Although I’ve been repeatedly saying for months that “Fallen Angel” is for mature readers, some people seem not to be twigging to that. So I will reiterate: “Fallen Angel” is a series with strong language, explicit violence, and sexual content. Not as strong or explicit as a Vertigo title, but moreso than a standard DCU title. Issue #2 is no exception, and contains some dialogue and visuals of a sexual nature. The book was already available as part of the first look package, and retailers who operate in neighborhoods where the faint-of-heart reside should check it over and rack-and-sell it accordingly.
PAD
• 
I’m in no way a fan of labeling — be it records, games or comics. I’m of the firm belief that parents should be responsible for what their children are reading, watching and playing. My kids don’t read anything I haven’t already read or that has been assigned by their school.
With that said, however, and in light of the Jesus Castillo case, shouldn’t DC be putting some kind of notification on the package as to what’s inside? Are DC notifying retailers on more than an ad hoc basis as to the mature content?
Just hoping it all goes well. The book, so far, is too good to get swept up in a castigating, conservative furor.
I am always amazed how easily people ignore warnings about mature content. Movie ratings are ostensibly made to warn parents about what sort of movies are (in)appropriate for kids, yet I always see kids in R-rated movies. Of course, if a parent doesn’t know or care what BOOGIE NIGHTS is about from the advertising and reviews, the rating won’t a big difference anyway. (And this is based on me seeing a parent with their little kids in that movie.)
If people are this indifferent to movies, just think how they react to comic books, which are “just for kids.”
Sigh.
If I buy the comic at a store in Texas near an elementary school, could I get the owner arrested?
The thing that amazes me about a ratings system is that entertainment companies already spend a great deal of money trying to select content and prepare ads to reach target demographics — often based on an age range.
So why not toss out both a ratings system and the demographics industry, and let the movies, records, etc. be labeled with the age bracket they’re aimed at? Like Milton-Bradley et al have been doing for years?
Sheesh.
Hmm…I wasn’t planning on buying FA#2, but if there’s going to be naughty bits in it…. =)
Was it listed as such in PREVIEWS? I’m sure some retailers don’t have the time, opportunity, or inclination to read everything Peter says in various places (not that I mind it, but I’m kinda stalker-ish that way) and rely on PREVIEWS to guide them to the content inside.
Two questions:
1) Is FA submitted to the Comics Code Authority?
2) If so, did this issue pass muster in their eyes?
I doubt it, David.
Typically, kids in R-Rated movies indicate laziness on the part of parents. They want to see the movie but are too lazy/cheap to find a babysitter. Personally, we take ratings seriously. My daughter is 9. We do not watch R-rated movies with her at all and we always screen PG-13 movies first. The few PG-13 she has seen (LOTR) we let her know in advance about things that she probably will not want to see. She’s trusting of us (something I know won’t last forever, but is good for now) and we try to be careful. I’ve never understood taking a 7-year old to something like a RoboCop or Terminator movie, but that’s me.
I’ve got you all beat as far as kids in ‘R’ rated movies goes…
When I was working at a movie theater here in Texas as a box-office attendant, I had a woman come up and ask about the movie “Firestorm”. You remember that one right? The one with Howie Long as a smoke jumper? The one where a guy get’s an ax to the head?
Well she asked if it was appropriate for her 11 year old boy to go in and see alone. Actually what she asked was “Does this have any sex/nudity in it?”
I replied,”No, but a guy gets an ax to the head.” To which she said(and this part is verbatim because…it just amazed me)”Oh, that’s ok. As long as there aren’t any sex scenes.”
Me: “But…can I ask something?”
Her: “Sure.”
Me:”Why is it ok for your kid to see something so horrific as an ax in someone’s head, yet you don’t want him seeing something natural, like sex?”
Her:”Because, violence is easier to explain.”
Go figure….
Col
Heh. HehhehhehhehBWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!
That’s funny, Colier Rannd. Seriously funny. Some people are so ridiculous it’s hilarious. Hehhehhehheh….
