Appropriate for children?

[JBK405]

A cousin of mine is a huge fan of My Chemical Romance and, knowing that I'm a huge comics fan, has asked me on occasion if I've read The Umbrella Academy, which was written by one of the members of MCR. I never have read the series, but I'm able to read between the lines on occasion and have heard her subtle little message, and last Wednesday when I was buying my weeks worth of comics I picked up the two trades with the plan of giving them to my cousin as a gift. The problem is that I haven't had a chance to read them yet and I'm having dinner with her tonight, and I don't know if this comic is "appropriate" for her. I've barely even been able to flip through and look at a few of the pictures, let alone sit down and analyze the themes and messages of the comic and its underlying impact on the reader.

She's thirteen and, like I said, is already a big fan of the music of the author. Is the comic "adult"? Is it profane? Violent? Is it "kiddy"? If it is profane and violent, is it a profanity that is nonetheless acceptable to a young teenager (I have always believed that adults do not give children nearly enough credit when it comes to what they can deal with, and just because something has blood or a swear word doesn't mean that they can't handle it).

What kind of comic is it?

[Personamanx]

I wasn't much older when I first read the first Umbrella Academy Mini if that helps at all.

It does have violence, some coarse language, and a little bit of Nudity IIRC but I think a 13 year old can handle it. I would say that if you'd be comfortable giving them some Grant Morrison Batman comics then you'd be comfortable giving them some Umbrella Academy books. I'd skim through them a few more times just to be 100% sure though.

[BClayMoore]

It's absolutely appropriate for thirteen. In fact, it's a brilliant introduction to comics for smart young teens.

It's pretty awesome, with lots of really fun ideas. It's more tame than the average new novel aimed at her demographic.

-BCM

[AndrewG]

I think it'd be fine but it depends on the kids and what their parents may find appropriate or inappropriate.

[saintsaucey]

Yeah I think your good on giving a 13 year old the Umbrella academy books.

[JBK405]

Sheesh, all this hooplah over nothing. I gave her the two trades and I learn she already read them (This same thing happened for her birthday a few months ago. I bought her two CD's and she already had both of them). Oy. Still, thanks everybody for the input, as she was at least happy to now have permanent copies of her own.

[FanboyStranger]

Sheesh, all this hooplah over nothing. I gave her the two trades and I learn she already read them (This same thing happened for her birthday a few months ago. I bought her two CD's and she already had both of them). Oy. Still, thanks everybody for the input, as she was at least happy to now have permanent copies of her own.

Hmmm, maybe give her Grant Morrison's dOOM pATROL run next? The first two reprinted books, Crawling from the Wreckage and The Painting that Ate Paris, were from before the book went "Mature Readers", and while there's some rough language and nudity/sexual situations in the following books, I think a mature teenager could handle it. That's the really the wellspring where Way is getting his ideas for UA, and Morrison is a reoccuring character in My Chemical Romance's videos. (Although his presence doesn't redeem their bland music, in my opinion.)

Or even Casanova if she likes Ba and Moon's art.

[JBK405]

I think the appeal for her was really the MCR connection; we've never quite bonded over comics, they're not really her "thing" (When I was looking up info on the band to see if it was appropriate to let her have one of their CD's and discovered that Grant Morrison was actually in the music video, her response was "Who's Grant Morrison?"). I'll see how she reacts and see if I can segway her into some other books.

[Slewo.O]

My cousin read the first mini when she was about the same age, so no biggie IMO.