Comicscape - April 27, 2005

By: Kurt Amacker
Date: Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Before we dive in, there's a new, official-type e-mail address you can reach me at. You can still get me at kurtamacker@yahoo.com, but now comicscape@cinescape.com is up and it comes directly to me. It mostly just makes me look slightly official when I'm bugging comic companies and creators for interviews and free schwag. But, feel free to use either address. I'm going to try to get better about answering personal e-mail people send me. If I haven't written you back before, I'm sorry and I swear that's going to change. For next week, send me your thoughts on the presence of comic books in the classroom. I don't have kids of my own, and I really want to hear from some parents about this. If you want to skip ahead to the listings click here.

Now, close your eyes for just a moment. Wait, you can't read with your eyes closed, can you? Forget that. Just imagine for a minute that you are in the worst place in the world: elementary school. Amid eight or nine hours of bullies, bad lunch, and clock watching, your teacher hands you a most unlikely glimpse into the outside world a comic book. And, not only is she giving you a comic book, you're going to learn from it. School doesn't suck quite as much now, does it? This week, on a very special episode of COMICSCAPE, we're (well, I'm, anyway) going to talk about the increasing presence of comic books in the classroom. Yes, this is going to be one of those head scratchin', book learnin' columns, so if you want to skip to the listings, click here. For those of you that stick with me, I'll try to keep it concise and funny. Just remember: I could always talk about comic books and their expression of the existential needs of the gay community (and with Northstar back from the dead, what better time!?), so you're getting off easy.

The mainstream public's perception of comic books is definitely a far cry from the 1950s, when Dr. Freidrich Wertham wrote SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENT and tried to convince a nation that comics especially the E.C. horror titles were going to turn their children into a generation of psychopaths (he'd probably sh-t his pants if he were alive to play GRAND THEFT AUTO). For those that don't know, the congressional hearings that followed resulted in the voluntarily-formed Comics Code Authority. Now, because of the glut of comic movies, "adult comics" like WATCHMEN and MAUS, and the greater evil of video games and the Internet have made the nation's parents less spiteful of our beloved sequential art (well, some, anyway). Watching Batman beat the hell out of drug dealers seems downright wholesome compared to playing a game where you can get a hooker to refill your life meter and then run her over in a stolen car to get your money back, doesn't it?

A few school systems have already incorporated comic books into their curriculum, and there are other programs available that any individual teacher or school system can request of purchase. I'm not going to bury you in details about each of the curriculums, because chances are you don't care. But, I'll give you the cliffs notes version so you have a general idea of what I'm talking about. As of last year, the Maryland Department of Education launched several pilot programs in different school districts. The program includes incorporating high-caliber stuff like BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS into the regular reading regiment, as well as having students create their own comics (must...not...mock...children's...efforts). In other cases, the comics are just used as general teaching instruments, asking students to define words they read (other than "BAM," "KAPOW," and "#$*@!"). Similarly, the New York Comic Museum has launched a program in 10 schools called CHALLENGING OBJECTIVE MINDS: AN INSTRUCTIONAL COMICBOOK SERIES, (yes, it's C.O.M.I.C.S.; quit trying to piece it together). The rest of the schools not involved in the launch can purchase the program for a flat $50. The program was designed by Dan Tandarich, a comic fan that also teaches fifth grade at a public school in Brooklyn and sits on the board of trustees for the aforementioned comic museum. Tandarich's impetus to design the program (besides his love of men in tights beating each other) was the decline in literacy he noticed in the classroom. Frankly, he's right and it's scary.

