I live fairly close to Half Price Books and Barnes & Noble. From time to time, I browse the shelves to see the comic selections at both stores. (Frankly, it’s a miracle I don’t have to buy all the books.) One thing that struck me was the amount of comics aimed at younger readers. That’s natural. Kids are more likely to go to a bookstore than a comic book store, so why not stock them with comics they might be interested in? That’s the energy Marvel Super Stories: Amazing Adventures brings.
“Amazing Adventures” is the second in the “Marvel Super Stories” collection, which brings together a group of cartoonists to create six-page stories focusing on various Marvel heroes. These include Marvel icons like Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and Captain America, as well as lesser-known figures like Ant-Man and Silk. Even Brian Fees’ Avengers story “Cheese Not Be Proud” is more about Wonder Man and the Beast than the usual collection of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
I actually love this. This is a great way to introduce different corners of the Marvel Universe, especially to young readers who were first introduced to the Marvel Universe through movies and TV shows. The diversity of heroes represented in Amazing Adventures is matched by the diversity of creators on display. In addition to Fease, Dan Haspier (Mo and Joe Fight Together Forever), Chan Chau (who drew the Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels), and Judd Winnick (comic fans will probably love Jason Todd from the world) There are also works by (you probably know him as the man who brought him home). Although deceased, he recently focused on younger readers with his Hilo series).
This collection of talent comes courtesy of John Jennings. Not only did he curate Amazing Adventures, he also contributed the Black Panther story “All in the Mix” to the anthology. Jennings also wrote a foreword that speaks specifically to the power of stories shared over many years. For example, the original legend of Thor and the Norse gods was shared by Scandinavian peoples, and then brought to the modern world when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby first introduced Thor in Journey into Mystery #83. I was reintroduced. “These are the heroes who have inspired generations before you,” Jennings writes. “And inevitably, it also influences the readers that come after you.”
That stuck with me as I read this book. In fact, the same characters I’ve known and loved since I was a kid are reinterpreted through a new lens rooted in modern times. Consider the Spider-Man story “The Bogus Bodega” by Jarrett J. Krosochka. Spider-Man fights Doctor Octopus, who is trying to brainwash the public with an energy drink that he plans to spread through a viral video. Spidey defeated him by recording their fight live, which quickly became a Doc Ock trend. This is a plan that actually seems to work, especially in this day and age where we use cell phones for most purposes, including entertainment and concerns about children’s screen time. Krosoczka also captures the acrobatic energy of the Spider-Man comics, especially the webslinging.
Other stories in the collection lean into this same vibe. The Hawkeye story “Signs of Justice” by Carlisle Robinson is mostly told in sign language, as Clint Barton is partially deaf. Robinson inserts dialogue with various hand signs and blurs the words to show how Clint operates. Similarly, Chan’s “The Night Watch” focuses on how Moon Knight’s mental struggles isolate him from his friends and the people he protects. And I was really surprised by the development of Haspier’s Fantastic Four story “Friend or Foe?” It paints Mole Man in a surprisingly sympathetic light.
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Amazing Adventures is also surprisingly portable. In the vein of DC’s Compact Comics and Marvel’s upcoming Premiere Comics, the volume is smaller, making it easy to carry in a backpack or read on the go. The length of the story also has good flow and structure. There are three Spider-related heroes (Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2009, and Silk), but they’re spread out so that other heroes like the Guardians of the Galaxy and Doctor Strange get a chance to shine.
Marvel Super Stories: Amazing Adventures continues the trend of modernizing Marvel heroes and presenting them in a format that appeals to young readers. We recommend giving this as a Christmas gift or birthday gift to teachers, parents, and others. This is a great way to actually get kids reading, and can be a greater introduction to the world outside the window that Marvel represents.
Marvel Super Stories: Amazing Adventures is a youth-friendly take on Marvel heroes
Marvel Super Stories: Amazing Adventures
Marvel Super Stories: Amazing Adventures continues the trend of modernizing Marvel heroes and presenting them in a format that appeals to young readers. We recommend giving this as a Christmas gift or birthday gift to teachers, parents, and others. This is a great way to actually get kids reading, and can be a greater introduction to the world outside the window that Marvel represents.
A wide variety of Marvel characters.
A great collection of artists who bring their own unique flair to Marvel heroes.
It’s a story that feels rooted in the modern day, yet captures the characteristics of each Marvel hero well.
Portable format perfect for carrying around.
