# How the heck do you search for comic books by age rating? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 20, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-search-for-comic-books-by-age-rating/616342 "2012-03-20T19:45:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-search-for-comic-books-by-age-rating/616342/1 "2012-03-20T19:45:15Z")
This is driving me crazy. We’re trying to find comics that are appropriate for my son. Marvel (our universe of choice) rates comic books and trade paperbacks for 9+ as “A.” But there is no way to search on their site by rating and many books don’t have a rating at all. I can’t search on Google for them either. So how the heck do I find “A” rated comics for my son? Even most of the online comic shops I’ve looked at don’t include the rating in their description. The easiest way would be, I guess, to drop by the comics shop but that’s not always possible. You would think there would be a way online somewhere! Does anyone have any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-search-for-comic-books-by-age-rating/616342/2 "2012-03-20T21:05:49Z")
I have a lot of trouble with the organization and functionality of the Marvel website, so I feel your pain. I’ve found that the tone and age-appropriateness of a book remains pretty consistent in a series, so if you’ve found a title that feels appropriate, it will likely remain as such. For what it’s worth, Marvel is right now going through a transition in their all-ages offerings from their now defunct Marvel Adventures line to the the new Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and Ultimate Spider-Man Adventures. [Link](http://www.newsarama.com/comics/marvel-all-ages-avengers-spider-man-120214.html) ---
**Author:** ![PacifistPorcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PacifistPorcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PacifistPorcupine)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-search-for-comic-books-by-age-rating/616342/3 "2012-03-20T21:16:40Z")
There’s a book coming out in a couple of months that may help you. It’s called “A Parent’s Guide to the Best Kid’s Comics: Choosing Titles Your Children Will Love.” From the look inside thingy at Amazon, the books are split by grade level. ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-search-for-comic-books-by-age-rating/616342/4 "2012-03-20T22:49:16Z")
That book sounds really helpful, thanks. I miss Marvel Adventures–hopefully the new titles will be as good. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![JCorre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@JCorre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCorre)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-search-for-comic-books-by-age-rating/616342/5 "2012-03-20T23:07:12Z")
In Amazon’s “advanced search” page there is a filter for reader age. That might help. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-search-for-comic-books-by-age-rating/616342/6 "2012-03-20T23:13:17Z")
In my neighbourhood, there is a comic book store which is aimed at the younger crowd. It’s name is [Little Island](http://www.littleislandcomics.com/), and it might be useful to search through their website/blog for recommendations. ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-search-for-comic-books-by-age-rating/616342/7 "2012-03-21T00:42:21Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > In my neighbourhood, there is a comic book store which is aimed at the younger crowd. It’s name is [Little Island](http://www.littleislandcomics.com/), and it might be useful to search through their website/blog for recommendations. Of course! You mentioned it to me once before and I even bookmarked it! Thanks for reminding me! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-search-for-comic-books-by-age-rating/616342/8 "2012-03-21T01:40:07Z")
Do they _have_ to be _new_ comics? Look around and buy some guy’s collection of mainstream comics from the 1980s- early 1990s. Very little potential for offensive material there. They might even be cheaper - offer a dollar a book. So, wanna buy some comics? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-search-for-comic-books-by-age-rating/616342/9 "2012-03-21T04:36:01Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > In my neighbourhood, there is a comic book store… Yeah, this is where you need a Friendly Neighborhood Comic Dude. We’ve got one, and I can waltz in and ask “What’s good this month?” If I’m with the kids, I get a very different answer. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-search-for-comic-books-by-age-rating/616342/10 "2012-03-21T04:38:50Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Do they _have_ to be _new_ comics? Look around and buy some guy’s collection of mainstream comics from the 1980s- early 1990s. Very little potential for offensive material there… My youngun’s LOVE the old Silver Age 'books (we find 'em 3 for a buck, some without covers, in the budget boxes). They laugh at what I took seriously back in the 60s, and absolutely HOWL at the old ads. ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-search-for-comic-books-by-age-rating/616342/11 "2012-03-21T18:19:46Z")
> [@JCorre](#): > > In Amazon’s “advanced search” page there is a filter for reader age. That might help. This is a great tip. Thanks. I never noticed that option. ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-search-for-comic-books-by-age-rating/616342/12 "2012-03-21T18:21:37Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Do they _have_ to be _new_ comics? Look around and buy some guy’s collection of mainstream comics from the 1980s- early 1990s. Very little potential for offensive material there. They might even be cheaper - offer a dollar a book. > > So, wanna buy some comics? My husband’s got 3 boxes of comics, probably from 70s and 80s but he won’t let them touch them. 😉 Maybe we should take a look at them. And they can read them while he slowly turns the pages. ---
**Author:** ![SpencerB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SpencerB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpencerB)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-search-for-comic-books-by-age-rating/616342/13 "2012-03-24T08:15:21Z")
Check out [www.comictouch.com](http://www.comictouch.com) Hope that site helps you. Cheers.