The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) has served more than 200,000 injured service members and their families since its inception in 2003. As part of its effort to fund programs that help wounded warriors transition back to civilian life, the nonprofit has partnered with Marvel to create a limited-edition comic book. A part of the Marvel Make Me a Hero series, the comic book honors four wounded warriors by transforming them into comic book superheroes.
The collaboration is the latest in a series of team-ups between WWP and Marvel. In 2016, the two organizations worked together to create a storyline in the Venom: Space Knight series. The storyline follows Flash Thompson, a long-running Marvel character who had previously lost his legs while serving as soldier in Iraq, as he adjusts to life with prosthetic limbs.
To add realism, Marvel drew on the experiences of WWP spokesperson Dan Nevins. A double amputee, Nevins offered “invaluable” input that illuminated the myriad struggles of what it is like to live with prosthetic limbs. Writer Robbie Thompson said he is “forever grateful” to Nevins and WWP for their support.
In 2021, Marvel and WWP teamed up again, this time to honor four injured veterans: Chris Gordon, a former Army staff sergeant and tank operator; Janice Huss, the mother of an injured veteran; Antoinette Wallace, a National Guard veteran; and Miki Padgett, a Marine veteran and Purple Heart recipient.
Each of these real-life heroes saw themselves transform into comic-book superheroes in video episodes of the Marvel Make Me a Hero series. A weekly series, Marvel Make Me a Hero won a Webby Award in 2021.
In 2024, the superhero depictions were compiled in the pages of the comic book now offered through WWP. The comic book is free while supplies last with a donation to the nonprofit. Along with honoring the sacrifices of these injured veterans and their families, a donation will help WWP to continue its vital work.