Marvel Rising


Marvel Rising is an American media franchise and shared universe produced by Marvel Animation. The animated media are based on characters from Marvel Comics publications and include a made-for-television film, television specials, short films, and comic books. The franchise centers on the Secret Warriors, a diverse team of teenage superheroes who join forces to fight threats together.
The Marvel Rising animated media premiered on Disney Channel and Disney XD. They were subsequently released on Disney+.

Development

In May 2017, Marvel Entertainment filed several separate trademark applications for "Marvel Rising."
On December 7, 2017, Marvel Entertainment announced the creation of a new franchise, with the release of a television film and a series of shorts.
On April 25, 2018, the franchise was launched with a series of comic books, with Marvel Rising #0 released for free, with following monthly issues starting in June. On August 13, 2018, a series of six four-minute shorts, titled Marvel Rising: Initiation, were released in advance of the television film. On August 23, 2018, the theme song of Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors, "Born Ready," was released on the YouTube channel of Walt Disney Records. The film was released on Disney Channel and Disney XD on September 30, 2018. On October 2, 2018, following the premiere of Secret Warriors, Marvel announced two new Marvel Rising specials, Chasing Ghosts and Heart of Iron, for future release. In March 2019, the next short film series Marvel Rising Ultimate Comics was released, and a self titled comic book mini-series for the franchise. At the March 2019 WonderCon, Marvel announced three additional specials, Battle of the Bands, Operation Shuri, and Playing With Fire, to be streamed on Marvel HQ YouTube channel later in the year.

Cast

Animated media

''Initiation''

A series of six four-minute shorts, titled Marvel Rising: Initiation, were released in advance of the film. The shorts focus on Ghost-Spider, who is on the run after being framed for the murder of her friend Kevin while Quake and Patriot, as well as Ms. Marvel and Squirrel Girl, attempt to bring her in. Written by Mairghread Scott, Initiation aired on August 13, 2018, on Disney XD. The episodes are grouped into three arcs: a Gwen Stacy solo, a Ms. Marvel/Squirrel Girl team-up, and a S.H.I.E.L.D. pursuit.

''Secret Warriors''

The main entry in the franchise, Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors, was announced alongside the franchise in December 2017. The film tells the story of how the Secret Warriors are initially drawn together following a string of Inhuman-related violence, and must work together to stop Hala the Accuser and her Kree forces.
The movie was first announced on December 7, 2017, and aired on September 30, 2018. Joe Quesada, Dan Buckley, Cort Lane, and Eric Radomski executive produce the film, with Stan Lee, Sana Amanat, and Marsha Griffin credited as co-executive producers. It was written by Mairghread Scott, with Alfred Gimeno as supervising director.

Specials

The first two specials Chasing Ghosts and Heart of Iron were announced by Marvel on October 2, 2018, following the premiere of Secret Warriors; these specials revolve around the Secret Warriors settling unfinished business with their enemies from the film.
The next three specials, Battle of the Bands, Operation Shuri, and Playing With Fire, were later announced at the March 2019 WonderCon. These specials introduced new villains to the series.
As of 2023, no new specials are set to be released, with Playing with Fire being the last one.
  1. Marvel Rising: Chasing Ghosts is a 22-minute special written by Mairghread Scott. It was released on January 16, 2019 on the Marvel HQ YouTube channel, and later on February 1 on the DisneyNOW app. It continues Ghost-Spider's story from the Initiation shorts, in which she joins forces with the Secret Warriors to stop Exile and Sheath, during which Quake helps Ghost-Spider clear her name for Kevin's death.
  2. Marvel Rising: Heart of Iron is a 44-minute special written by Margaret Dunlap. It was released on the Marvel HQ YouTube channel on April 3, 2019. It introduces the character Ironheart, who is having difficulty adjusting to her new college life as the youngest student there. When Hala the Accuser demolishes the college's engineering lab and kidnaps Riri's best friend, the artificial intelligence A.M.I., Riri takes inspiration from Iron Man and develops a plan with help from the Secret Warriors to save her friend.
  3. Marvel Rising: Battle of the Bands is a 22-minute special written by Mae Catt. It premiered on August 23, 2019 at D23 Expo, and was later released on the Marvel HQ YouTube channel on August 28, 2019. It features Ghost-Spider assisting the Secret Warriors looking into mysterious attacks involving the sonic-powered Screaming Mimi. However, the investigation may keep Gwen from her band's competition.
  4. Marvel Rising: Operation Shuri is a 22-minute special also written by Mae Catt. It premiered on October 6, 2019 at New York Comic Con, and was later released on the Marvel HQ YouTube channel on October 11, 2019. It introduces Black Panther's younger sister Shuri, who attempts to hang out with the Secret Warriors as a normal teen.
  5. Marvel Rising: Playing with Fire is a 44-minute special written by Danielle Wolff. It was released on the Marvel HQ YouTube channel on December 18, 2019. It focuses on Inferno, whose powers get stolen by a teenage criminal named Zayla, and America Chavez, who attempts to connect with Ms. Marvel. The Secret Warriors attempt to get Inferno's powers back while Inferno is conflicted as to whether he actually wants his powers back.

