DC Comics is branching out into young adult fiction with novelizations for Superman, Batman, Catwoman and Wonder Woman next year.
Mashable reveals that DC has recruited an elite team of experienced YA authors to reimagine the classic superheroes for a new audience: Leigh Bardugo on Wonder Woman (just in time for the Wonder Woman movie), Marie Lu on Batman, Matt de la Peña on Superman, and Sarah J. Maas on Catwoman.
We don’t have any details yet regarding what each novel will be about, although they will apparently “embrace themes of good vs. evil” and “coming-of-age romance” for the four heroes. We’re rooting for Batman as a sulky goth teen.
Teen romance may sound like a surprising direction for the Justice League if your last DC Comics experience was the dark and gritty Batman v Superman, but we already know there’s an audience for YA superheroes. Marvel launched a similar line of novels in 2013, beginning with books for She-Hulk and Rogue, followed by several more including Groot and Rocket Raccoon.
Given that several of DC’s TV adaptations—Supergirl and The Flash in particular—play well with younger fans, this new run of YA novels sounds like a welcome idea is a smart move.
Photo via Wonder Woman #42/DC Comics
