Ready Girl Marvel comic released to teach kids hurricane season prep

Make room, Avengers. There’s a new superhero in town.

On Thursday, May 19, a new custom Marvel comic was launched in conjunction with the New York City Office of Emergency Management, “The Avengers: Featuring Ready Girl.” The character was created last September to help create awareness and teach local children how to be prepared for hurricane season in a fun and relatable way.

The comic is about Long Island City native Rosie Green, also Ready Girl, who teams up with comic’s most popular heroes such as Captain America, Iron Man, and Miss Marvel. There’s a threat in Brooklyn as the villain Whirlwind, labeled as the “force of nature” wreaks havoc by bringing a storm into the area. It’s up to the team and Ready Girl to stop them.

On the same day, third graders from P.S. 39 gathered at Camp Friendship, 339 Eighth Street for to meet and greet Ready Girl, Iron Man. Ready Girl also taught students about how to prepare for hurricane season, showing maps and danger zones.

“We’re trying to get our message of being prepared out to the whole city from the top to the bottom,” said Emergency Management Commissioner Joe Esposito. “We think that getting this message out to young kids early in their life will hopefully carry that message right through their life and they’ll be ready for events that happen in the city, in their home, with their family members, where they go to school and work.”

Esposito thought the best way to convey this vital message was to work with the popular Marvel Comics.  “We felt that creating a superhero was a great way to capture their attention and keep it,” he said. “The fact that we’re partnering with Marvel Comics and getting other superheroes involved, it only enhances the initiative.”

Katelyn James, who donned the costume of Ready Girl, says the experience has been an amazing one for her. “It’s truly wonderful. This whole initiative has been a great way to reach kids in a different level, one that is more fun and engaging and in a way that they can understand,” said James, who has visited dozens of schools and trained thousands of kids on how to prepare for possible hurricanes.. “Partnering with Marvel and making this custom comic book has been an incredible opportunity to us and we’re looking forward to all the great educational value we provide kids in the future.”

“We’re proud to team-up with NYC Emergency Management to help communicate this important message to kids by entertaining them with an action-packed adventure story while passing along these crucial lessons,” said Mark Basso, editor of the custom Avengers comic featuring Ready Girl, in a statement

Based on the children’s response, the comic and visits have been effective. “I learned that there are some places in New York like Coney Island who need to evacuate really fast,” said Violet B. who lived in London until two years ago. “In the summer, there could be a chance of hurricanes around there.”

“I think it’s really important for kids to be prepared. It helps them feels more in control so they’re not as frightened when hurricanes and big storms happen,” said Karen Herskowitz, parent coordinator of P.S. 39. “I think the comic book and partnering with Marvel is a great way to engage kids and get them excited. I’m sure they’re going to go home and talk to their parents about it and share their comic books, and our kids are the best way to get adults motivated to do things.

The Avengers Featuring Ready Girl is written by Marc Sumerak, penciled by Tom Grumett and inked by Wayne Faucher. The colorist is Javier Mena and the letterer is VC’s Joe Sabino. The comic is available in local comic shops and online. To read online, in both English and Spanish, visit http://bit.ly/1U5tDII.