Library Update

The Library Saga keeps on rolling. I sent the librarian my recommendations list and a handout for their first meeting (which I'll get to momentarily), and I'm working on some of the other handouts for the class (which I'll get to, again, momentarily). I'm not totally sure what I'll be presenting, really (except for a bunch of Free Comic Book Day comics courtesy of the awesome folks over at Stand-Up Comics), but I'll be giving recommendations and information as best I can.

So, when it came down to it, I split up my book recommendations into "all-ages" and "teens/advanced readers." I gave the librarian a larger list than was on the handout (didn't want to overwhelm the kids), and I left manga off...for the time being (that'll be my next recommendation). Here's my list of recommendations, indexed by appropriateness (all-ages, and the 10-12-and-up crowd), with the ones on the kids' handout marked in red.
All-Ages

• Amelia Rules
  
• Baby Mouse
  
• Batman Adventures
  
• Bone
  
• Fantastic Four: Franklin Richards
  
• Justice League Unlimited
  
• Leave it to Chance
  
• Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century
  
• Marvel Adventures: Iron Man
  
• Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man
  
• Marvel Adventures: The Avengers
  
• Mouse Guard
  
• Owly
  
• Power Pack
  
• Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil
  
• Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane
  
• Superman Adventures
  
• Teen Titans Go!

Which breaks down to:

• 12 superhero comics
• 6 Marvel, 6 DC
• 6 non-superhero comics
• 4 comics with specifically female protagonists
• 10 comics related to other-media properties

Teens/Advanced Readers

• Batgirl: Year One
  
• Batman: Haunted Knight
  
• Blue Beetle
  
• Confessions of a Blabbermouth
  
• Fantastic Four Vol. 1: Imaginauts
  
• Iron Man: Enter the Mandarin
  
• Kimmie66
  
• Marvel Team-Up Vol. 1: The Golden Child
  
• Re-Gifters
  
• Runaways
  
• Scott Pilgrim
  
• Superman: For All Seasons
  
• Superman: Up, Up, and Away
  
• The Plain Janes
  
• Ultimate Spider-Man
  
• Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Gods and Mortals
  
• X-Men: First Class
  
• X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga

Which breaks down to:

• 13 superhero comics
• 7 Marvel, 6 DC
• 6 non-superhero comics
• 6 comics with specifically female protagonists
• 8(ish) comics related to other-media properties

I also basically gave a blanket recommendation for the Essential and Showcase lines.
I'll be bringing more to the table when I do the presentation, and I'll be sending along some manga recommendations as well, so keep the reviews and comments coming :).

Other stuff I'll be doing for this event include an overview of terminology (paging Scott McCloud) and jobs associated with comics (%&$#ing tracers), comic-related and kid-friendly websites and blogs (Comic Book Resources/Comics Should Be Good, maybe?), and a description of the process of making a comic, from idea to finished product. I think I've got a decent handle on most of that, though advice and recommendations would be great.

One thing, though: I can give a run-down on just about every job associated with comics, from penciller to letterer to colorist, but I'm a little fuzzy on how work is split up among editors. I know there's managing editors and EICs and whatnot, and somehow continuity policing and story coordination and copy correction and deciding what books come out, and when, is all part of the "editorial" province, but I'm not totally clear on who does what. Anyone a little more informed on the process? I may even drop an e-mail off to the DC offices later tonight if I find that it's a real sticking point.

Libraryin'

So, apparently my hometown library is going to be doing a summer course sorta thing on comic books, and I've been asked to provide advice, recommendations, information packets, and some kind of presentation.

Anyway, you all know where my expertise lies by now. If the kids want to talk about the big names, I'm all over it. Superman? Ask me anything. Spider-Man? Just you try and stump me. Batman? Don't make me laugh.

Unfortunately, I've hit two snags in my thinking on this subject. First, I want to be all-ages-friendly, but I haven't exactly been keeping up with many of the specifically all-ages titles (Marvel Age, Johnny DC, Minx, etc.), so I'd like you all to offer suggestions as to what's good--especially with Minx.

Second, I'm totally out of my depth when it comes to manga, and that's likely to come up when I'm talking to a 10-and-up group of young'uns. So any advice on what's good/appropriate would be very welcome.

Off the top of my head, this is what I'd be recommending:
Blue Beetle (first trade)
Wonder Woman (Gail Simone? That's not out yet, but Heinberg's is)
Superman: "For All Seasons," "Up, Up, and Away"
Teen Titans Go!
Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century
Marvel Age: Spider-Man
Marvel Age: Iron Man
Marvel Age: Avengers
Justice League Unlimited
Spider-Man/Human Torch
Fantastic Four: "Imaginauts"
Runaways Vol. 1
Batgirl: Year One

I'm also hoping to keep it pretty gender-balanced--as much as I can, anyway. I'd like to put Birds of Prey on the list, but I want to go with a trade that's accessible and not full of T&A art. I'd like to put Manhunter on there, but I'm going to have to re-read the first trade from the POV of a ten-year-old. So, what are your thoughts?