Marvel Press
Marvel Press is the prose novel imprint for Marvel Comics jointly published with Disney Books.
Parent company | Marvel Worldwide Inc. (Marvel Entertainment) |
---|---|
Status | active |
Founded | 1982 |
Headquarters location | New York, NY |
Key people | |
Publication types | novels, children's books |
Fiction genres | Superhero |
Official website | books |
Background
Marvel first licensed two prose novels to Bantam Books, which published The Avengers Battle the Earth Wrecker by Otto Binder (1967) and Captain America: The Great Gold Steal by Ted White (1968). Pocket Books pick up the license in 1978, publishing nine books.[2]
History
Marvel Books
Marvel Books division was set up in 1982[3] to initially published coloring books and sticker sets, and was intended to also publish prose novels.[4] Harry Flynn was hired as vice president of Marvel Books.[5] In 1986, Marvel agreed with Fisher Price to launch a Fisher Price line with 15 books in 1986 and 32 books in 1987.[3]
Beginning in 1994, Berkley Boulevard and the since-defunct Byron Preiss Multimedia Company joined to publish Marvel prose novels until Preiss' legal troubles caused a temporary halt to the line in June 1999. Berkley completed the line in 2000 with a total of 45 novels and seven anthologies. The Preiss Company also teamed with Pocket Books from 1996 to 1997 for a young adult books line, including two choose-your-own-adventure books. In 2000 Preiss' BP Books/iBooks launched a new book line, distributed by Simon & Schuster, that ended in 2002.[2]
Marvel Press
In 2003, following publication of the prose young adult novel Mary Jane, starring Mary Jane Watson from the Spider-Man mythos, Marvel Entertainment announced the formation of the publishing imprint Marvel Press, saying in a press release it planned to launch with three prose novels, aimed at various ages, in 2004, and publish at least 12 in 2005.[6] With few books issued under the imprint, Marvel and Disney Books Group relaunched the Marvel Press imprint in 2011 with the Marvel Origin Storybooks line.[7]
Near the end of 2012, Marvel launched a line of prose novels based on adapting popular storylines in a loosely shared universe.[8] Hyperion Books announced in February 2013 a partnership with Marvel to publish in June two prose novels, She-Hulk Diaries and Rogue Touch.[9] In March 2013, Marvel and GraphicAudio will release a 6 hours audio version of the "Civil War" prose novel with sound effects, cinematic music and narration.[10]
Marvel Entertainment announced a new pre-school franchise, Marvel Super Hero Adventures, in September 2017 consisting of a short-form animated series along with publishing and merchandise during "Marvel Mania" October.[11][12] In the publishing field, Marvel Press issued chapter books beginning in September. The first early reader chapter books was Deck the Malls! teamed Spider-Man with Spider-Gwen written by MacKenzie Cadenhead and Sean Ryan and art by Derek Laufman. Three additional chapter books were planned continuing into 2018.[11] John Nee was appointed in January 2018 as publisher of Marvel Comics and Marvel Press.[1]
In addition to its Marvel Press division efforts,[13] Marvel Entertainment in 2019 agreed to two prose publishing licensing agreements.[14] In September 2019, Scholastic signed a young reader agreement with the first two books to be published in 2020.[13] The following month, Asmodee games company agreed to a multi-year novel publishing deal for its new fiction imprint, Aconyte, to debut in the fall 2020 in three formats: trade paperback, ebook and audio and distributed by Simon & Schuster in North America.[14]
References
- "Marvel Names New Publisher as Dan Buckley Assumes President Role Full-Time". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
- DeCandido, Keith R.A. "Marvel Comics in Prose: An Unofficial Guide". SFF.net. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
- "Marvel Grows into $100 Hulk". Variety. 17 September 1986. p. 92. Archived from the original (jpeg) on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- Schmuckler, Eric (February 11–22, 1985). "Clash of the Comic Book Giants". New York City Business via JimShooter.com. p. 28. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
- Gilroy, Dan (1986-09-17). "Marvel Now a $100 Million Hulk: Marvel Divisions and Top Execs". Variety. p. 81. Archived from the original (jpeg) on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- Weiland, Jonah (May 26, 2004). "Marvel Announces Creation of New Prose Imprint, Marvel Press". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- Alverson, Brigid (July 15, 2011). "SDCC '11 | Disney to unveil Marvel Press imprint at San Diego". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on Sep 25, 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
- Adler, Matt (October 15, 2012). "NYCC: Axel Alonso, Peter David & Others On Marvel's Prose Novels". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
- Reid, Calvin (February 7, 2013). "Marvel, Hyperion Plan Women's Fiction Starring She-Hulk and Rogue". publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
- Wright, Eddie (July 30, 2012). "Marvel's 'Civil War' To Become A 'Movie In Your Mind'". geek-news.mtv.com. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
- McMillan, Graeme (September 7, 2017). "Marvel Launches Multiplatform 'Super Hero Adventures' Preschooler Program (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- Whyte, Alexandra (September 8, 2017). "Marvel swings into preschool content". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications Ltd. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- McMillan, Graeme (September 4, 2019). "Marvel Teams With Scholastic for 'Avengers,' 'Shuri' Projects". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
- McMillan, Graeme (October 11, 2019). "Marvel Teams With Gaming Company Asmodee on Book Projects". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 11, 2019.