DoorDash Custom Comic From Marvel
DoorDash has had Marvel create a custom comic, The Dashers, to “depict how, through independence and flexibility, Dashers are able to pursue their passions while being real-life heroes in their communities.”
The issue, “which celebrates the work and lives of those who deliver with DoorDash,” is available at New York Comic Con, going on now, and there’s also a five-chapter motion comic version that will begin posting at Marvel.com on October 12. Or you can read it digitally at doordash.com/marvel … where you’re encouraged to sign up as a delivery person for them.
(Although not mentioned in any of the PR, the comic is written by Paul Allor with art by Steve Kurth, Andrea Olimpieri, and Valerio Befall. This cover is by JL Giles.
The Dashers comic book features four super hero characters who each value dashing for a different reason: Ernesto values the ability to explore the city and having different experiences, Julia appreciates being able to earn flexibly while taking care of her family, Remi is an aspiring chef who dashes to support her passion, and Andrew is a young tech-savvy college student who dashes to help buy books and support his education. They each utilize their own Dasher super power — from the ability to be in multiple places at once, or “omnireplication,” to hyper-flexibility, or “supernatural elasticity,” and more — to navigate the city, dash, and ultimately, save the day.
It’s all a big ad, of course. With unemployment down and more jobs available, I imagine these kinds of side hustles are having a harder time finding more bodies to get meals and goods to customers.
Earlier this year, DoorDash released an Economic Impact Report which revealed that 88% of Dasher respondents had other income or responsibilities, which includes Dashers who have a full- or part-time job, are self-employed, students, stay-at-home caregivers or retired.
Which makes it clear that you can’t earn a living with this gig on its own.
But I’m talking about it because it shows how much appeal superhero comic books are seen to have to a general audience. The idea of the superhero is still a relevant and exciting one.