Kids love superheroes, but thanks to movies and licensed merch, they may not even know about superhero comics. The young-readers category has expanded, albeit in different directions: DC Comics’ original graphic novel line includes both classic and retooled versions of their characters in standalone stories, while Marvel licenses its graphic novels for young readers to other publishers, including Abrams, Graphix, and Random House Children’s Books. Here’s a look at some recent and upcoming graphic novels, plus a handful of other types of books, featuring classic Big Two superheroes.
Early Readers (Ages 5-7)
All the Hulk Feels, by Dan Santat, is a comic with some picture book elements that shows Bruce Banner and his alter ego the Hulk exchanging letters by tucking them into the pocket of their purple pants. The letters are their way of communicating about their emotions and how to deal with them. The 40-page hardcover, published by Abrams, is available now with an MSRP of $19.99.
Aquamanatee, by Narwhal and Jelly creator Ben Clanton and artist Cassandra Federman, is a charming story about a manatee who wants to be Aquaman and gets his wish when he suddenly gets superpowers and finds the real Aquaman asking for his help. But is he up to the challenge? DC Comics released this 72-page hardcover on September 2 with an MSRP of $12.99.
Superman’s Good Guy Gang, by Rob Justus, is the first in DC’s line of comics for early readers (see “DC Launches Early-Readers Graphic Novel Line“). This story has nine-year-old Clark Kent teaming up with Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl and Guy Gardner/Green Lantern to form a superhero club. It’s available now with an MSRP of $12.99.
World of Reading: Spidey and His Amazing Friends: Spidey Cat, by Steve Behling, is the latest in a series of Team Spidey picture books with its own set of characters. In this book, Peter Parker’s cat Bootsie somehow acquires the team’s superpowers and they have to figure out how to get them back. This 32-page paperback, published by Random House/Marvel, will be available on November 4 and with an MSRP of $5.99 would be a great stocking stuffer.
Middle Grade (Ages 8-12)
Around The Spider-Verse, by writers Justin A. Reynolds, Pablo Leon, and Roseanne A. Brown and artists Penelope Riviera Gaylord and Maca Gil, is a perfect pick for fans of both the Spider-Verse and New York City. In three different stories, Miles Morales encounters a sketchy tour guide at the Museum of Natural History, Gwen Stacy and her punk band perform at the Central Park Bandshell until the Jackal disrupts the music, and Anya Corazón has to rescue her father from Kraven the Hunter at the Bronx Zoo. Published by Graphix, this 128-page graphic novel will go on sale on September 16 as a paperback with an MSRP of $12.99 and a hardcover with an MSRP of $24.99.
Hulk Teach!, by Jeffrey Brown, brings Brown’s signature drawing style and slice-of-life humor to a new character: After the Hulk damages public property in his latest meltdown, Bruce Banner is assigned to do community service by teaching middle school. The 160-page graphic novel, in black and white and Hulk green, is published by Graphix and available now as a paperback with an MSRP of $12.99 and a hardcover with an MSRP of $22.99.
Iron Man: Something Strange, by writer Dean Hale and artist Douglas Holgate, is the fourth volume of Abrams’ Mighty Marvel Team-Up graphic novels and the first to feature Iron Man. (The first three, all Spider-Man stories by Mike Maihack, are available singly and as a boxed set.) In this story, which is pitched at the younger end of the middle-grade category, ages 5-9, Iron Man and Doctor Strange work together to round up the children that the creature Gargantos has let loose across New York City. The 96-page hardcover is available now and has an MSRP of $12.99.
Little Batman: Month One, by writer Morgan Evans and artist Jon Mikel, is a sequel to the 2023 animated film Merry Little Batman (see “Merry Little Batman“) and stars Damian Wayne in the title role. Evans, the writer of the film, continues the story with Damian anxious for more superhero action and Bruce Wayne being a wet blanket, until a suspicious guest turns up at the Waynes’ New Year’s Eve party. DC Comics will publish the 144-page paperback on November 4 with an MSRP of $12.99.
Spider-Man Manga: Shadow Warrior, by Shogo Aoki, brings Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and Gwen Stacey to a parallel universe based on feudal Japan, where Kingpin has set himself up as the ruler and unleashes a symbiote that transforms a young man into Venom. This manga, published by Graphix (see “Graphix to Publish Spider-Man Manga for Middle-Grade Readers“), is 208 pages, black and white, reads from right to left, and is complete in a single volume. Graphix has rated it for ages 10 and up and will release it on September 16 as a paperback with an MSRP of $12.99 and a hardcover with an MSRP of $22.99.
Thor Quest: Fires of the Forgekeep, by the Eisner-nominated team of Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, is a heavily illustrated chapter book with comics sequences, maps, and jokes with a similar format to the Last Kids on Earth chapter books. In this tale, Thor and Loki, and their friends Fandral and Sif, are trapped in the Forgekeep of the Dwarves, deep underground and separated from each other. To reunite and escape, they must solve a maze and face down the Dwarven warlord and his mechanical army. The 208-page hardcover, published by Random House/Marvel, will go on sale on October 7 with an MSRP of $14.99. The first book in the series, Thor Quest: Hammers of the Gods, was published in 2023.
Young Adult (Ages 13+)
Nubia: Too Real, by L.L. McKinney, Robyn Smith, and Manou Azumi, is a sequel to 2020’s Harvey-nominated Nubia: Real One (see “Preview: ‘Nubia: Real One’ GN“). This new story has a classic superhero arc: Nubia goes to Themyscira to train with the Amazons but isn’t sure she belongs there until a catastrophe forces her to rise to the occasion, giving her new confidence and mastery of her powers. The 208-page paperback will be released on September 30 with an MSRP of $16.99.
White Widow: Secret Sisters, by Tess Sharpe, is a prose novel that takes Yelena Belova/White Widow on a trip to the U.S., where she sees for the first time what her life could be like. When her mission goes awry, she winds up on the run with an eight-year-old whose fate is tied to hers. The 320-page novel, published by Random House/Marvel and rated for ages 14 and up, is available now as a hardcover with an MSRP of $18.99.
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Source: ICv2
