Marvel’s Hero Project is nothing like the prestige drama shows heralding the start of the streaming wars, and that’s fantastic.
The new Disney+ series, which premiered with the release of Disney+ on Nov. 12, doesn’t have any big-name actors attached to it and doesn’t tie into any billion-dollar sci-fi universes. It looks at real people, people you’ve probably never heard of, doing really amazing things.
Each episode of Marvel’s Hero Project puts the spotlight on a kid who is inspiring their communities and acting as a positive force in the world — whether it’s encouraging fellow kids to change the way they think about something, or overcoming what other people may view as a limitation.
The first three episodes of Marvel’s Hero Project focus on Jordan (12), Elijah (10), and Adonis (14), each of whom are inspiring in their own unique ways. Jordan was born without her left hand, and has turned her limb difference into a passion for design. She's using that passion to inspire other kids with limb differences to create their own designs. Elijah’s father passed away when he was just 3; now Elijah is a preacher who spreads awareness about child abuse and leads marches to support children. Adonis was diagnosed with glaucoma and decided to stop all the surgeries that were cutting into his life. He plays on his high school’s football team and ran for three touchdowns in his freshman year.
Elijah is a force in his community.
Image: marvel
It’s not just the kids' own actions that make each episode so heartwarming, it’s also the love they get from their families, friends, and communities.
In the episode featuring Adonis, his football coach admitted to being skeptical to having a kid who couldn’t see on the team. Adonis wanted to get the ball in his hands on offense and push past the defensive line. After seeing Adonis in action, his coach said that he wished he were as fearless.
“I can’t see anything, and that includes limits for myself,” Adonis said in the episode.
Marvel’s Hero Project is a wonderful fountain of positivity
In Jordan’s episode, she talks a lot about how everyday things aren’t designed for people with limb differences in mind. Sure, she describes herself as a stubborn person who likes to figure out problems — like when she was only a year old she figured out how to pull her socks on easier than her four-year-old brother — but she also points out that there are some things in the world that are poorly designed for people who don't have two hands, like paper towel dispensers that ask people to pull with both hands.
“We need more people who are different in the design community so that we have people who are designing things that have the second thought of, ‘Oh, I should make sure it works for everyone,’” she said in the episode.
It’s an important topic: being thoughtful to design things with everyone in mind goes a long way.
Finally, Elijah’s impassioned speeches about child abuse and his desire to look out for his fellow kids is so noble, and a good reminder that you don’t have to be in a position of power to speak up and inspire people.
At the end of each episode, Marvel presents the kids with their very own comic book, starring them, to show how they are heroes to other people in the world. Adonis’s comic was presented to him in braille (which he taught himself to read) with textured images, and both Jordan and Elijah were beside themselves with excitement when they flipped through their stories. It’s just so nice to see these kids feel important and valued for the things that they do on a daily basis.
Jordan's limb difference doesn't hold her back, and her actions inspire many kids just like her.
Image: marvel
While most people will focus on the big streaming tentpoles coming out this month, like Morning Show and The Mandalorian, I think Marvel’s Hero Project is exactly the kind of show we need right now: a wonderful fountain of positivity that acts as a perfect palate cleanser amid all the negativity of the world.
New episodes of Marvel’s Hero Project premiere on Fridays on Disney+.
