A brand new wave of Marvel graphic novels aimed at young readers is coming, and it'll be Miles Morales' Spider-Man leading the charge when Marvel and Scholastic team up for a new series of original graphic novels set to release in Spring 2021.
The two publishing titans just announced a multi-year partnership for the series, with Miles Morales: Shock Waves being the first offering. Later books in the line will focus on characters like Kamala Khan's Ms. Marvel and Wakanda's Princess Shuri. Though Marvel teased more characters and books in the press release announcing the endeavor. The books will come from a variety of award-winning writers and artists. Bestselling author Justin A. Reynolds and Eisner Award-nominated artist Pablo Leon will tell Miles' story. Nadia Shammas will pen Khan's story, and New York Times bestselling author Roseanne A. Brown will write Shuri's. The artists for the additional planned books have yet to be revealed.
Shock Waves will see Miles Morales responding to an earthquake in his mother's birthplace of Puerto Rico to raise funds for the devastated island. But when people around him start to go missing - seemingly in connection to his fundraiser's sponsor - Spider-Man will have to spring into action. Marvel's announcement didn't offer any plot details for any of the additional planned titles.
The two companies partnered earlier this year for Shuri: A Black Panther Novel, written by Nic Stone, another NYT bestseller. That book proved successful enough to warrant a second novel in the same series - Avengers Assembly: Orientation - which is being written by Preeti Chhibber and scheduled for release in August. Marvel also promised additional novels (and sequels) for fans to enjoy in the future.
While Miles Morales has been in the pages of Marvel's comics for years, he was given the mainstream limelight with the release of 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Not only did the animated film introduce an entirely new audience to the character, then mostly known only to comic fans, it ended up being popular enough to get a sequel.
“Ever since he entered the Marvel Universe a few years ago, Miles has struck a deep and personal chord with fans around the world,” said Lauren Bisom, Editor of Marvel’s juvenile publishing. “As Spider-Man, he embodies that classic coming-of-age story. But as Miles, he represents so much more—and his life experiences, his culture, and his ability to embrace his inner strength make him one of the most important and inspirational heroes in the Marvel Universe.”
It's been a big couple of days for Morales. Not only did production on the Spider-Verse sequel began literally the day before this announcement, the cover art for his upcoming video game has been revealed. And the announcement also indicates a welcomed shift toward more diversity in the Marvel world, considering the first three books announced will center on an African American/Puerto Rican, a Pakastani-American (Marvel's first Muslim superhero) and an African scientific genius. No exact release date has been announced for any of the books, but at the very least, now Miles Morales' Spider-Man has even more to look forward to at his school's next Scholastic Book Fair.