Resources & Archives Not-so-SUPER-man? NEAVS Turns to Bart Simpson for Help When Superman Takes a Flyer on Dissection Choice (Summer 2000) — A check of local newsstands and comic book stores this summer will show why NEAVS thinks well-known comic character Bart Simpson is considerably more "super" than Superman - at least when it comes to promoting dissection choice. In support of its "Year of the Humane Child" activities, NEAVS and its affiliate, the Ethical Science and Education Coalition (ESEC), developed a dissection choice comic book ad and contest, targeted at elementary and high school comic book readers. The ad was created following the release of the first-ever Zogby America opinion poll, commissioned as part of the 2000: Year of the Humane Child campaign, assessing how Americans felt about encouraging kids to respect and protect animals. The poll showed inconsistencies in how Americans view non-human animals. While a majority of respondents thought it was wrong to harm a companion animal, far fewer thought it was wrong to dissect a frog in class. In fact, many respondents said they would coerce their children to dissect and would not support their decision if they chose not to dissect. "Clearly, new ways of promoting ethical, cruelty-free dissection choice are needed," said NEAVS President Dr. Theodora Capaldo, a psychologist. A full-color ad and contest, stressing the importance of dissection alternatives, were set to run in a special edition comic, Superman for the Animals, produced by DC Comics in collaboration with the Doris Day Animal League (DDAL). However, just days before the presses were ready to roll, DC Comics proved faster than a speeding bullet in summarily booting NEAVS' dissection choice ad from the special issue. Unwilling to take 'no' for an answer, NEAVS looked for another venue for its ad promoting cruelty-free science education. Enter comic character Bart Simpson and his bosses at Bongo Comics! Thanks to the humane and enlightened attitude at Bongo Comics, NEAVS' humane and enlightened ad will appear in the very first issue of Bongo's new comic, Bart Comics (sure to be a collector's item when it hits the newsstands in August). The NEAVS ad also appeared in The Simpsons comic in June. Bart and his younger sister Lisa are no strangers to fighting for a kinder, cruelty-free world. In one comic plot, Lisa decides not to cut up a frog during science class. "We were disappointed with the decision to pull the ads," said DDAL Director Holly Hazard. "An important goal of the Year of the Humane Child campaign is to help children have a voice on behalf of the animals. The NEAVS dissection choice ad would give children the opportunity to explore some moral and ethical questions surrounding the use of animals in education, and we are happy they found an alternative venue for their contest." "NEAVS has long known that the way to reach the next generation is to create cruelty-free classrooms," said Capaldo. "Dissection choice is an important part of our anti-vivisection message. We find it incredible that DC Comics did not seize this opportunity to help students learn important life lessons. Students who do not see the consequences of cruelty and insensitivity - in all its forms - could grow up thinking there is no connection between the disregard and disrespect inherent in dissection and other forms of disregard and disrespect for non-human animals. NEAVS applauds Bongo Comics for having the courage and integrity to run our ad promoting dissection choice and ethical decision-making," Capaldo said. Added Sue Gaines, ESEC Science Advisor, "We were outraged when we learned that DC Comics, one of the most powerful forces for reaching young students, had taken a stand that is both uncaring and uninformed. However, we are delighted that our ad is appearing in one of the most eagerly awaited comic books of the new millennium. Bart Simpson is a genuine superhero to us." "DC Comics proved less than genuine by choosing not to offer information about dissection choice - one of the most compassionate acts of all," said Capaldo. "We are asking NEAVS members and supporters to make their disappointment clear to the decision-makers at DC Comics." The Year of the Humane Child, a project of the Summit for the Animals, is an unprecedented coalition of more than 20 national animal protection organizations including NEAVS. Back to UPDATE 2000 Series, Vol. 1, No. 2 Summer mainpage.