The Mary Sue

Teen Dating Violence and Crappy Home Lives: A Match Made In Hell

One in three teens is affected by teen dating violence. My hope is that by telling our stories and being open about what’s happening, and owning our histories, that we’ll be able to strengthen the girls (and guys) that need our help.

Popular YouTubers Have Children Taken Away After Abusive Videos

by Kaila Hale-Stern May 4th

Mike and Heather Martin temporarily lost custody of two of their five children for the cruel "pranks" they played in a series of now-deleted YouTube videos that earned the couple a lot of money. The loss of custody should be permanent.

Roc Upchurch Discusses Recovery & “Moving Forward” From His Arrest for Domestic Abuse

Not everyone can "move forward," though.

by Maddy Myers Aug 21st

Former Rat Queens artist Roc Upchurch got arrested for domestic violence last year; he stopped illustrating Rat Queens shortly thereafter. Upchurch recently reached out to Comic Book Resources' Casey Gilley to request an interview with her to discuss his life since; that interview went up today.

Miss Meadows & The Homesman Miss The Mark With Their Treatment Of Child Abuse And Mental Illness

by Lesley Coffin Nov 14th

Two newly-released black comedies this week share a common thread beyond their genre: their inability to effectively address important issues. Both Miss Meadows and The Homesman attempt o engage in serious genre twists - an assassination thriller and an old-fashioned Western from post-modern feminist slants - and while both get an E for effort, neither film succeeds in their grand ambition.

DC Comics Changed Its Mind, Will Allow Superman “S” on Memorial Statue

Good news!

by Victoria McNally Jul 9th

Yesterday we told you about DC's decision not to allow the Superman "S" Shield to be used on the memorial of a Toronto child who died due to neglect and abuse. In a statement today, however, DC has reconsidered their position and will let the shield be used on the memorial after all.

DC Comics Declines to Allow Superman Logo on Memorial for Slain Child

Sad story of the day.

by Susana Polo Jul 8th

Today in understandable legal moves but totally regrettable PR moves, DC Comics' legal affairs have declined to allow Superman's 'S' shield to be used in a memorial to a Toronto child slain by neglect and abuse.

Department of Duh: Child Beauty Pageants Are About Parents Feeling Good, Not Kids

by Ian Chant Oct 26th

Child beauty pageants are pretty much everyone's favorite form of low-grade, civil society approved child abuse, and with the baffling popularity of Honey Boo Boo firmly entrenched, we can expect the pageant scene to enter a renaissance soon. Don't worry, though. A new study shows that parents, not children, get the most emotional benefit from the pageant scene. Which is convenient, because if you're the sort of person who would enter your child into one of these things, chances are you also need external reasons to feel good about the person you are.