I'll just come out with it: my gut reaction is that using comics in the classroom is a good idea. Granted, I wouldn't have third-graders reading THE PUNISHER, but I think sequential art has long been spat upon by, well, everyone, and it's high time our beleaguered and beloved art form gets the respect it deserves. But, allow me to indulge the naysayers. I know the greatest objections to using comics in the classroom and, indeed, comic books in general, is that they're viewed as junk reading that stand in the way of reading real books. I agree that reading is one of the best things you can do with your time and that it's extraordinarily important to encourage children to read actual books (you know, for fun), but I don't think comics are what's killing literacy these days. If you want to know what's doing that, look at the machine in front of you, and look at the one that's probably plugged into the input jack in your DVD player (sigh...the video game system). Beating up comic books for distracting from regular books is stupid. Reading comics is still reading your eyes are moving and your mind is working. It's still an engaging, imaginative experience that beats electronic entertainment any day. Besides that, you have plenty of time between when you learn to read and the day you die to read whatever the hell you want. I read comics and books, and I'll continue to do so as long as my eyes work. After that, some poor bastard will have to read aloud to me.

One notable source for comics in the classroom is a program Marvel and its subsidiary Cover Concepts recently launched called DO YOUR OWN THING. This is a six-week program that features the Fantastic Four in which students from grades second through fourth can get a free MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR comic (obviously, aimed at younger readers). It includes a teacher guide that offers six weeks of educational activities based on the Fantastic Four and derived from the issue itself. It also features a contest that students can enter by writing a 200 word essay about what their "thing" is (pun intended). They're in essence supposed to discuss something they like that makes them an individual. The prizes are a bunch of Fantastic Four merchandise and comic books. I can only assume that the Frank Castle PUNISH YOUR ENEMIES program is in the works, but don't quote me on that.

Cover Concepts was kind enough to send me a copy of the comic book and the teacher guide, as well as answering my many questions about the program. Quotes from Cover Concepts are provided by Robert Steffens, the company's general manager. First, a bit of background: Cover Concepts is a subsidiary of Marvel that provides free "curriculum enhancements" and plain old school supplies featuring characters from Marvel, as well as the Ninja Turtles, American Idol (shudder), and an assortment of professional athletes. A teacher just needs to contact the company, and they get free stuff. I can't argue with free stuff for schools. Prior to acquiring Cover Concepts, Marvel didn't really have an in-school outreach program like this, so this is all a relatively new front for the company (though this isn't the first school program the two have done together).

The Fantastic Four comic the students receive is a bit silly, but that's to be expected, as it's aimed at children. Despite the chuckles I got out of reading such life-affirming lessons from Sue Storm as "Learning a new skill can be difficult but it can also be fun!" my amusement shouldn't register as a complaint. It's for kids, so I don't expect to see Daredevil carving in Bullseye's forehead with a piece of glass or Frank Castle executing underbosses at close range. Still, "Stretching is always important when you exercise!" (again from Sue Storm), is pretty funny. The comic also features advertisements for comic subscriptions and merchandise, including those Thing foam rubber gloves and feet (that poor kid is going to regret that picture one day).

All hilarity aside, I've got mixed feelings about the DO YOUR OWN THING program. I do think the idea of teaching comic books as a legitimate medium is great, and I can't fault anyone that encourages individualism and reading for pleasure (as students are encouraged to do in a message from Joe Quesada at the start of the comic). The lessons in the teacher guide are a mixture of elementary science experiments (lifting an ice cube with a string after pouring salt on it), character-building exercises ("Discuss how [the Thing's] sense of humor is a sign that he faces challenges bravely."), research about the science behind the fiction, and some stuff that's kind of frivolous ("Ask students to come up with ideas for super-powers and share their ideas in class."). All in all, it's not a bad supplement if a teacher decided to pursue the subjects presented therein thoroughly and not just skim over them. As Robert Steffen told me, "The teachers guide is set up in a way that allows teachers to pick and choose individual elements. Each of which is not reliant on the others. In essence the teachers can use as little or as much as they wish, and even modify it to their individual needs."

And, according to Robert, the kids seem to like it. One teacher told him, "Several of my 'hard to reach' students came to life when I told them that we would be having a lesson using comic books today. They got right to work and were very, very enthusiastic." He also told me, "...I recently attended a principals' conference in Baltimore and it was very rewarding to have principals stop by our booth thanking us for the projects that we were promoting, which they had recently received in their schools. Every principal that stopped by with such a story (roughly 25 in total) said that the feedback on the program was [great.]"

