From the moment I saw the cover of the all ages comic Marvel Superhero Adventures, I was super excited for my children to read it. They are both massive superhero fans, and let’s face it, it’s an amazing time to be a kid with all of the Marvel and DC properties in movie theaters, cartoons, toys, but what about the comics? Sure, they’ve existed, but are many parents giving their children the comic books these awesome characters come from? And do parents know what comics are safe for their children to read? As a parent who grew up reading comics as a kid, and them still obviously being a big part of my life, I love to share the joy of reading them with my children, but I understand the medium can be a little intimidating, confusing, and foreign if you’re not as familiar with it. I will say with great certainty that this comic is great for kids of all ages.
There are already titles that work well for children, like Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, and the numerous Spider-Man, and Guardians of the Galaxy series, and even DC’s Super Powers which my son adored. The list goes on and on from TMNT, to other wonderful series included in the BOOM! Box line. Marvel Superhero Adventures and the upcoming Marvel Rising are Marvel seemingly pushing these titles more than they have in the past, and hopefully they catch on and give a gradual stepping stone to the other existing titles as children grow older.
The bulk of the comic drawn by Dario Brizuela is something close to Marvel’s own cartoon Superhero Squad. The characters are short and stocky, but it’s a great style that really works and kids will grab onto immediately. It never feels like the characters aren’t themselves, and the action is fun for kids of all ages. This comic is really like stills from a cartoon, and that seems intentional. The beginning and ending pages are a more classic style featuring Spidey telling the story that exists in the book to a criminal he catches. I think the more cartoon like style works better for this comic, but this is still a cool effect, perhaps bridging this comic to a style comic readers are more used to. Also, the cover by Gurihiru is awesome. It is truly t-shirt or poster worthy.
If you are a parent or a kid at heart, this book will have something for you. The story by Jim McCann is a quick action filled tale of Spidey working with Black Panther in Wakanda fighting Doctor Octopus. It doesn’t really feature too many words that show slow young children down, and if it does, well then it will be fun to read with their parents or have it read to them. I am always encouraging parents to bring comics into their children’s lives, and this is a great way to start, or continue. I have added this to my pull list at my local comic shop for my children, and they are very excited to have it in their hands.
Story: Jim McCann Art: Dario Brizuela Cover: Gurihiru
Story: 7.5 Art: 8 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
