Over the years, Marvel has created a roster of superheroes who are often as relatable as they are inspiring, dealing with all too human fears, insecurities, and societal issues in addition to navigating the trials and tribulations of having special abilities. That’s especially true of the company’s younger characters, both on the big screen and on the page – from Peter Parker and Miles Morales to Kamala Khan and Shuri – and it’s also a storytelling focus that’s at the heart of the company’s unscripted effort for Disney+, Marvel’s Hero Project.
As we noted in our series premiere review, Marvel’s Hero Project is “feel-good fuel” – a docuseries “featuring kids who’ve created remarkable and profound change in their communities and environments across the U.S. They’re young, awesome activists who’ve overcome numerous odds, both physical and societal, to rise up into role model status, and as possible future leaders. These kids aren’t competing to see who can join Marvel’s ranks, or for any type of specific prize. They’re authentically passionate about their respective missions and it’s Marvel that seeks them out for spotlighting.”
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Each child gets to share their passion – whether it’s an amazing invention, a charitable initiative they’ve founded, or a cause they champion – and Marvel creates a comic book centered around their story. It’s unabashedly wholesome stuff that could make Iron Man himself misty, and if you haven’t checked it out yet (17 episodes are currently available on Disney+, with new installments released each Friday), you might find it worth a watch just to remind yourself of the inherent goodness of humanity – not to mention the impressive creativity of the young heroes it features.
IGN has an exclusive sneak peek at this week’s episode, “Genius Gitanjali,” which takes us inside the Marvel Comics bullpen to see how the creative and editorial teams (including Marvel’s Executive Vice President and Creative Director Joe Quesada, VP of Creative and Content Stephen Wacker, VP of Content and Character Sana Amanat, and Senior Editor Jennifer Grunwald) conceptualize each comic, drawing inspiration from existing Marvel heroes to craft a unique tale for each kid, which you can read on Marvel’s website.
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According to Marvel, this week’s hero, Gitanjali, “uses science as a catalyst for social change. Inspired by the water contamination problem in Flint, Michigan, she invented a lead detection device to help people in Flint and other areas, and has since become an inspiration to young females pursuing science studies and careers. She also regularly meets with younger girls, giving talks on the importance of mentorship and promoting women in STEM fields.”
We also heard from Gitanjali herself on what being featured on Marvel’s Hero Project meant to her – read her Q&A below, which has been lightly edited for clarity:
How did it feel to see your comic book for the first time, and what does it mean to be part of Marvel’s Hero Project?
To see my comic book for the first time was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I can’t believe that Marvel created a comic about me and my work, it’s nothing that I would’ve imagined before. Being part of Marvel’s Hero Project makes me so thankful towards Disney and Marvel for highlighting the need to combine science and kindness to solve global problems. I also admire other young activists and volunteers who are all fighting for a cause passionately. I believe with Marvel’s Hero Project, more young students our age will get motivated and we will all continue to be a better version of ourselves to help the society no matter what our talents are.
What inspired you to create your lead detection device?
Right from a young age, during my travels, I have seen the importance of access to clean drinking water. When I was about 9, I heard about the Flint water crisis and lead contamination. It was always in the back of my mind and sometime when I was about eleven, I decided to try solving this with my passion for science.
How do you hope your story might inspire others?
No matter who we are or where we come from, we can always try to solve problems whether it is big or small. Especially girls and young women tend to stay away from STEM fields because they are not encouraged, do not see a role model, do not have enough resources or do not feel comfortable. I hope my story inspires them to look for our own resources, seek out mentors, get away from our comfort zone, find our own path and write our own story because this is possible. We girls or young women need to take responsibility to solve problems, because our unique perspective, thoughts and ideas need to be represented in future solutions.
Source: IGN.com Marvel's Hero Project Might Restore Your Faith in Humanity