Marvel creating new tales for kids - 23rd August 2014

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LOS ANGELES — Marvel Entertainment’s chief emeritus, Stan Lee, is in his ninth decade yet continues to add outposts to his creative empire in hopes of interesting a new generation of children in superheroes.

The 91-year-old — creator of comic-book franchises and box-office behemoths such as Spider-Man, Avengers and X-Men — is focusing on Stan Lee’s Kids Universe and publishing new content across books, television and digital platforms for youngsters.

The latest character to join the Kids Universe roster is Dex T-Rex, a cheeky little blue dinosaur who likes to wreak havoc but learns a lesson when his actions become harmful to others.

He appears in Dex T-Rex: The Mischievous Little Dinosaur, written and drawn by first-time illustrator Katya Bowser and aimed at children younger than 10.

“Children that age enjoy any story with interesting things happening, but if you can insert morals into the stories, how much better that is,” Lee said at a recent signing for the book in Los Angeles. “You try to do it in an amusing way and not in a lecturing way.”

Many of the Marvel films are male-dominated, and both critics and fans have been pushing Marvel for more female characters.

In October, Marvel will introduce a female Thor in an effort to attract new readers and appeal to women and girls.

The Lee company POW (Purveyors of Wonder) Entertainment united with newcomer artists and illustrators for his Kids Universe, producing books such as Monsters vs. Kittens, Hero Petz and Rockstar Super Diva, aimed at girls.

Lee thinks the characters can be transitioned to film and television, and he has a live-action project in the works for next year.