At Comikaze Expo 2015, Fanboy Comics was fortunate to attend a press conference for Stan Lee’s Kids Universe (SLKU), the popular children’s imprint from 1821 Media Group and POW! Entertainment that creates and publishes kids’ books, games, and characters for a variety of platforms. Led by SLKU co-founder Terry Dougas and the one and only Stan Lee, the media event presented attendees with a sneak preview of the publisher’s slate for the upcoming year, which will spread the reach of the company to international readers.
Stan Lee’s Kids Universe seeks to educate and entertain young readers with its printed and digital media, and its upcoming projects will no doubt continue those efforts on a global scale. At the press conference, Dougas and Lee were on hand to unveil the exciting, new project, Dragons vs. Pandas, a picture book for preschool-age readers. Written and illustrated by Chelsea Kenna, the book will debut in the U.S. and China in late 2016 in both English and Mandarin, followed by a multi-platform release as a Saturday morning cartoon, iPhone game, and more. Dragons vs. Pandas will be the first of many SLKU books to highlight the various cultures of the world, while also hiring creative teams for the projects that are based in the respective countries.
When asked what inspired this push towards international markets, Lee responded, “If we’re just going to do books that everyone else does, why even bother. You’ve got to say to yourself, ‘What doesn’t the market have that people will enjoy?’ We have always tried to come up with things that nobody else is doing.”
In addition to their international publishing, Stan Lee’s Kids Universe will launch a series of “alphabet books for the underdog,” starting with B Is for Blobfish by Kevin Payne. Lee, who is a staunch advocate for children’s literacy, joked, “The more kids can read, the more they’ll buy my books!” His enthusiasm for the upcoming publications was certainly infectious, and – from the previews alone of Dragons vs. Pandas and B Is for Blobfish – readers of all ages are bound to enjoy both to the fullest extent.
With six titles currently available, as well as a myriad of games and videos, it is not hard to believe that Stan Lee’s Kids Universe has a solid plan for the year ahead. Be sure to stay tuned to the company’s website, www.stanleeskidsuniverse.com, for more details regarding Dragons vs. Pandas, B Is for Blobfish, and more of their upcoming projects.
