Disney Consumer Products has announced a multi-platform Marvel media blitz as part of its fall “Marvel Super Hero Spectacular” campaign, which includes TV premieres, home entertainment releases, a tie-in comic, and mass merchant activities leading to the retail launch of Hasbro’s Playmation toy line. Last year’s program was called “Marvel Super Hero September.”
Marvel plans a massive five-week advertising and marketing program which will include a 30-second Marvel Super Hero Spectacular commercial airing on the Disney Channel and Disney XD, along with special bumpers during their programming. The campaign will also receive callouts during national Hasbro and Party City TV commercials and Hasbro’s in-theater ads for Playmation.
On the movie and TV front, several Marvel-related television shows will be premiering during the promotion, including the launch of the animated Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy on September 26 (see “New 'Guardians' Teaser Shows More”) and season three of Marvel’s Agents of SH.I.E.L.D. on September 29. In October, Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man: Web-Warriors will feature a four-episode story arc teaming Spider-Man, The Avengers and The Agents of S.M.A.S.H. The Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron feature will release on DVD and Blu-ray on October 2.
Marvel Comics will be releasing a one-shot tie-in comic, Marvel Super Hero Spectacular #1, written by Karl Kesel (Fantastic Four, Marvel Zombies) , with art by David Baldeon (Nova), and a cover by Todd Nauck (Nightcrawler, Spider-Man). The comic sees various Marvel Universe heroes attending the Saturnalia and Interstellar Circus Spectacular. The 32-page all-ages comic will release on October 7. A Marvel Super Hero Spectacular by Nauck poster, in both full color and uncolored versions, is available now.There will be a variety of web promotions tied to the event. The DisneyXD website will launch the Marvel Fantasy Super Heroes battle-arena fantasy sports game on September 25. MarvelKids.com, Marvel’s kid-friendly environment for playing games, watching animated shows, and reading comics, will launch its Guardians of the Galaxy franchise site. The website also offers a promotional “Marvel Super Hero Spectacular” home activities calendar.
Disney has also partnered with mass merchants Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, Party City, and with Disney Stores for retail programs. Various Disney Store locations will be offering Marvel-themed activities (drawing classes, story-time, Avengers Training Academy) on Sundays from September 27 – October 25.
Playmation Marvel’s Avengers will be the first in Hasbro’s Playmation line. The toys, which launch on October 4, combine wearable role play toys, figures, and technology with storytelling around Disney properties (see “Disney Kicks Off Playmation with 'Avengers'”).