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Are you looking for a new fandom to immerse yourself in, but are not sure where to start? “Find Your Fandom” is a series that provides the information you need to figure out where to start in your new fandom journey. Keep checking back on the blog for future installments!

Introduction

Marvel Rising is a media franchise that consists of a number of TV shorts and specials, the made-for-TV film Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors, and two comic books. The movie focuses on bringing together some of Marvel’s younger heroes such as Ms. Marvel and Squirrel Girl into a new Secret Warriors team.

The first Secret Warriors comic book series came out in 2009 and the second Secret Warriors comic book series (with new team members) came out in 2017.

Characters

Learn more about your favorite characters from the show by reading the comics they star in!  Some characters feature in their own solo series, while others are recurring characters in others’ solo series, in ensemble titles, or in special event series.  

Below are some recommended starting points for each character. This list is not a comprehensive account of every appearance by a character, but some suggestions for where a new reader could begin.  Keep in mind that comics are written with the understanding that not every reader is familiar with every story. Starting a new comic can feel overwhelming, but effective writers give readers enough background knowledge for them to understand what is happening in the current issue. 

America Chavez (sometimes Miss America) possesses super strength, the ability to fly, and the ability to punch star-shaped holes that allow her to travel through the multiverse. She first appeared in the 2011 Vengeance and later joined the Young Avengers.  Start with the 2013 run of Young Avengers to read about America Chavez or start with the 2005 run for the first iteration of the team.

Begin reading America’s solo run with America Chavez: Made in the USA.

Carol Danvers sometimes makes appearances as a mentor figure/role model in Marvel Rising.  She first appeared in 1968 and was subjected to radiation that gave her powers such as speed, strength, and the ability to shoot photonic blasts. She started out with the superhero name of Ms. Marvel, then later took on the mantle of Captain Marvel.

Margaret Stohl’s 2019 The Life of Captain Marvel retells Carol’s origin story.

Start reading Carol’s solo run as Captain Marvel with Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Captain Marvel Volume 1: In Pursuit of Flight.

In an alternate universe, Gwen Stacy did not die, but instead was bitten by the radioactive spider and became Spider-Woman (or Spider-Gwen as she is called by fans). She uses her spider powers to protect New York and her friends like Peter Parker.

Find Spider-Gwen’s origin story in The Amazing Spider-Man: Edge of Spider-Verse.

Start Spider-Gwen’s solo series with Spider-Gwen: Most Wanted.

Gwen eventually takes on the new name Ghost Spider (her identity in Marvel Rising). Start with Ghost Spider.

Dante is an Inhuman who can generate flames, shoot plasma blasts, and withstand extreme heat. You can find appearances by Inferno in the Inhumans series and Uncanny Inhumans.

Riri Williams is a teenage genius who builds her own Iron man-style armor and ends up taking up the mantle of Iron Man when Tony Stark falls into a coma.  She was first introduced in the Iron Man comics before getting her own solo series.  She sometimes works with the Champions.

Riri Williams is introduced for a few pages in Invincible Iron Man, Vol. 2: The War Machines.

When Tony Stark falls into a coma, Riri Williams takes on his mantle in Invincible Iron Man: Ironheart.

Ironheart’s solo series starts with Ironheart: Those With Courage by Eve L. Ewing.

Lunella Lafayette is a nine-year-old Inhuman and the most intelligent character in the Marvel comics. She possesses the ability to switch minds with her sidekick Devil Dinosaur (an actual dinosaur).

Start with Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur by Brandon Montclare.

Teenager Kamala Khan gained superpowers from being exposed to the Terrigen Mist. She possesses the ability to shapeshift and heal herself, and also has super speed and strength.  Inspired by Carol Danvers, she took on the name Ms. Marvel.

Start her solo series with Ms. Marvel: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson.

Her new series is The Magnificent Ms. Marvel by Saladin Ahmed.

Daisy Johnson debuted as a member of S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2004’s Secret War and has appeared in a number of comics since then. She is trained in hand-to-hand combat, marksmanship, and espionage.  She was later revealed to be an Inhuman who can cause earthquakes

Try starting with the 2017 run of Secret Warriors by Matthew Rosenberg.

RayShaun is an apprentice to the Falcon and has been trained in hand-to-hand combat by Black Widow. There have been other Patriots, but RayShaun as Patriot debuted during the 2017 Secret Empire event.

You can find Patriot’s appearances in Captain America: Sam Wilson, the Secret Empire comics, and the Champions series.

Shuri is a scientist and inventor, and the sister of T’Challa. She has ruled Wakanda, acted as the Black Panther, and now serves as the Aja-Adanna.

Start reading Shuri’s solo series with Shuri by Nnedi Okorafor.

Doreen Green is a computer science major and, secretly, the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl! She has taken on some of Marvel’s terrifying villains–and defeated them with her empathy. Her sidekick is a squirrel named Tippy-Toe and she sometimes teams up with Chipmunk Hunk and Koi Boy.

Start reading with Ryan North and Erica Henderson’s The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl.

TV Tie-Ins

These comics were created as media tie-ins for the Marvel Rising show. They can be read as standalones.

Marvel Rising by Devin K. Grayson

Doreen Green (aka the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl) is volunteering to head a computer science class, without realizing that one of the attendees, Kamala Khan, is Ms. Marvel. When a new villain arises on campus, however, the two will have to team up to save their reality from virtual reality!

Marvel Rising: Heroes of the Round Table by Nilah Magruder

Morgan Le Fay invades New Jersey to turn it into a New Camelot! The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl and Ms. Marvel team up with Miles Morales, the Inferno, and Quake to fight a horde of monsters and save their home.