Great question, Kyle.

My answer would be to look to some of the older greats of the past. Folks like Marshall Rogers, Ron Frenz, Alex Saviuk, Roger Stern and Tom DeFalco. They already are well versed in what it would take to do an all-ages type of series and would probably appreciate getting the work.

But if it's more modern folks you would like to see on such books, I'd suggest guys like Kurt Busiek, Ron Marz, Ron Lim, Pat Olliffe, Paul Pelletier, Chuck Dixon, Steve Epting and Tom Lyle. All of whom have and can do all-ages type of material.

Anyway, those are my choices.

I think if Marvel wanted big numbers and kids to actually buy these things...they would need to get big name children's book writers on these....Jerry Spinelli, Louis Sachar, Holly Black, Ann M. Martin just to name a few. And don't even get me started on format...

Scott:

That's a good call. One that I'm surprised I didn't think of.

Of course, whether they went with a children's author, or current comic talent that can do all-ages material, the key to it selling, really is giving it a strong marketing push. Marvel might have the "Marvel Adventures" (formerly Marvel Age) line, but how well have they promoted that fact? Have they put the material (or, ar least, information about it) in the circles kids travel? How about a freebie issue that can only be gotten at a place like "Chuck E. Cheese", which also had information in it on where to get more comics like them (such as an online link to Diamond's comic shop locator). It's thing like that were Marvel (and pretty much any publisher) is missing the boat.

We can debate all day on what type of talent should be used. But as long as parents and kids remain oblivious to the fact the comics even exist, top name talent won't really mean squat.

you know what annoys me? that publishers crank out so many superhero movie tie-ins, and yet most of them suck...

James your so right! My X got me into comics 2 years ago and I totally lurved them. I loved reading them, collecting them, getting figures even going to the cons. Then we broke up. I couldn't look at an X-men comic for a whole year. Now I'm over him but want to get back into the scene and its impossible! Without a guide to keep you up on whats out and new I'm left dangling in the wind with no idea. The industry does not make it easy to get acquainted with new lines unless you're in the know.

the Ultimate lines tried to solve that problem, but sadly it seems the art on Ultimate X-men is going increasingly downhill, which is a major major problem for me...

Actually, I think the Ultimate line really didn't live up to what it was suppsoed to be. After all, I'd hardly say Ultimates is something which would be appropriate for all ages (provided they even could get through the sometimes heavy military-esque exposition). And Ulitmate X-Men seems to drift back and forth on beingall ages and not. It's almost seems like they are unsure of exactly who they want to target with it. The only one that's really maintained anything close to the original intent, is Ultimate Spider-Man.

It would have been great if the Ultimate line could have been a great all ages inlet for newer and younger readers. Sadly, it's promise has been ebbed away by Marvel just not being able to not cater to the current fanbase.

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