As a young parent, only a couple years out of college, I still had a modest comic collection. Our two sons knew of my hobby (and knew which books were 'off limits'). In my youth, reading comics helped nurture my general love for reading. I was determined to inspire reading in our sons as well. And among the books I read to them were several featuring comic characters. These weren't comics per se, but children's storybooks featuring the likes of Batman, Spider-Man, Captain America and the Hulk. Our youngest, in particular, really picked up on the characters early on. He became nuts about Batman, carrying his figures around all over the house. He still collects figures, but now they are somewhat larger. Our oldest, meanwhile, developed an interest in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
The fascination both boys had for comic characters was reflected in many ways: the decorations in their rooms, their toys, and their birthday cakes. My wife would bake incredible cakes, and rely on me to render Batman, Spider-Man, the Turtles, and many others in colored frosting. Drawing Spidey's webbing is challenging anytime, let alone using a frosting bag and tips.
It wasn't long before financial difficulties necessitated the disposal of practically all of my remaining comics. Ironically, while I was parting with most of mine, our oldest started getting interested in comics. Indeed, I took him to his first comic shop about 1990, and he got hooked on Todd McFarlane's work on Spider-Man. I passed several books on to him at the time to help him get started. Here is one of his earliest acquisitions, on one of those LCS trips:
During that decade, both boys got further interested in comics due to the popular Batman, Spider-Man and X-Men animated tv series. By the late 90's, their enthusiasm had spread back to me and I started picking up some comics again. Of course, now I had some company. At my workplace, our youngest would join me when he didn't have school, and at lunch we would go to a local card/comic shop and pick out a few goodies (they made effective rewards for good grades). And each Christmas, I'd sneak a few back issues into each boy's gifts (usually stuck inside a sweater or shirt).
Both of our sons developed sufficient interest in comics that the day finally came when all three of us attended a con: Wizard World Chicago. Their first reactions upon entering the show were priceless. A huge venue, literally filled with comics, creators, fans, and much more. They looked like Dorothy stepping out into Oz for the first time! Watching them rifle through boxes and boxes of books, meeting artists, and watching the cosplayers: it made for a great day. And even the drive up to the show was such a treat: all of us excitedly discussing the comics we loved and would be seeking out. That day, sent with the two of them, will always be one of the biggest highlights in my career as a dad.
A few years later, our oldest made us grandparents. And like his 'old man', our son started introducing his boys to comics. And it connected with them as well. Starting out, they enjoyed books such as the one shown on the left. Our first grandson comes to visit us from time to time, and he loves to read my comics and graphic novels. He also has been the recipient of some four color fun from my collection. And the next grandson: well, last time I saw him he was beaming as he showed me the stack of comics he picked up at a thrift store (chip off the old block). He scored a nice little pile of Bronze age books, among them several issues of Marvel Two-in-One. Both grandsons are readers, incidentally, and are doing great in school. I'm not saying that comics are the cause, but hey, they didn't hurt...
To sum it all up: comics have certainly been a part of my life, and it's only natural they would be a part of parenthood as well. I do think they helped our sons, I know they helped me growing up. And comics definitely provided some very fond memories of some wonderfully shared experiences. That's no small thing.
Okay, friends- what do you think? Has your comics fandom been reflected in your parental life? Please share your stories; I can't wait to hear them!
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