The principals like it, the teachers like it, and the kids are bound to like it, so what's the problem? Robert told me, "Our goal is to provide sponsored supplies and educational supplements that teachers find useful." There's a key word in there that's not sitting well with me: sponsored. Now, I know someone from Cover Concepts or Marvel is probably reading this, so hear me out before you assume I'm some left-wing, anti-corporate nutjob (far from it, actually). Sponsored means paid for by advertisers. This is a growing problem in school systems in the United States. A lot of school districts receive money from companies to incorporate their products into the curriculum. This includes such "curriculum enhancements" as using M&Ms in math class, and sponsoring events where kids have to wear red and form the word "Coke" on the field. Corporations have infiltrated one of the few spaces where kids were formerly unexposed to advertisements. I really don't want to get off on this tangent, but the problem with this should be clear enough. School is not a place for advertisers to target consumers.

I asked Robert if he saw DO YOUR OWN THING as a purely altruistic venture or if Marvel and Cover Concepts saw it as an opportunity to influence current and future buying habits. He answered, "The sponsors that we work with are providing schools with valuable materials that otherwise would have to be paid for by the schools, kids or teachers. Or in lesser funded schools not available at all. We also, have a teachers' advisory board and a school communications manager that oversees every project for relevance and appropriateness. Moreover, Marvel stories are often morality plays, think Spider-Man 'with great power comes great responsibility'. Accordingly we believe our characters can have a positive influence on kids, and can help teachers teach concepts that are difficult to get across."

Robert hit on a few important aspects of DO YOUR OWN THING that are different from what Coca-Cola and Mars have done. First, the stuff from Cover Concepts is free (and, as he mentioned earlier, the amount of time spent with the materials is at the teachers' discretion). Second, what Marvel is ultimately selling is far more constructive than Coke or what have you. I can't argue with anyone that tries to make reading more enticing (well, except for LEFT BEHIND, but whatever). I think it's pretty obvious that, at least in their methodology, Cover Concepts and Marvel are doing something fairly positive. But, there's a small problem.

There's a 900 lbs. gorilla sitting in the column I haven't mentioned yet: the upcoming movie, THE FANTASTIC FOUR. I can't help but notice the ten pages of advertisements (including the back cover) for Marvel merchandise, including several Fantastic Four movie tie-ins. This is my biggest complaint with the entire package what do Spider-Man boxing shorts have to do with encouraging kids to read and to express themselves as individuals? I asked Robert about if the program has any intentional connection with the Fantastic Four movie, and he replied, "In a roundabout way, yes. Because of the film, the Fantastic Four...[are] what everyone is excited about. The Fantastic Four are so well-suited to school lessons. They are a family of astronauts led by a super-smart scientist, Mr. Fantastic...[Their] world centers around math and science. Moreover, Ben Grimm...also affords the opportunity to teach a social lesson. Kids get to know and love Ben throughout the comic, giving teachers the tool to teach their students about tolerance and not judging people by their appearance."

I've worked in public relations before. The main thrust of the field is not to advertise to people so much as it is to keep your company in the good graces of both the public and other companies. This isn't accomplished quite as directly as advertising, but can be done through free programs like DO YOUR OWN THING that influence consumer opinion. At the very least, what Robert said is true the choice of the Fantastic Four (vice some other character) is a result of the upcoming movie. And yet, I find it somewhat dubious that there is no promotion intended whatsoever.

But, I have to wonder if that's really such a bad thing in light of the positive aspects of the program. We're being advertised at all the time. If you see a guy with a band t-shirt on or hell, just about anything with a name brand, you're being targeted. A free market economy is fueled by people buying things. In order to buy them, we usually have to know about them first hence, advertisements. Popular culture (hence, consumer culture) is all around us, and it's virtually impossible to insulate anyone, particularly children, from it. Besides that, I want people to go see THE FANTASTIC FOUR, because I want to see comic adaptations do well so the studios make more. I suppose I'd rather see kids playing with Marvel toys than GRAND THEFT AUTO, but I still have trouble seeing what Fantastic Four action figures have to do with fostering good reading habits. Regardless, Cover Concepts and Marvel are still trying to encourage something constructive and I applaud them for that. But, I think I could do without the toy advertisements.

