ASK YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CARTOONIST 5-26-2022

In the context of the survey connected to my “Meet Your Neighborhood Comic Artist” project, one of my neighbors asked:

“What comics / graphic literature would you recommend for a pre-teen?
Previous interests: American Girl novels (Focus on Animal Adventurers), DogMan, Babysitters club.
Current Interests: Aphmau (Youtuber)”

This cartoon was inspired by reading Archie Comics when I was a pre-teen!

Hi Neighbor!*

Imagine my surprise… Not only was yours the first response to my survey, it’s also the first question about comics that is beyond my expertise; I don’t have kids myself and (generally) write and draw for an older audience. When I was your age I mostly read newspaper comic strips, Archie comics and superhero comics, which I wouldn’t necessarily recommend to you given your interests and taking into account how times have changed.

So, if it’s OK,  what I’m going to do is point you in the direction of those who can actually answer your question!

I see in your other responses to the survey that you often go to the Library. I do suggest that you ask your librarian for help in picking out graphic novels and cartoons. Our Whetstone branch has a good selection on hand and access to everything in the Columbus Public Library system. The Laughing Ogre comic shop also has a whole section of material for pre-teens. (You seem pretty engaged and probably know this stuff already!)

Some of the local comics festivals, like the Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo (SPACE) and Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC), go out of their way to provide a list of kid and young adult appropriate material. Those are also great sources of new comics!

(NOTE: I Have Edited the paragraph below based on input from a fellow cartoonist @KDotInk on twitter. You can follow that conversation there for more insight.)
In an ideal world, my final recommendation would be to involve your family with your interest in comics. My personal experience is that my family’s willingness to engage with me and my chosen reading helped me grow into the person and the artist that I am today. I am very lucky in that respect. I do want to acknowledge, though, that not everyone is so lucky. Not all family relationships are open, welcoming, or safe for this kind of sharing.  So I am going to amend my final recommendation to this: If you are comfortable with it, and your family is open to sharing your exploration of comics, I would invite them along for the ride. 

I’ll post the question on my social media and ask my friends and fans for their suggestions if you want to see what they have to offer: @nixcomics on Facebook, Twitter, and Insta.

Anyways, I’m glad you liked my cartoon and thanks for taking the survey! 

Sincerely,

Ken

*Neighbor’s name has been omitted for privacy.