Marvel Action: Spider-Man, a perfect publishing team-up

Marvel Action: Spider-Man sounds like a case of over the top branding. However, it’s presented that way for a very good reason. Marvel Action: Spider-Man is a new all age comic book that’s presented by IDW Publishing. On paper this is a match made in heaven. Star Wars Adventures from IDW Publishing is one of the go-to all age comic books and if they can reproduce that success on other characters that’s awesome. That is exactly the result with Marvel Action: Spider-Man. This is what an all age comic book should be. It’s jammed with action, sharp dialogue, gorgeous art and characters that kids know and want to read about-without sacrificing the action, it story or dumbing it down.

Marvel Action: Spider-Man also weaves together many of the Spidey narratives in one comic book. In this comic, Peter Parker is a kid in middle school. Also in this school are Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy. They, along with group of their peers are competing for an internship at Stark Industry. The meeting is taking place at The Daily Bugle, but it’s cut short when some of the news staff has to leave to cover a disturbance involving three rabid green dogs that are each the size of a horse.

Gwen is first on the scene first and immediately starts filming the beasts. Spidey is amazed at how fearless she is and how quick her reflexes are as she’s managing the camera and dodging the dog’s tail. Just as she’s about the punched by the beast, the beast itself is knocked back by Miles Morales who is not wearing his costume. Again, Spider-Man is amazed at Miles’ reflexes, how he moves like he does and virtually climb walls.

The only thing that Miles can’t do, according to Spidey, is sling webs, which is exactly what’s needed to subdue the two beasts. Once Spidey does his thing the police arrive and Miles mysteriously disappears, almost fades away; which confuses Spider-Man as he wanted him to share in the credit.

Marvel Action: Spider-Man #1 sets up a wonderful all age comic book series. Based on the first issue it has action that will attract existing super hero fans and be a welcome gateway to those readers that couldn’t jump into an existing Spider-Man series due to content. If Peter Parker in those series is in high school, then this Peter Parker is in middle school. This is what your 9 year old comic book fan has been waiting for.

Not to be outdone, Marvel Action: The Avengers and Marvel Action: Black Panther are being published in the coming months. This inclusion will make IDW Publishing one of the go-to publishers of all age comic books. Previously they’ve had some great all age comics, but they were usually relegated to My Little Pony and Star Wars Adventures. With this addition they join Boom! Studios as producing a consistent, steady stream of great all age comics on a monthly basis.