I'm in favor of incorporating comics into the classroom. Reading for pleasure has been on the decline for a while now, and not just among children. Dan Tandarich and others like him see comics as an opportunity to get through to kids and try to pry them away from the Xbox (I can't believe that spell check autocorrected that word) and Internet porn. I'm glad someone's taking sequential art seriously and bringing into schools is really the next step. However, I just hope that in the long run, the focus doesn't move from reading to buying.


NEW THIS WEEK

By Kurt Amacker

DARK HORSE

AKIRA VOL 3 TP$24.95
"Kanadaaaaa!"

CLUB 9 VOL 3 TP (RES) $15.95

MICHAEL CHABON PRESENTS ADV O/T ESCAPIST #6 $8.95
The book this came from THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND KLAY -- is really good, so I don't know why I'm not reading this. Brain damage, I suppose.

NATHAN NEVER #3 (Of 6) (O/A)$4.95

NATHAN NEVER #6 (Of 6) (O/A)$4.95

STAR WARS EMPIRE #30 $2.99
If you're like me and you wanted the Empire to win, this is your book.

STAR WARS EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH #4 $2.99
I really don't get why they release this as a trade and a miniseries at the same time.

STAR WARS GENERAL GRIEVOUS #2 (OF 4) $2.99
Next up: STAR WARS: HAMMERHEAD!

STAR WARS REPUBLIC #75 $2.99

Jeez, how many are their going to be?

SUPERMAN VS ALIENS #1 (Of 3) (O/A)$4.95
I'd really rather read JIMMY OLSEN VS ALIENS, but this'll do.

USAGI YOJIMBO #44 (O/A)$2.99

DC COMICS


ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #639$2.50

AUTHORITY REVOLUTION #7 (OF 12) (MR)$2.99

BATGIRL #63$2.50

BATMAN #638 SECOND PTG$2.25
After months of speculation, DC finally brings back the man, the legend, the Robin nobody wanted: Jason Todd.

BATMAN #639$2.25
I haven't been this excited about this book since Jeff Loeb was writing it a while back.

BATMAN BLIND JUSTICE TP NEW PTG$14.99

BATMAN COVER TO COVER HC$39.99
Does Batgirl come with it or something? That's a bit pricey.

BATMAN SCARECROW TALES TP$19.99

CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #8$2.25
And in the "Comics Destined for the Quarter Bin" category, we have...

CATWOMAN #42$2.50

CITY OF TOMORROW #1 (OF 6) (MR)$2.99
But I want the city today!!!

DAY OF VENGEANCE #1 (OF 6)$2.50
Second miniseries in the COUNTDOWN TO INFINITE CRISIS epic. This time, the Spectre kicks some ass.

DOOM PATROL #11$2.50
ELFQUEST THE GRAND QUEST VOL 8 TP$9.99
Who votes for an ELFQUEST VS THE KEEBLER ELVES crossover this summer?

FLASH #221$2.25
Whenever I hear "the Flash," I can't help but think of some guy in a crusty trench coat hanging around an elementary school waiting for kids to wonder by.

FOURTH POWER TP (MR)$14.99

GREEN ARROW CITY WALLS TP$12.99

HELLBLAZER #207 (MR)$2.75
John Constantine gets dragged back to hell by Nergal's daughter, where he's forced to confront Keanu Reeves. Let the beating commence.

HUMAN TARGET #21 (MR)$2.99

IDENTITY CRISIS FINAL PRINTING #7 (OF 7)$3.99
It would've been nice if this book were weekly the first time it came out, but what the hell. You might as well read what all the hype was about.

