Marvel Risingis a brand-new, multi-platform animated franchise with a focus on inclusivity, empowerment, and relatability for a tween audience. And to introduce this new series, Disney XD is launchingMarvel Rising: Initiation, a compilation of six animated shorts that will premiere on August 13th at 7:30pm ET/PT. The story follows a young, new group of predominantly female superheroes as they come into their own and eventually form a super-powered team. And we were lucky enough to get an early look at it!
Written byMairghread Scott, and with supervising directorAlfred Gimeno,Marvel Rising: Initiationserves up a fast-paced narrative that introduces the series' scope and style, while teasing the story that surrounds the mysterious Ghost-Spider, her enemies, and her allies.Dove Cameronstars in the shorts as Ghost-Spider, withChloe Bennetas Quake,Kamil McFaddenas Patriot,Milana Vayntrubas Squirrel Girl,Kathreen Khavarias Ms. Marvel,Dee Bradley Bakeras Tippy Toe,Skai Jacksonas Gloria Grant, andSteven Weberas Captain George Stacy.
I’ll get into my review below, but first, we have a brand-newMarvel Rising: Initiationfeaturette to share in which Cameron goes behind-the-scenes of her recording process and answers the question – Who is Ghost-Spider?
Meet Ghost Spider in this new featurette with commentary from Cameron:
Teenage superhero Gwen Stacy, AKA Ghost-Spider, is used to spending her time fighting for justice and playing drums in her band. But when she finds herself accused of being on the wrong side of the law — chased by her police captain father, as well as a host of young heroes including Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, Quake and Patriot — Ghost-Spider must go on the run to prove her innocence.
I have a confession to make: I’m pretty much a novice when it comes to Marvel Comics' heroes Ghost-Spider and Squirrel Girl; I’ve got a passing familiarity with Ms. Marvel from other animated fare likeAvengers Assembleand the like, as well as Quake, thanks toChloe Bennet’s excellent arc as the character on ABC’sAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.SoMarvel Rising: Initiationwas more or less the perfect introduction to this new (to me) cast of characters who will be leading the charge in this ambitious new project.
I don’t know how these characters will be received by more hardcore fans, but here’s howMarvel Rising: Initiationportrays them: Ghost-Spider (a.k.a. Gwen Stacy) has the smarts and sarcasm of one Peter Parker but also has a punk styling to her that gives her character more of an edge. She’s instantly likable, stylish, not afraid to tussle, and is hurt most by the fact that her friends and loved ones think she’s responsible for a heinous crime. That makes Ghost-Spider a relatable character for just about anyone, even if you don’t happen to have super-spider powers.
Captain Stacy wants this menace off of his city’s streets. Tasked with bringing the vigilante Ghost-Spider in for questioning are S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Quake and Patriot, though it isn’t long before superheroes-in-training Squirrel Girl and Ms. Marvel get into the mix. Quake gets the least screen time here, but Bennet’s earlier character work does the heavy lifting for her; she is, however, the most capable leader of all the heroes. Patriot is a go-getter who’s quite proud of his training under Captain America, even if his ambition outpaces his ability to execute at the moment. The pairing of Squirrel Girl and Ms. Marvel is a fun one that promises lots of laugh-packed adventures in the episodes ahead; the animators clearly have a lot of fun with Squirrel Girl’s animal pal and her sometimes fourth-wall-breaking humor, as well as Ms. Marvel’s size-changing abilities.
As far as alter egos go, only Gwen Stacy gets to act out of costume a bit. She plays in a band with her friends Mary Jane and Gloria, and their garage band stylings feel like they’re an homage to eitherJEMor any other bubblegum pop-punk band of the last 30 years. Not a lot of time is spent here, but it does humanize Gwen a bit more, as does the tragic story of the death of her best friend, a death that her costumed counterpart Ghost-Spider is unfairly blamed for.
Without revealing how it all turns out in the end, it’s safe to say that all of these characters will eventually come together in surprising ways. If you haven’t been watching animated series likeGuardians of the GalaxyorMarvel’s Spider-Man, the animation style may take a little getting used to, but it seems like that house style is here to stay for the time being. That aside,Marvel Rising: Initiationis a solid set-up that introduces compelling characters, complicated relationships, and an intriguing mystery that also reveals new, super-shady (and super-powered) villains. (There are a few Marvel Easter eggs here and there for you to enjoy, too.) It’s a promising start forMarvel Risingand I’m excited to see howSecret Warriorspicks up from here later this year.
Keep an eye out forMarvel Rising: Initiationon Disney XD on Monday, August 13th at 7:30pm ET/PT, followed byMarvel Rising: Secret Warriorson Disney Channel this fall.
Marvel Rising: InitiationandMarvel Rising: Secret Warriorsare executive produced byJoe Quesada,Dan Buckley,Cort Lane, andEric Radomski; co-executive produced byStan Lee,Sana Amanat, andMarsha Griffin.
