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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Spider-Man's Mission: Save UN

United Nations teams up with Marvel Comics for new publication

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(Newser) – Battered by the oil-for-food scandal and accused of inaction and inefficiency, the United Nations is looking to an unusual ally for help improving its image: Spider-Man. In a novel collaboration, the international body has enlisted Marvel Comics to produce a one-off comic book that will see its cast of superheroes team up with blue-helmeted peacekeepers to fight violence, poverty and disease, reports the Financial Times.

Marvel is doing the work pro bono, and a million US schoolchildren will get free copies. This isn't the first time the American comic industry has been enlisted in a political effort: During World War II, Captain America and Superman beat up Adolf Hitler. If the program is a success, said a UN spokeswoman, the agency hopes to translate the comics and distribute them worldwide.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks to the media at the Air force base in Brasilia, Monday, Nov. 12, 2007. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks to the media at the Air force base in Brasilia, Monday, Nov. 12, 2007. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)   (Associated Press)
The United Nations has enlisted Marvel Comics to produce a new comic book.
The United Nations has enlisted Marvel Comics to produce a new comic book.   ((c) gripso_banana_prune)
A woman walks past a
A woman walks past a "Spider-Man 3" poster in a Hong Kong downtown street Sunday, May 6, 2007. The movie took in a record $59 million domestically on opening day, breaking the previous all-time high of...   (Associated Press)
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