Marvel saddles up to turn stars of the track into superheroes
THE Jockey Club is trying to woo a younger audience into horse racing with a Marvel comic featuring reality television celebrities.
In the Magnificent Racehorses, which will released in time for the Grand National this weekend, “social media influencers” such as Georgia Toffolo from Made in Chelsea and Chris Hughes of Love Island will feature alongside some of Britain’s favourite racehorses.
Red Rum, three-time winner of the National, and Desert Orchid, winner of the Gold Cup, are among 10 horses to have been given the superhero treatment by Marvel artists as the Jockey Club attempts to bring horse racing “into popular culture”. The Queen also appears in the comic alongside one of her prized horses, Estimate.
Paul Fisher, chief executive of Jockey Club Racecourses, said the comic book will “encourage a new generation of fans” to enjoy the UK’S second-biggest spectator sport.
“Working with some of the best artists to immortalise British racing’s greatest stars in comic book form will hopefully appeal to our sport’s existing fans and inspire new ones including youngsters to experience the thrill of racing themselves,” he said.
“Racing has worked hard over the last few years to appeal to a younger audience. We are always looking for ways to take our sport to new audiences as well as excite existing fans.”
The 24-page comic was designed and produced by Simon Furman, a former editor of Marvel UK, and Martin Griffiths, who has been a Marvel artist since 1986.