Marvel expands its presence on the Young Adult scene, announcing five exciting novels starring your favorite comic book characters.
The upcoming novels follow the path beaten by Margaret Stohl in Black Widow: Forever Red, the first YA novel published by Marvel Press. Focused on Natasha Romanoff and a young pseudo-protege, Ava Orlova, the book debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List last month.
Related: Margaret Stohl on the challenges and triumphs of Black Widow: Forever Red
Stohl will follow up Forever Red with Black Widow: Red Vengeance. The sequel will continue the adventures of Romanoff and Orlova – the “Red Widow.”
On the trend of putting focus on less-attended (and in some cases, ignored) female characters, bestselling author Shannon Hale and her husband Dean will bring two powerful Marvel ladies to the literary forefront. The Hales will novelize the adventures of the beloved Carol Danvers – a.k.a., Captain Marvel – and the plucky, powerful Squirrel Girl in two stories due next year from Marvel Press.
Squirrel Girl, a.k.a., Doreen Green, was recently ret-conned from her established mutant status in her comic series. Since Fox has ownership over all mutant characters, it is possible that the Squirrel Girl novel represents an advance of Marvel’s agenda to introduce Doreen into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The new batch of YA novels also includes front-and-center characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Artemis Fowl author Eoin Colfer “will present an electrifying new take on the Marvel universe’s most famous billionaire super hero, Tony Stark.” Coming in Fall 2016, the story will feature Stark as Iron Man, telling “a towering tale of armor and adventure.”
And for those looking to add an intergalactic flavor to their YA, a novel wryly titled Rocket & Groot: Stranded on Planet Strip Mall is due in the Spring. Tom Angleberger (Origami Yoda) will bring his trademark comedic flair to the strange pair of raccoon and tree so beloved in last year’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
It has been a long time since such a distinct new genre emerged in Young Adult fiction, and it’s exciting to see Marvel Press take such expansive steps into bringing the comic book and cinematic worlds into black-and-white literature.