Stan Lee Teams with NHL to Offer Exciting Comic Superhero Revival

by Gaby Martinez |  HOCKEYTALK.BIZ

JANUARY 14, 2011 -- Let’s face it. Comic books are not as good today as they were during their prime, from the late 1930s to the 1950s, when Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman debuted. This era was dubbed the Golden Age of Comic Books. In the 1970s and 1980s, often called the Bronze Age of Comic Books, vast numbers of children were interested in reading about the tales of superheroes, especially those of Spiderman.

These days, heroes from the printed page don’t factor into children’s lives to such a degree. Comic book creator Stan Lee has solved this problem for North American children, with a hockey theme to boot. Lee, co-creator of Marvel heroes including Spiderman, X-Men and the Hulk, has teamed with the NHL to create a comic book series entitled The Guardian Project.

For a sneak preview of The Guardians, click here. Image: NHL

Each hero will epitomize and represent one of the 30 NHL franchises. The 30 Guardians and full Guardian Project will be revealed to the hockey world at the 2011 All-Star Game in Raleigh, North Carolina on January 30th. The NHL has been releasing a select few Guardians to the public to create interest in this new endeavor.

The goal of The Guardian Project is to encourage children, especially boys aged ten to twelve, to read. Lee hopes that this venture will revive comic books, too. The NHL also hopes this undertaking will help to spread interest in hockey to younger fans especially for pre-teen boys.

“I've always believed that every great plan starts with a great story,” Lee told nhl.com. “In the creation of Guardian Media Entertainment and its unique and unprecedented relationship with the NHL, I truly believe we have the perfect combination from which to launch 30 new superheroes and excite young fans around the globe.”

“The characters will be the good guys in the ongoing battle between right and wrong, even though every team notoriously has at least one ‘goon’ on their squads,” Lee also told espn.com. This “goon” could be similar to each team’s enforcer.

The Guardian Project will hopefully, not only, bring about increased excitement and passion in hockey in its current fans, but also, interest other young children to become interested in hockey. This comic book series will also translate from people reading the comics to watching and attending NHL games.

NHL executives are hopeful that this project will help to increase the NHL fan base and engender excitement, enthusiasm, and passion for the game of hockey amongst youngsters.

“To be in business with Stan Lee and to be able to bring his latest superheroes to our fans is incredibly exciting to all of us at the NHL,” said Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President, Marketing, for the National Hockey League. “We are in constant pursuit of new ways to engage our fans and to introduce new fans to hockey, and the business of Guardian Media Entertainment does exactly that.”

Guardian Media Entertainment is also hopeful about the partnership between the NHL and Stan Lee and the impact it will have on the promotion of both comics and the game.

“To have the machine of the NHL, Stan Lee as an equity partner and the combined vision of all is the ultimate power play,” added to nhl.com Adam Baratta, GME Chief Creative Officer.

The Guardian Project will feature a comic book, an interactive website, mobile applications, games, and merchandise. An accompanying website, www.guardianproject30.com, has been established.

GUESSING AT GUARDIANS:
HOCKEY SUPERHEROES WE'D LIKE TO SEE:

Anaheim Ducks: The Guardian for the Anaheim franchise could be a super-sized duck with a fierce beak and feathers.

Boston Bruins: The big bad Bruin bear could be the Guardian for the Beantown Boys with gigantic claws and massive teeth.

Calgary Flames: The Flame Guardian could be a nightmare, Canadian-style, a robot that shoots out massive flame balls at his foes.

Carolina Hurricanes: The Hurricane Guardian could destroy its opponents with its destroying powers of wind and ocean.

Colorado Avalanche: This violent force of nature Guardian will kill its opponents with strong forces of wind and snow to defeat its opponents.

Columbus Blue Jackets: This Guardian will bring about Civil War memories, patriotism, and history of Ohio’s importance in the Civil War. Descendents of William Tecumseh Sherman, Ulysses S. Grant, Philip Sheridan, and George Custer, the Blue Jackets hockey players will evoke their ancestors for strength and power to overcome their enemies.

Dallas Stars: The Stars Guardian will be like the defenders of the Alamo fighting valiantly against their foes, but unlike their predecessors the Stars will defeat their opponents.

Detroit Red Wings: The Winged Wheel will run over its opponents and revive the motor industry in the city of Detroit.

Edmonton Oilers: The Oilers Guardian injects its lethal oil into the eyes of its opponents to gallantly defeat them. Taylor Hall’s oil injecting skates will ruin the ice for their opponents causing them to crash and fall.

Florida Panthers: The plundering Panthers Guardian will attack its enemies with its clutching claws and tearing teeth.

Washington Capitals: Historic United States monuments will awaken from their sleep to engulf and envelop evil opponents.

Here’s to hoping that this latest NHL project will promote excitement for the game of hockey, the All-Star Weekend (which in recent years has been deemed as a bit boring), higher television ratings for both the All-Star Weekend and the games that follow, and higher attendance numbers at games.

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