Alix, you are not over-reacting.  I agree!  In my 5th month of reading "Real Boys" with all my free time, I will echo William Pollack in saying that our society has this sad habit of labeling boys as "toxic" and "rebellious".  We have glorified a "boys will be boys" attitude, and accepted the myth that boys are angry, grumpy, can't talk about their feelings, are tough, etc, etc.  The skull and bones clothing designers are apparently trying to capitalize on this harmful myth.  As if a 5 year old boy wants to advertise on his shirt, or as if his (sick and twisted) parents would like to advertise..."I am toxic.  I am tough. I certainly don't like babyish things like teddy bears."  I think is pretty lame.   OR... maybe the designers are participating in some kind of ancestor-worship as the Mexican cultures do for "Dia de los Muertos".  Maybe they are just saying that boys are honoring their dead ancestors.  I guessing its the former though.