an LA Times article in 2001, the median age of a comic book reader is 25. With that older audience has come more mature story lines. This has grown to the point that even DC Comics, owner of such kid friendly heroes as Superman and Wonder Woman, has begun a series of progressively darker stories, beginning with Identity Crisis in 2004. The story detailed rape, brainwashing, murder and the emotional breakdown of a superhero.
These are not the Superfriends, and with Marvel Comics’ superheroes constantly fighting each other - see their Civil War (2006) and World War Hulk (2007) story lines - there seems to be little that a young child can read.
Can Kids Read Anything in Comics?
Of course! Batman and Superman are on television all the time, in a child friendly format. These shows have been translated into comic book format since 2005. Collected in graphic novel (see “book”) format is Justice League Unlimited, or JLU for short.
JLU tells stories in a short, fun and safe style that can highlight attributes such as friendship and courage. The art is in Bruce Timm’s (creator of the Justice League Unlimited cartoon) accessible style and the familiar heroes are a big draw for kids.
Superheroes Teach?
In Nuts and Bolts (from JLU Volume 3: Champions of Justice), the android Red Tornado goes haywire due to a villain reprogramming him. Only the courage and loyalty of his friend, the armor clad Steel, frees him from that control, as Steel risks his life to safely shut Red Tornado down rather than destroy him.
In Castle Perilous (from JLU Volume 2: World’s Greatest Heroes) the Justice League, with Superman, go back in time to help King Arthur. There, one of the lesser known heroes learns to believe in herself and realize that there is strength within everyone. This is only in two stories, and every single tale tries to leave something behind, even if it's as simple as always having courage.
Do either of those lessons sound like something a parent would want their children to learn? Since the stories are told within the context of an adventure, most kids will learn without realizing it. These can be given along with DVDs of the cartoons, in order to help them give reading a chance. JLU is not only a safe, but it’s a great introduction to reading.
 |
