The word “inspirational” gets thrown around a lot nowadays—and it particularly gets mentioned in every 25-minute Marvel Hero Project episode. Then again, it’s hard to come up with a better word for everything that this series is about, and how effectively it manages to turn a spotlight on young people who could earn the designation of “real-life superheroes.”
That’s the hook behind these profiles of kids who—whether through their actions, their activism or just their attitude—have grabbed the attention of the creative team at Marvel Comics, which decides to honor the subjects with their own personalized comic-book stories. “Sensational Jordan” profiles Jordan Reeves, a Columbia, Mo. middle-schooler born without a left hand who developed a 3D-printed design for a prosthetic glitter-cannon; “Incredible Elijah” tells the story of 11-year-old North Carolina resident Elijah Lee’s campaign to address child abuse; and “Unstoppable Adonis” follows Phoenix high-school student Adonis Watt, who lost his sight at the age of five but still plays for his school football team.
It’s only after watching all three episodes that it’s clear how much Marvel Hero Project depends on the personalities of the subjects they’re profiling. While both Jordan and Elijah are bubbly and energetic on camera, Adonis is more introverted, and as impressive as his achievements are, it’s hard for his story to have quite the same emotional impact—especially when the finale of each episode is built around them receiving their individually-designed comic book and “hero jacket,” and Adonis barely reacts to it all. (And that’s saying nothing of the fact that it’s a little bit mean giving someone who lives in Phoenix a black leather jacket.)
But the stories themselves are still winning showcases of determination and positivity, particularly when you’ve got someone as preternaturally focused and passionate as Elijah Lee, who could run for public office right now and I’d vote for him in a heartbeat. The tears these episodes might bring to your eyes are earned, built around the kind of people who genuinely do provide an example for acting with integrity and determination. If anything, Marvel Hero Project could spend more time in each episode on the day-to-day lives and activities of the subjects, and less on the scenes showing Marvel’s New York-based artists and writers talking about how inspired they are, and their ideas for developing the comic books.
It’s in those moments that Marvel Hero Project feels a little self-serving, making sure we see how much everyone involved is very serious about honoring these kids, while also name-dropping Marvel characters as points of comparison (“He’s so empathetic … it’s just like Mantis!”). Maybe it’s inevitable that the sponsoring entity is going to make sure to grab at least a little of the spotlight, and maybe it’s worth it to provide a platform for them to share these stories. Not all heroes wear capes, and perhaps they shouldn’t all be asked to wear black leather jackets. It’s still satisfying to spend a little time being reminded that somewhere in this world, there are still people worth looking up to.
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