The new animated series
Marvel Rising: Initiation debuted this week and while I originally thought each webisode would be released on a weekly basis, it looks like Disney and Marvel have opted to release all of them at once. Not only that, but Marvel HQ has compiled them all into a single video, available to stream online for free. A total of six animated shorts were released, equating to 22 minutes - about the length of a standard television episode - of action-packed adventure starring Ghost-Spider (known in the comics as Spider-Gwen).
Initiation serves as a nice introduction to the new
Marvel Rising franchise which stars "the next generation of Marvel heroes." It focuses on Gwen Stacy's Ghost-Spider who finds herself wrongly accused of a murder. The 22-minute series follows her adventures as she attempts to clear her name and track down the villain truly responsible for the murder of an innocent person. Along the way, we are introduced to Kamela Kahn's Ms. Marvel (Kathleen Khavari), Doreen Green's Squirrel Girl (Milana Vayntrub), and Tippy Toe (Dee Bradley Baker) - the legendary trio that forms the Best Friend Heroes Forever. The series also features Rayshaun Lucas's Patriot (Kamil McFadden) and Daisy Johnson's Quake (Chloe Bennet).
Despite being just 22 minutes,
Initiation surprisingly packs in a good amount of action and backstory. It also does a good job of setting up the feature-length animated film,
Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors, which will premiere later this year and include several other high-profile heroes, including Captain Marvel and America Chavez.
Gwen Stacy AKA Ghost-Spider, wrongly accused of a crime she didn’t commit, seeks to clear her name and deliver justice. Unfortunately, her dad is not only Captain of the NYPD, but spearheading the manhunt!
To make matters worse, other young heroes—Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, Quake and Patriot—are after Ghost Spider as well. But, as the chase to uncover the truth winds down, a darker threat looms along the horizon, and very soon, these heroes will need to put aside their differences and work together as a team.
What did you think of Marvel Rising: Initiation ?