Gender Issues in Graphic Novels

I never really though about it but Mary Rice discusses the problem of gender issues in comic books and graphic novels.  She discusses the issues that some of her girls were having over the way women were portrayed in comic books.  Rice also discusses the "hyper-masculine" male characters (3).  Although Rice does not discuss her objection to this factor for long, she leaves it out there for her readers to contemplate.  I think that introducing comic books into the literary classroom is a good idea; however, Rice is right.  It is important to try and pick the right book with appropriate images.  While this seems like it is impossible to do considering the culture of comic books is mainly centered on art and this art is definitely a product of our culture in the way it portrays the ultimate man and woman.  I believe it is because of this that the question is raised as to what age group should be begin to introduce comics that may have some questionable art work?  What age do you guys think would be appropriate where the students will be able to see past the images and instead use the images to help them with their literary understanding of the actual story?