Do comic books portray violence, sexism, anti-social behavior, and other inappropriate messages or themes?
The majority of currently published comic books, especially traditional superhero comics, portray positive messages, such as using one’s abilities to help others, the value of perseverance, and striving to be the best one can be. Many of the best-known comic book characters have become cultural icons that have provided positive role models for boys and girls alike. A librarian must know their user community. When building a comic book collection, or any other collection, they must recognize who will be accessing these materials. Many of today’s comic books do present questionable material, including raw language, extreme violence, sexual activity, the objectification of women, and flagrant disrespect for authority, to name a few. Selection, not censorship, is a key to a good collection.
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