    ''Ultimate Comics''

Announced in February 2019, a series of six animated videos titled Marvel Rising Ultimate Comics, were released on the Marvel HQ YouTube channel from February 20, 2019 to March 27, 2019. The shorts are between six and seven minutes long and were released weekly. The videos combine comic book-style art with digital motion effects. The first is subtitled and features Ms. Marvel going up against Loki when he interrupted her field trip.

Reception

Critical response

''Marvel Rising'' franchise

Jeremy Dickson of KidScreen described Marvel Rising as a "popular" franchise, noting that its release led to a new toy line resulting from a recent agreement between Hasbro, Marvel, and Disney. Rebecca Jane Stokes of Fatherly described Marvel Rising as a standout superhero franchise for young women. She noted that it centers on diverse female protagonists who navigate both super-powered challenges and typical adolescent issues. Stokes praised the franchise's multi-part format—including a film, webisodes, and television specials—for offering a rich, interconnected viewing experience. She also highlighted its humor, relatability, and emphasis on female empowerment, calling it a refreshing alternative to the male-dominated superhero media landscape. Chris Sims of Looper stated that Marvel Rising distinguishes itself from typical television shows, highlighting its focus on newer characters such as Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, and America Chavez for a fresh perspective. He praised the series' adventurous tone, which ranges from high school heroics to cosmic escapades, blending humor and heart. Sims described the franchise as "refreshing," recommending it for viewers interested in a Marvel narrative centered on a new generation of heroes. Dave Trumbore of Collider included the Marvel Rising franchise in their list of "2018's Best New Animated Series for Kids." Jamie Lovett of ComicBook.com featured the franchise in their "10 Marvel Animated Series You Need to Binge on Disney+" list. Ethan Anderson of GameStop ranked Marvel Rising 15th in their "18 Best Non-MCU Marvel Movies and TV Shows on Disney Plus" list.

''Marvel Rising: Initiation''

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 83%, with an average rating of 7.0/10, based on 6 reviews.
Meagan Damore of Comic Book Resources called Marvel Rising: Initiation "full of charm and spunk," writing, "Marvel Rising: Initiation is a fun, approachable series filled with characters that will make viewers instantly fall in love. Existing fans will find a lot to like here, but even those unfamiliar with these characters will have no problem immersing themselves in this world. Like Cameron said in an earlier interview with CBR, the animated series truly has something for everybody. Marvel Rising: Initiation is a must for Marvel fans." Kevin Yeoman of Screen Rant described "Marvel Rising: Initiation as a "series of episodic shorts with an emphasis on inclusivity," stating, "Initiation lives up to its title, offering an entertaining beginning to a much larger story, one that puts a welcome emphasis on themes of inclusion and empowerment for a younger audience. But, like with Marvel’s other animated offerings, there’s still plenty for older viewers to enjoy as well. From the action-heavy storytelling to the obvious connection with the larger MCU, Marvel Rising: Initiation has a little something for everyone, from the hardcore Marvel-ites to those in search of heroes they can relate to."
Paige S. Allen of IGN gave Marvel Rising: Initiation a grade of 8 out of 10, stating, "Marvel Rising: Initiation shines as a promising introduction to Marvel’s next class of superheroes, which is made up by richly-characterized female leads. While some viewers might lament the series’ watered-down adaptation of its source material, or find that other shows have better mastered its themes, overall Marvel Rising: Initiation has enough enjoyable material to keep new and seasoned fans alike interested in the forthcoming Marvel Rising universe." Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media gave Marvel Rising: Initiation a grade of 4 out of 5 stars, complimented the depiction of positive messages and role models, citing diversity, thoughtfulness, and cleverness, asserting, " Most of the heroes introduced in this story are females, and the diversity that's evident in their personalities and physical appearances challenges the concept that TV superheroes must look and sound alike."