Book Review – “Marvel Super Hero Adventures: Buggin’ Out!” (Early Reader Chapter Book)

Marvel Super Hero Adventures: Buggin’ Out! is the third book in a series of Early Reader Chapter Books aimed at kids between 1st and 3rd grade. Like the previous entries in the series, Spider-Man is the star of the adventure, but is aided by Ant-Man and the Wasp to help him take down Doctor Octopus. With 11 chapters and 80 pages, kids will feel like they’re reading like a big kid.

Peter Parker is shocked when Flash Thompson enters the science fair with a clever project to showcase the strength of an ant. Nearby, Scott and Hope are experimenting with Gigantor Particles when Doctor Octopus breaks in and steals them for his fiendish plans. When the fight between Ant-Man, Wasp, and Doc Ock crashes the science fair, Peter transforms into Spider-Man to help save the day.

With great illustrations by Derek Laufman, kids will be engrossed by this toned down story starring some of Marvel’s greatest heroes. There’s no objectionable violence, with characters using their wit and gadgets to take down bad guys rather than their fists or weapons. There’s also an underlying theme of not judging other people and rising above hurt feelings to be inclusive.

Previous books in the series paired Spidey with Spider-Gwen (Deck the Malls!and Squirrel Girl (Sand Trap!). Those previous titles also faced off against villains like Venom and Sandman, making Buggin’ Out! the debut of Doctor Octopus as well as Ant-Man and Wasp in the series. Whether this is your child’s introduction to the characters or they’re already familiar with them, they’ll love the way Spider-Man teams up with new heroes to take down the bad guys.

Marvel Super Hero Adventures: Buggin’ Out! is a great value at $4.99. It’s a perfect way to help your kids transition from early readers to chapter books while starring characters they love. Many of Marvel’s characters have withstood the test of time with generations of fans. Now your kids can join the millions of Marvel fans with a friendly introduction to their neighborhood Spider-Man.

Alex Reif
Alex joined the Laughing Place team in 2014 and has been a lifelong Disney fan. His main beats for LP are Disney-branded movies, TV shows, books, music and toys. He recently became a member of the Television Critics Association (TCA).