I think I disagree with the fundamental premise that children shouldn't be exposed to, or don't enjoy, grim characters and dark stories. I remember being not m

I think I disagree with the fundamental premise that children shouldn't be exposed to, or don't enjoy, grim characters and dark stories. I remember being not much older than the author's seven year old and gleefully flipping through Spawn #1. At the time, I was already a fan of Judge Dredd and TMNT comics. (If you're unaware, the TMNT comics were _violent_). My favourite films were Roadwarrior and Evil Dead 2! It seems odd to me to suggest that death and misery aren't experiences kids encounter or should encounter. Perhaps its uniquely modern, but it seems to me that even the sheltered children of the west must encounter a passing of a pet or a family member from time to time. It would certainly help to allow them to explore those concepts through art and entertainment, in order to process the feelings they're trying to understand.