I’m very excited about the new weekly children’s comic, the Phoenix. If you have children and/or love comics, check it out:
https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/
After a lunchtime twitter discussion, I now want to start compiling a list of comics for kids – both child-suitable comics that adults read too (ie no naughty bits) and comic stories aimed directly at children. If anyone has any recommendations, do tell me on twitter (@louiestowell) or leave a comment here. I’ll update the list and say who recc’d it. So, the list below is a work in progress, but here are some comics for kids…so far, just the ones I can think of off the top of my head but I’ll try to add more when I get a chance:
COMICS: a reading list for kids
Asterix – all of them.
Tintin – I’m definitely an Asterix partisan but Tintin’s not bad too.
Boule et Bill/Billy and Buddy – just found out this has been published in translation by @Cinebook. Great for younger kids (5 plus I’d say). It features lots of short strip cartoon stories.
Vern and Lettuce by Sarah McIntyre – another good one for young ‘uns, nothing too scary and lots of bitesized stories in the book, quirky and funny
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – no, it’s not strictly a comic, but I think it deserves a mention as a story for kids that makes good use of sequential art.
Big Nate – Lincoln Pierce. Like Wimpy Kid, not a full-on comic but uses panel-based storytelling in fun ways.
The Ballad of Halo Jones – Alan Moore (originally published in 2000AD). It’s not technically for kids, but I read it when I was little and it’s an amazing story. It’s what kickstarted my love of space. Don’t think there’s anything unsuitable in it, though parents should probably read it first and judge for themselves.
As per the above, I think there’s a lot of 2000AD stories that would be good for kids… but I do hesitate to go mad with recommendations as the art might seem a bit dated and the pages over-crowded to kids growing up in a contemporary visual universe.
Pride of Bagdhad – written by Brian K Vaughan, tells the story of the Iraq war from the P.O.V. of a pride of lions escaped from a zoo. Again, not written specifically for kids, so probably worth parents checking it’s suitable for their particular child. It’s not quite the lion king – it’s dark, as you might imagine, but I think it’s a nice insight into the grown up world for children… with all its madness and futility. Has a kid-friendly appeal imo.
EDIT: Some more excellent recommendations with some age suggestions from @alikichapple on twitter – many more, in fact. She was on fire! Thanks so much to her (or if you’re reading this, @alikichapple, you)
Flight Explorer (7+), Zip and Li’l Bit (web comic, here), Bone (8+), and the various DFC collections (I like Good Dog Bad Dog best)
Amulet (7+), Little Vampire (8/9+), Amy Unbounded (10+) and, Aliki says, “my kid loves Castle Waiting, though it’s for grown ups.”
Owly (<5) Scary Godmother (4-6) Zita The Space Girl 6/7-10) Sardine In Outer Space (8+) The Super Secret Science Alliance(10+)
Thanks also to @Comicgrid and others for retweets. The former suggested a google doc to collate all this. That’s a note to self really. But, for anyone interested in comics for kids, @comicsgrid also mentioned a post on The Comics Journal, here:
Look out for more updates 
In fact, here’s one right now from @neilcameron on twitter – Calvin and Hobbes. <–I’ve not actually read any, though I did enjoy their Winter is Coming Game of Thrones cartoon.
EDIT 2:
Gum Girl by Andi Watson (Walker)
Teenytinysaurs by Gary Northfield, also Walker
Then a couple of suggestions from Forbidden planet – on twitter, @fpinternational
- Adventure Time by Ryan North (of Dinosaur Comics fame, for grownups)
- Cinebook Ltd is a good place to get hold of Euro comics in translation, which are often more kid-friendly… http://www.cinebook.co.uk/
Gary Northfield ( @gnorthfield) has recommended a publisher called Papercutz, who do loads of all-ages graphic novels. I haven’t had a chance to look properly but they look like a LOT of fun. And here are some more recs from Gary: Ariol, Sleepwalkers, Captain Pugwash, DFC Library, Marvel Adventures.
