Kids like comics! Even Marvel comics! So here comes MARVEL SUPER HERO ADVENTURES, an all-new, all-ages comic book series arriving in April that ties in with the young readers initiative of the same name announced last Fall, which includes a 10-episodes anmated series. Writer Jim McCann, artist Dario Brizuela and cover artist Guruhiru are the creative team.
Marvel has tinkered on and off with all-ages material for quite a while. Marvel themed books sell well at Disney so why not try it in-house? The Marvel Supeheroes Adventure program is aimed at preschoolers – what better age to get readers hooked on Marvel. The preview art shows MIni-mates style versions of Spider-Man, Black Panther and the Dora Milaje in action, so obviosuy tying in to the MCU is part of the appeal.
Written by Jim McCann (New Avengers: The Reunion) with art by Dario Brizuela (Avengers: No More Bullying, Avengers Vs), the five-issue series features all the classic action and adventures of Marvel’s greatest heroes in kid-friendly versions. McCann’s work on the Marvel Press children’s series 5-Minute Spider-Man Stories as well as junior novelizations for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming and Thor: Ragnarok help make MARVEL SUPER HERO ADVENTURES the perfect new tale for readers of all ages to enjoy. Through stories that touch upon aspirational themes of friendship, helping others, and heroism, preschool kids and young readers will have a gateway into the Marvel Universe.
“Marvel Super Hero Adventures is a chance to introduce the great heroes of Marvel to a brand new generation in exciting stories with lessons, adventures, and action that readers of all ages have come to expect from the House of Ideas!” said McCann. “Each issue features Spider-Man teaming up with characters both classic, such as Black Panther and Doctor Strange, and popular new faces like Ms. Marvel. Together they battle villains like Doc Ock, Taskmaster, Venom and more. This is the book you can pick up and share with anyone from your kids to your friends!”
“I’m excited about the Super Hero Adventures project because I just love comics that are really for kids, for early readers,” added series editor Sarah Brunstad. “They’re a great way for kids to beef up their reading skills, and make for perfect ‘tuck-me-in’ reading moments for parents to share. Both Jim McCann and Dario Brizuela are experts in that category; they’re incredibly talented and really get the core of Marvel characters and how to introduce them to new audiences. We want to entertain and inspire with this series, and I can’t wait for the first issue to hit the stands.”
Catch the newest adventures, starting with Spider-Man swinging into Wakanda, in MARVEL SUPER HERO ADVENTURES, on sale this April!
Check out more Marvel Super Hero Adventures programming including early reader chapter books and picture books at book sellers everywhere. Watch the Marvel Super Hero Adventures animated shorts on MarvelHQ.
MARVEL SUPER HERO ADVENTURES #1 (of 5)
Written by JIM MCCANN
Art by DARIO BRIZUELA
Cover by GURIHIRU
Something that puzzles me. This is a superbly drawn comic but why do publishers think that superhero comics for young kids have to look so “cute”? Myself and thousands of other 7 year olds in the 1960s coped perfectly well with the Kirby/Heck/Ditko style and the comics hooked us for life. I appreciate that modern superhero comics are too dark and gritty (and too linked into continuity and crossovers) to be suitable for young children but this cutesy style isn’t really “all ages”. It’s more likely to put off anyone over five years old.
There are artists and writers who can produce dynamic looking comics that would have a nice balance to appeal to all ages. What we currently have are two extremes; standard Marvel stuff for teens upwards, and this for very young children. Where are the Marvel comics for 7 to 12 year olds?
I agree with Lew’s comment. Just draw how it would normally look and not simplify it to some dumb Funko look. They should bring back Spidey Super Stories, it was how I learned to read and learned to LOVE reading.
My 5 year old loves the style of this line and the toys. There’s a reason why Target has en entire aisle devoted to the toys in this style (imagine-x etc). Kids that age tend to go for cartoony stuff like this. Very accessible and friendly. My 5 yr old kid literally told me the regular star wars figures looked “dumb” and “scary” and went for these cartoony versions instead. Its amazing how more grown up looking stuff is unappealing at that age.
The bigger concern is that preschool age kids don’t know how to read yet. At least not well enough for a comic book. They are being read to and enjoy picture and story books. Artists like Mo Willems work in this space and do comic-like stuff in their books, and the most complex i’ve seen is a simple 4 panel on a page, one character/no background with very large and simple word balloons.
This would be MUCH better in a Little Golden Book style picture/story, or those early reader series story books(kindergarten and up). It doesn’t seem like Marvel understands who the target demo for these books are. Preschool is 3-4 years old. TK and Kindergarten is 5 and 6 years old. That still is kinda young for comics which are visually complex. There’s a universe of difference between a preschooler, a kindergartener and a 1st grader.
Looks like fun. All-ages comics are definitely the best first step to learning about all the storytelling potential that the comics form has to offer. That’s why TOON Books is so great, as well.
“Kids that age tend to go for cartoony stuff like this. Very accessible and friendly.”
I started with the little-kid comics of the mid-1960s, from Harvey and Gold Key, then worked my way up to DC and then Marvel. And eventually to Warren and classics of the past (Eisner, Caniff, EC, and so on). Those Casper and Bugs Bunny comics wouldn’t interest me now, but then got me started. Gotta start somewhere.
Of course, all superhero comics in the ’60s were “all ages.” The Code, then strictly enforced, saw to that. But a lot of great stories were told despite the restrictions, just like a lot of great movies were made despite the self-censorship imposed from the ’30s to the ’60s.
Is Marvel printing these or is it IDW, who dontinue to make the adventure books for Starwars, or perhaps Archie who does the digest reprints for Disney/Mavel?
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