LEGEND #3 (OF 4) (MR)$5.99

LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #5$2.99
Get this book before everyone finds out how good it is and the back issues get expensive. Trust me on this one.

LOSERS #23 (MR)$2.99

OTHERWORLD #2 (OF 12) (MR)$2.99

RICHARD DRAGON #12$2.50

ROBO HUNTER DAY OF THE DROIDS TP $14.99

SLEEPER SEASON TWO #11 (OF 12) (MR)$2.99

SOLO #4$4.99

SUPERMAN BATMAN #19$2.99
Supergirl stand-alone story. Whee.

TEEN TITANS GO #18$2.25
I wish this book would go.

TENRYU THE DRAGON CYCLE VOL 1 TP $9.99

WILD GIRL #6 (OF 6)$2.99

WONDER WOMAN #215$2.25
Wonderful.

IMAGE


86 VOLTZ DEAD GIRL ONE SHOT $5.95

BATTLE OF THE PLANETS PRINCESS #6 (OF 6)$2.99

HUNTER KILLER CVR A SILVESTRI #2$2.99
The first couple of issues have been really good, so I'm kind of disappointed that they're resorted to the multiple cover ploy.

HUNTER KILLER CVR B LINSNER #2$2.99

INVINCIBLE #0$0.50
Wouldn't a #0 issue not occupy physical space by definition?

LULLABY WISDOM SEEKER #2 (OF 4)$2.95

PACT #1 (OF 4)$2.99

PVP #16$2.95

PVP REPLAY SGN #1 $14.95

RISING STARS VOL 3 FIRE & ASH TP$19.99
J. Michael Straczynski's dreams of a benevolent, left-wing dictatorship goes up in smoke. Still, worth reading.

MARVEL


AVENGERS EARTHS MIGHTIEST HEROES HC$24.99

BLACK WIDOW HOMECOMING TP$14.99
Angry Russian feminist kicks ass. And she used to be such a nice girl.

CAPTAIN AMERICA #5$2.99

DAREDEVIL #72$2.99
Continuing the "Decalogue" story arc, wherein we find out what happened during that year Bendis skipped.

EXILES #63$2.99

FANTASTIC FOUR FOES #4 (OF 6)$2.99

HOUSE OF M SKETCHBOOK (PP #665)PI
It costs Pi. You know 3.141592653589...? Try to get change for that at the register!

KABUKI #4 (MR)$2.99

KABUKI HUGHES CVR #4 (MR)$2.99

MARVEL MASTERWORKS AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL 7 HC VAR ED$54.99
New dust jacket! Whoooo!

MARVEL MASTERWORKS AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL 7 NEW ED$49.99

NEW AVENGERS #5$2.25

NEW AVENGERS #5 GRANOV VARIANT$2.25
This is getting ridiculous.

PUNISHER #20 (MR)$2.99
When you piss on the skeletons of a vigilante's dead family, you know you've signed your own death warrant. Kick ass.

SPELLBINDERS #2 (OF 6)$2.99

SUPREME POWER #16 (MR)$2.99
The other, better postmodern, deconstructionist superhero book by J. Michael Straczynski.

ULTIMATE SECRET #2 (OF 4)$2.99
I can't tell you what it's about. It's a secret.

WOLVERINE ENEMY OF THE STATE VOL 1 HC$19.99
The first story arc from the man that made everyone notice Logan's solo title again.

WOLVERINE SOULTAKER #3 (OF 5)$2.99
Not a bad miniseries thus far, but not great, either.

X-FORCE SHATTERSTAR #3 (OF 4)$2.99
I have concluded this miniseries has no reason to exist.

X-MEN AGE OF APOCALYPSE #6 (OF 6)$2.99

X-MEN PHOENIX ENDSONG #5 (OF 5)$2.99

X-MEN PHOENIX ENDSONG LTD ED VARIANT COVER #4 (of 5)$2.99
This will be the one that makes us all rich. I'm sure of it.