‘Marvel Super Hero Spectacular’ TAKES OVER Retail WITH NATIONAL CELEBRATION and NEW MERCHANDISE

Super-Sized Multi-Platform Campaign to Debut with Tie-ins across Television, Home Entertainment, Digital, Publishing, and Merchandise Beginning September 25

‘Spectacular’ also celebrates the much-anticipated retail launch of

Playmation Marvel’s Avengers on October 4

Glendale, Calif. (September 23, 2015) – Following the success of last year’s ‘Marvel Super Hero September’ campaign, Disney Consumer Products is kicking-off the second annual celebration on September 25 with five weeks of adrenaline-filled product offerings and activities for fans – including the launches of “Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron” on DVD and Blu-ray, and the much buzzed-about Playmation Marvel’s Avengers. This year’s campaign features a supercharged lineup of partners including Walmart, Target, Toys R Us and Party City, as well as Disney Store locations and DisneyStore.com, all of which will create programs designed to help fans celebrate their passion for all things Marvel.

Fans can expect to see a whole new lineup of products across a range of categories, including: Spider-Man Color Shock Slingers to complement the popular Avengers role play items all from Hasbro, new LEGO Spider-Man construction sets, the hot holiday toy favorite – Marvel RC Hulk Smash from JAKKS Pacific, a new Black Widow young adult novel authored by #1 The New York Times best-selling author Margaret Stohl, a personalized Marvel’s Avengers: Black Ops Field Guide by Sourcebooks, and the first introduction of Marvel characters as part of the Disney Store’s Tsum Tsum line of collectible plush. For mobile Marvel fans, all-new characters including Ultimate Spider-Man, Red Hulk, and Hulkbuster, along with 18 new levels of play will be available in “Mix+Smash: Marvel Super Hero Mashers,” the hit app inspired by Hasbro’s popular customizable, mix-and-mash figure line – Marvel Super Hero Mashers. Additionally, October 4 sees the national launch of Playmation Marvel’s Avengers, the ground-breaking system of connected toys and wearables, from Hasbro.

‘Marvel Super Hero Spectacular’ will extend well beyond core toys, books and consumer electronics. For collectors, Funko’s Marvel Collector Corps villains-themed subscription box will be sent out in October. Diamond will debut a Marvel Animated Minimates Two-Pack Series at Walgreens and a Dr. Strange Marvel Select Figure at specialty stores.  Fans of all ages will be able to showcase their Marvel pride with new athletic footwear available at Payless and professional scooters from Madd Gear. Just in time for Halloween, new costumes from Rubie’s, Disney Store, and Party City will debut allowing kids and adults to transform into their favorite Marvel Super Heroes. In supermarket aisles, fans will be treated with new Avengers and Spider-Man string cheese from Schreiber Cheese, Marvel granola bars from Conagra Foods, as well as other healthy snack options. Fans will be able to show their Marvel pride at home as well with new bedding for adults from Jay Franco available at ThinkGeek in October. And finally, Marvel Comics will publish a special one shot ‘Marvel Super Hero Spectacular’ comic to be sold throughout the celebration.

At Disney Store locations, on every Sunday from September 27 – October 25, kids ages 3 and up are invited to take part in one of four Marvel events, including: Art of Drawing: Captain America Shield, Art of Drawing: Spider-Man, Spider-Man Story Time and the NEW Avengers Training Academy. Times vary by location; guests should contact their local Disney Store for more details.

‘Marvel Super Hero Spectacular’ is taking over MarvelKids.com throughout the celebration to encourage kids and families to “activate the super in you” across key areas of Be Healthy, Be Active, Be Creative and Be Responsible. Marvel’s online and social channels are joining the fun as well with fan activations including giveaways across Marvel.com and Marvel’s social channels, including @StyledbyMarvel on Instagram. The entire campaign will be leveraged on social media using the hashtag #MarvelSpectacular.

To support the campaign, Marvel will execute a robust advertising and marketing program including a 30-second ‘Marvel Super Hero Spectacular’ commercial airing on Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Store media walls. Disney XD will add more attention to the campaign by running special bumpers during its programming. There will also be ‘Marvel Super Hero Spectacular’ callouts during national Hasbro and Party City TV commercials running throughout the campaign period and in-theater ads as part of Hasbro’s Playmation spots.

The ‘Marvel Super Hero Spectacular’ celebration coincides with the launch of several Marvel TV series and DVD releases including: season three of Marvel’s Agents of SH.I.E.L.D on ABC (September 29), Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron on DVD and Blu-ray release (October 2), and the launch of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise site on MarvelKids.com.
On Disney XD, Marvel Super Hero Spectacular will bring exciting, all-new action-packed programming including the September 26 (9:30 p.m., ET/PT) premiere of the highly anticipated epic space adventure “Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.” In October, “Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man: Web-Warriors” will feature a “Contest of Champions” four-episode story arc following Spider-Man, The Avengers and The Agents of S.M.A.S.H. as they battle their greatest villains for the fate of the planet. Beginning September 25, fans can also visit DisneyXD.com/Marvel to play “Marvel Fantasy Super Heroes,” a fantasy sport-like experience that invites players to assemble a team of super heroes and go head-to-head in a weekly battle arena.

“Marvel Super Hero Spectacular is a testament to the excitement for the Marvel brand and our aspirational characters,” said Paul Gitter, senior vice president of licensing for Marvel at Disney Consumer Products. “We have worked closely with our licensees and retailers to develop this campaign and create an even more spectacular experience than last year.”

Those looking for Marvel comic books, graphic novels, and other related merchandise, can go to comicshoplocator.com. For Marvel Super Hero Spectacular offerings, visit your local mass and specialty retailers, as well as Disney Store locations and Disneystore.com.

About Marvel Entertainment, LLC

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy-five years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information, visit http://www.marvel.com/. ©MARVEL

About Disney Consumer Products

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) that delivers innovative and engaging product experiences across thousands of categories from toys and apparel to books and fine art. As the world’s largest licensor, DCP inspires the imaginations of people around the world by bringing the magic of Disney into their homes. DCP is comprised of three business units: Licensing, Publishing and Disney Store. The Licensing business is aligned around five strategic brand priorities: Disney Media, Classics & Entertainment, Disney & Pixar Animation Studios, Disney Princess & Tinker Bell, Lucasfilm and Marvel. Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) is the world’s largest publisher of children’s books, magazine, eBooks and apps. DPW is also committed to the educational development of children around the world through Disney Learning, which includes our flagship learning brand, Disney Imagicademy, as well as Disney English and other Disney-themed learning products. The Disney Store retail chain operates across North America, Europe and Japan with more than 350 stores and provides high-quality, unique products. Disney Store also operates ecommerce sites in several countries, which can be found here. For more information, please visit www.DisneyConsumerProducts.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Jeffrey Klein, Brian Reinert
DKC
212-981-5189/212-981-5198
Jeff_klein@dkcnews.com/brian_reinert@dkcnews.com

Lauren B. Purnell
Disney Consumer Products
818-544-0393
lauren.b.purnell@disney.com