I don’t think an 11 year-old should be exposed to Howie Long’s acting.
ICV2.com article
http://www.icv2.com/articles/talkback/3318.html
Don’t know whether links are supported in this message forum, so I’ll post it in two ways just in case.
Just wanted to note that I finally read the first issue.
Great art, love the dialog, I think the characters are all fleshed out.
But it did not grab me like most of Peter David’s work. I can’t tell if the plot is slow or I am.
I will pick up at least 4-5 issues though. Peter David hasn’t let me down with the payoff for a story yet and I’m not drop a book that looks so good just because I’m a little confused at the plot.
Kind of surprised DC let you go this route with a non-vertigo book. It definately is not done in the DC style.
Good luck I hope you surprise me well.
Jim
Col,
You’re not alone. My wife saw this over and over again when she worked at Blockbuster in Missouri and at Movie Gallery in Tennessee.
Sheesh.
Bill Cosby even asked the question on the Tonight Show once – “Why is it ok for Arnold Schwarzenegger to machine-gun down dozens of people, but as soon as an actress does a half-turn into the camera with her shirt off it becomes dirty?”
I don’t understand it either.
**When I was working at a movie theater here in Texas as a box-office attendant, I had a woman come up and ask about the movie “Firestorm”. You remember that one right? The one with Howie Long as a smoke jumper? The one where a guy get’s an ax to the head?
Well she asked if it was appropriate for her 11 year old boy to go in and see alone. Actually what she asked was “Does this have any sex/nudity in it?”
I replied,”No, but a guy gets an ax to the head.” To which she said(and this part is verbatim because…it just amazed me)”Oh, that’s ok. As long as there aren’t any sex scenes.”
Me: “But…can I ask something?”
Her: “Sure.”
Me:”Why is it ok for your kid to see something so horrific as an ax in someone’s head, yet you don’t want him seeing something natural, like sex?”
Her:”Because, violence is easier to explain.”**
Colier Rannd:
I had a woman come up and ask about the movie “Firestorm”. You remember that one right? The one with Howie Long as a smoke jumper?
Not only that, but I remember the tag line. “This summer, action goes long…Howie Long!” It is, perhaps, my favorite movie tag-line ever.
Bought and read FA#2 today, and it was another good read. As for the naughty bits…if you get upset at this, I…well, there’s just no hope for you. I dunno, maybe I’m old and cynical, but people need to lighten up
PAD,
Just curious, would you prefer there be a “For Mature Readers” on the cover?
Shawn
Thacher,
I’m sure Jesus Castillo joins you in wishing that people would “lighten up.” Unfortunately, until they do, retailers have to play the old CYA game.
OK, I’ve read it – thoughts, mostly positive, about content when PAD starts that thread – but yes, this does need a warning, for a little PG-13 sexuality, and for something one character “says” at the end. Nothing here that a lot of TV shows don’t do now, though.
Sorry to brake in but… could someone explain Fallen Angel to me? I’ve read the two issues and honestly, I don’t get it. I mean I get the actions and the plot, but I thought this was a surprise as to who these characters are. Honestly, I don’t read DC much so maybe I’m just missing something. I feel this book is written like I’m suppose to know who these characters are, and I don’t
Although I enjoyed the first ish of FA, I still miss the days when PAD wrote Young Justice, Supergirl, and pre-revamp Captain Marvel.
Howard:
Sadly, you’re right on the money with that one. Although the reference in FA#2 is incredibly tame, nothing one could be taken to court for (even in Texas…I hope).
Then again, I could be a bad judge of these things because, y’know, I’m *sane*.
Honestly, I have more trouble at work dealing the parents who want to return opened packs of Yu-Gi-Oh cards because when they just handed thier kid a twenty dollar bill, and the kid comes in and asks for one kind of pack, and then changes his mind when he’s outside with his opened cards and realized that the wrong guy with weird hair is on the cover, or the right kind of special monster he was trying to get isn’t in there…
sorry, I have issues…
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