Disney’s Tsum Tsum stuffed toys have proven to be immensely popular worldwide, and millions of these adorable plushies have been sold since they debuted in 2013. Never one to turn down an opportunity for cross-promotion, Marvel is launching a new miniseries integrating these toys into its comic-book universe, imagining what it would be like if Tsum Tsums actually had the powers of the characters they’re modeled after. Marvel Tsum Tsum is a very silly concept, but if DC can turn its KFC promotional comics into entertaining superhero fare, Marvel can find a way to build an engaging story around these toys.
Jacob Chabot has done exceptional work with kid-friendly projects in the past as both writer and artist, making him a smart choice to script the adventures of superpowered Tsum Tsums and the kids that love them. These preview pages of next week’s Marvel Tsum Tsum #1 highlight a sense of joy and wonder as the children discover the abilities of their living toys, and David Baldeon’s animated artwork heightens those emotions with big character expressions. The Tsum Tsums have a very limited range of expressions, but Baldeon makes them very cute, which is pretty much all that matters. It’s still too early to tell if Marvel Tsum Tsum will be as ridiculously fun as DC’s KFC books, but it’s shaping up to be a great book for younger Tsum Tsum fans that want to see these pillowy plushies in action.