Marvel will introduce some of its newest teenage superheroes, most of whom are girls of color, to the silver screen with “Marvel Rising.” The comic juggernaut announced the multi-platform animated franchise yesterday (December 7). 

The team’s ready. Are you? (: @MingjueChen) #MarvelRising pic.twitter.com/92e50aDpRf

— Marvel Rising (@MarvelRisingSW) December 7, 2017

Marvel’s press release provides few details about the project’s plot, revealing only the following description: "When a threat no one could have expected bears down on the Marvel Universe, this ragtag, untrained band of teens have no choice but to rise together and prove to the world that sometimes the difference between a ‘hero’ and ‘misfit’ is just in the name."

“This project is unlike anything we’ve done before—from featuring the rising and fan-favorite stars of the Marvel Universe, to a visually distinct animation style, this is a groundbreaking animated event,” said Marvel’s Content Development Director Sana Amanat in a press release.  "It’s an action-packed adventure, full of comedy, heart and powerful messages for every kind of Marvel fan.”

Amanat, who is Pakistani American, co-created Kamala “Ms. Marvel” Khan, the first Muslim Marvel protagonst to get her own comic series. Marvel’s announcement and an accompanying video (above) lists Ms. Marvel as one of the new project’s featured characters. Other superheroes in “Marvel Rising” include America Chavez, Marvel’s first LGBTQ Latinx lead character, and Rayshaun “Patriot” Lucas. 

Marvel cast several actors of color to voice these characters: Kathreen Khavari ("Big Little Lies”) as Ms. Marvel, Cierra Ramirez (“The Fosters”) as Chavez and Kamil McFadden ("Grown Ups 2”) as Patriot. In addition, actors Chloe Bennett (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) and Tyler Posey (“Teen Wolf”), both of whom are mixed race, will voice Quake and Inferno, respectively. 

“Marvel Rising” will debut at an undetermined date in 2018 with four two-minute digital short films. An animated feature-length movie, "Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors," premieres later in the year. Marvel has not yet announced distribution partners or platforms for the franchise.  

Follow “Marvel Rising” developments via the new project’s Facebook page.