Marvel's 616
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Marvel's 616
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Marvel's 616 is a behind-the-scenes documentary series about the Marvel universe: comics, TV and film, toys, and more. Older Marvel fans and teens generally interested in pop culture will love learning more about the Marvel franchise. The adult themes from other Marvel media are also present in video clips throughout, including violence with weapons, mentions of romance and clingy costumes, moderate language, and references to adults drinking excessively. It's not as intense as watching a movie, since the clips are usually background footage to something an interview subject is talking about. (Though the "Japanese Spider-Man" episode shows behind-the-scenes stunt work which has quite a bit of real-life danger.) The series can feel like an extended commercial for Marvel, and several episodes focus on the intersection of Marvel and products.
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What's the Story?
Marvel's 616 is a documentary series about the comic book juggernaut. The "616" in the title is an in-joke for Marvel fans, as "616" is a sort of shorthand for "universe." Each episode focuses on a different aspect of the Marvel universe, and is a self-contained documentary created by a different filmmaker. The films mix together interviews and archival footage and comic art. One episode tells the story of the Japanese Spider-Man TV show, one focuses on the women artists and creators of Marvel, and another explores superfans dressing up at Comic Con. The documentaries explore how Marvel has intersected with various parts of culture around the world.
Is It Any Good?
These documentaries are definitely aimed at an adult audience, and may be a tad boring for some kids. Marvel superfans will delight in learning stories about the franchise that aren't common knowledge. For example: did you know that there was a Japanese Spider-Man TV show that had a completely different story and also inspired the Transformers and Power Rangers series? Even casual fans interested in media and pop culture will enjoy seeing the brand through a new light. Be prepared for a fare amount of navel-gazing though, as Disney+ doesn't present any criticisms of Marvel in the series.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the media empire behind Marvel. What are some surprising ways Marvel properties have intersected with people's lives around the world?
Because the series is produced by Disney, Marvel's parent company, the documentary series speaks pretty positively about Marvel. Can you think of any criticisms of the brand that the documentary left out? Is it possible to make a documentary without bias?
TV Details
- Premiere date: November 20, 2020
- Network: Disney+
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Superheroes
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Behind-the-scenes docu fun for fans, some violent scenes.
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Spider-Man: Homecoming
Diverse, entertaining reboot has some language, violence.
For kids who love Marvel
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