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Is there a market for this? [superheroes]
- Thread starter EndlessDestiny
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Really? I'd assume that middle graders would enjoy super hero-ish stories more than any other age group.
Indeed, that seems strange. There are loads of superhero cartoons aimed at that demographic, and I'd assume it'd be popular for stories as well.
Do you mean traditional/established superheroes (superman, batman, etc.) or inventing your own?
Do you mean traditional/established superheroes (superman, batman, etc.) or inventing your own?
Speaking generally about superhero novels, rather than just middle grade, they haven't really taken off. Most superhero fans seem to want pictures, so non-graphical novels have struggled to get established.
This doesn't mean a superhero novel won't sell, but there might be obstacles due to sales of previous books. It raises the bar.
Which doesn't mean you shouldn't query your book. Just be aware that the success of the Avengers means nothing when it comes to selling a novel.
This doesn't mean a superhero novel won't sell, but there might be obstacles due to sales of previous books. It raises the bar.
Which doesn't mean you shouldn't query your book. Just be aware that the success of the Avengers means nothing when it comes to selling a novel.
To add to what Polenth said, it's hard to establish a non-comic based superhero. When kids think "superhero", their minds go to Superman, Batman, etc., and I don't think I've ever heard of a novel-based superhero. Comic books dominate the market for this sort of stuff. Also, there's a visual aspect to superheroes that a lot of kids relate to.You could always try your hand at a graphic novel...
But like the others said, don't be discouraged. I've seen several superhero books that did really well.
But like the others said, don't be discouraged. I've seen several superhero books that did really well.
Amadan
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Not really the same; they are mythology-based. You might as well call Harry Potter a superhero.
There have been quite a few superhero novels, some well-received, but I can't think of many in the MG range.
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I was at a book festival the other day and one of the vendors had a middle grade self-published super hero novel. He told me that Marvel owns the copyright to the term 'super hero book' and that bookstores wouldn't really know what to do with it.
I've googled the genre and come across a few super hero mg books though, so they must exist. I'd think there are kids that would gladly read those kind of books. I just wanted to double check on what I'd been told.
I've googled the genre and come across a few super hero mg books though, so they must exist. I'd think there are kids that would gladly read those kind of books. I just wanted to double check on what I'd been told.
I have a (twitter) friend who went on sub (with a great agent) with a YA super hero romance (think sky-high as apposed to superman) and publishers had nice things to say but wouldn't bite. She's now self-publishing and I have no doubt she will do fantastic (she doing an incredible job of promoting it. Has a amazing professional cover, copy-edited etc. The buzz around the book is huge (for a self-pubbed book) and it's not out until next month)
Of course this is YA. MG is a different beast. I think there is a market for the right stories, but publishers seem hesitant to take a risk on it. This doesn't mean you shouldn't write it, or sub it, but it is nice to know if it's going to be an uphill battle. Which it might be. But again, I don't know how this relates to MG.
Of course this is YA. MG is a different beast. I think there is a market for the right stories, but publishers seem hesitant to take a risk on it. This doesn't mean you shouldn't write it, or sub it, but it is nice to know if it's going to be an uphill battle. Which it might be. But again, I don't know how this relates to MG.
Marvel and DC have a joint thing going on when it comes to the word. It's debatable what is and isn't okay in usage, but if you want to play it safe, you can call your superheroes something else. Heroes is fine.
Powerless and Super, by Matthew Cody, are recently published MG novels about superheroes. They're the only commercially published MGs springing immediately to my mind.
My son is 8. He reads detective stories and watches Ninjago, BeyBlades, Pokemon, Avatar, Ben Ten - superheroes. I think the detectives are as close as he can get in books. Write him one with a strong hero who has super powers and he'll read it.
I've been trying to find an agent so I can publish something of this subject matter for a while now. Still not throwing in the towel.