Marvel Super Hero Squad: Activity Annual 2009

Background

Pedigree Books makes hardback annuals and other pop culture tie-ins in the UK. They've also managed to hook onto the Marvel Super Hero Squad bandwagon, including this 2009 "Summer Edition" Activity Annual.

At 8.3" x 11.7", this square-bound book is roughly the same size as many of the UK magazines (which is to say a bit taller than most U.S. magazines).

Story Details

Inside the book is 68 pages of content, mostly consisting of puzzles and games. There's quizzes, word play, join the dots, mazes, cut-out-the-mask, plus two pages of stickers to place around the book. More drawing, more word games, and some quick character profiles just in case you didn't know what kind of guy The Hulk was.

As in all these Pedigree "Marvel Super Hero Squad" books, the colors are rich and vibrant, and they flow right to the edge of the page, giving a sense of luxury you would expect for a £5.99 recommended retail price.

There's one more gimmick yet to mention. The front and back covers open up like an inner gatefold, and with a pair of scissors you can cut out, glue and assemble two funky little cardboard models - Iron Man, and Doctor Doom. They're rather cube-shaped when finished, but it's a nice little touch which goes another step further to justifying the cover price.

General Comments

Like all the Marvel Super Hero Squad products, there's nothing here to tax the brain. But as a summer present for a keen young SpiderFan or SpiderFan-ette, I have to suspect that this would hit the spot quite nicely.

Overall Rating

Big bold colors, solid construction, and a decent variety of puzzles (with answers in the back) help push this book into the category of "meets and even slightly exceeds expectations".

Three and a half webs.