Hmm, to be honest comics are mostly aimed at young people, and I read them for the characters and action. If a comic gets too heavy on drug issues, it can really put a story on a downer. Obviously comics should try and teach ethics and good morals, and whilst in the real world certain superheroes would probably be on the drug scene (can't imagine Tony Stark not being connected - if you know what I mean), drugs in comics should just be the thing badguys do.

Since super hero comics become more plausible and close to real life, addictions is a matter that makes the whole thing more realistic.
At some point it's a trick to show how easily a hero can fall, as for Daken though I don't think it's that simple.I strongly believe that there is some connection between x-23,Daken and the trigger scent,there is something similar with the scent and the heat pill.

So long as it's necessary for the plot and is handled with a level of maturity and relevance then I'm not totally against it.

So long as it's necessary for the plot and is handled with a level of maturity and relevance then I'm not totally against it.

It might not be as appropriate for the Marvel and DC titles, but for something like Fly, it's one of the major plot points. But people do use drugs in real life, so it should have some representation in the comics.

I don't like it but I understand why writers do it

the industry, in a lot of ways, has matured along with much of it's core fans, namsayin'?  the average age of a comic reader is somethin like 28...cats that old don't wanna see bubblegum type stuff. granted, too much realism can kill it but i think havin' societal issues in a comic adds to the story. it's easier to identify with characters if they are facin' the same ish all of us face on a daily basis...

I think it's a topic that if done correctly can be interesting and even informative. 

All depends on the writer. Drug addicted characters such as House work when well acted. On the page it depends on the writers talents.

I don't think it's inappropriate and the quality depends on the story, characters, and writer involved.

It definitely depends. It's a tender subject and should be treated as such, but with a sense of maturity and relevance, it can be a great device in a story.

I'm fine with it if it's handled well. No PSA's please.

@The_Peter_Cosmic said:

I'm fine with it if it's handled well. No PSA's please.

If there is a PSA, it should be "legalize it, deny universal medical care, we told you so."

I'd be interested to see how a comic book dealer deals with recreational drugs. For example, we don't see Tony's drinking as a problem until it is a problem. I'm sure there are plenty of drugs out there that don't really %$^** you up, but are just bad personal choices. Pot, for example, seems like this kind of drug.

I don't know how they'd handle this subject - super heroes can't do pot any more than they can drink - Wolverine's drinking (even though drinking doesn't impair him) - "caused" the schism (yeah, yeah, forced event is forced) - so any sort of recreational drugs would be bad for superheroes not because they're drugs, but because they're recreational. Superman being "high" for 5 minutes locked in a basement is Superman saying "I don't care who lives or dies for the next 5 minutes", and that's pretty horrible. The problem is super hero comics are not yet ready to deal with "hyper vigilance" as theme.

But supporting, non-super hero characters, I would think, could do recreational drugs. Maybe Aunt May gets cancer, and given medical pot. Peter's like "OMFG, WHAT?", and then he eventually accepts it.

You never see Ironman preaching against Logan or Hercules's drinking, I think that drawing this kind of distinction in comics would be useful, and controversial.

Daken gets hooked on Heat, shit happens.

Ironman drinks, shit happens.

Horse (shiar crewmember) is hooked on "Happy", is motivationally crippled.

So and so grows his own pot in his basement, sells it to no one, and relaxes by smoking it on the weekend and is fine when it comes to work on monday - WHO GIVES A SH*T.

Me? I'm for hyper vigilance, so drug use of any kind seems stupid. But I'm not foolish enough to think we should outlaw alcohol or its equivalents.

@labarith: You're not the first "straight edge" person I've seen who is for broad legalization (or at least, broad decriminalization). Usually this stems from an emphasis on personal responsibility. Just a trend I noticed and found interesting.

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My opinion, certain drugs should be legalized and a vice tax slapped on it, most others should be decriminalized (for use at least, though perhaps not sale) and treated as a medical problem. The zero tolerance/high penalty "war on drugs" approach might be seen as more morally "pure," but from a pragmatic standpoint I think the cost is too high and it empowers the criminal element by creating a market.

Well drug addiction in the comics only bothers me if its pertaining to a certain character,but this subject all falls with in the perimeters of personal preference. Which brings me to my next point on how i personally feel about Dakens new found addiction to this new and seemingly indigenous LA drug called ``Heat``. When Rob Williams decided to take over Daken Dark Wolverine i wasn't shaken at all by that notion because i thought well if this Rob guys gonna start writing Daken comics for a while things should get interesting but still maintain the fundamental aspects that make Daken well ..Daken.Unfortunetly Daken fell prey to this new drug, which he seemed to oh so joyfully welcome,which i find completly contradicts Dakens character.Daken is a manipulating,power hungry, hedonist who loves to be in control, but this drug is controlling him,its turned him into a solipsistic,nearly impudent ,drooling ``Heat drug fiend`` and it took a few issues and a midnight fashioned fisticuff thrashing from Moonknight for Daken to realize that. I personally would never do drugs regardless of whether or not i possessed a healing factor,but i am still a victim of drug abuse,...my dear ol mother was a drug addict and prostitute who sold herself for her next fix and subsequently i was the byproduct of her selfish endeavors along with a few of my other siblings most of whom i do not know.I hate my mother for what she did to me n my siblings i dont know my biological famly and born with birth defects because of her stupid decisions,born into this world as a mongrel,crack baby not born out of the love of 2 respectable individuals.But by no means do i let that part of my past define who i am ,I have transcended mother dearest and i will continue to do so.I didn't mean to go off topic like that i hope to the readers of my comments, it doesn't speculate anything to unnecessarily poignant. Further more my point being that drug addiction in comics all depends on how its portrayed and who its portrayed on.

I don't really care. As long as it isn't stupid, go ahead.

@Omega Ray Jay said:

So long as it's necessary for the plot and is handled with a level of maturity and relevance then I'm not totally against it.

I agree with this, sometime it can add a realism to a comic. even more if the comic is about a street leveler. However i did not like the whole daken drug thing, that sucked.

I love it. Just because someone is good and typically takes the moral high ground doesn't mean that they are completely immune to wanting to have feelings that certain substances can provide. I'm not saying it's a good thing, but I am saying that, as superheroes who are a part of the human race, it is nice to see people who represent more than the good guys that were born with an internalized, overpowering, sense of good vs. wrong.

Drugs are good in comics bros they give you super powers

@Omega Ray Jay said:

So long as it's necessary for the plot and is handled with a level of maturity and relevance then I'm not totally against it.

I like it. It makes the characters more real. To bad no comic stoners. Why cant we get any love. :(

I say this as I do in all threads that question what content should be in comics:

Why should comics be treated any differently than movies, TV, video games, music, and books? I don't see any threads questioning that.

@Omega Ray Jay said:

So long as it's necessary for the plot and is handled with a level of maturity and relevance then I'm not totally against it.

@Omega Ray Jay said:

So long as it's necessary for the plot and is handled with a level of maturity and relevance then I'm not totally against it.