The 1962 publication of Amazing Fantasy #15, the first comic book to feature Spider-Man, was a groundbreaking moment in the history of superhero comics.

The popular characters of the previous 24 years had all been successful young professionals living in fictional, utopic cities; Superman was a star reporter, Batman was a millionaire, Wonder Woman was a Greek god, and Aquaman was king of Atlantis. Spider-Man broke this mold. The young Peter Parker was a jobless 16-year-old from Queens who was regularly bullied at school, and whose alter-ego, Spider-Man, was despised by the New York public.

Amazing Fantasy #15 was a huge success, outselling other superhero titles on the market. Spider-Man's popularity convinced publishers that teenage superheroes with real-world problems could star in successful comic series. A wave of comics featuring teenage heroes followed on the heels of Spider-Man’s publication.

54 years later, the teenage heroes of the '60s have grown up; Peter Parker isn’t an angst-ridden teen anymore— in the current series, he’s the CEO of a multi-national corporation. Now, to appeal to 21st century teens, Marvel and DC comics have created a new generation of teenage superheroes.

Fittingly, the first of these heroes is a new Spider-Man.

Miles Morales - The Ultimate Spider-Man (2011)

In 2011, after writing the Ultimate Spider-Man series for ten years, writer Brian Michael Bendis created 13-year-old Miles Morales, a teenager of Black Hispanic descent, who becomes Spider-Man after the death of Peter Parker.

While not fighting crime, Miles struggles to maintain a secret identity while attending a new charter school in Brooklyn. In 2015, the popularity of the character prompted Marvel Comics to make Miles a new member of The Avengers.

The All-New X-Men (2012)

In 2012, when writer Brian Michael Bendis took over writing the X-Men, he decided to bring back the teenage characters from the 1960’s.

In this new series, The Beast uses a time-travel device to bring the teenage X-Men of the 60’s into the 21^st century Westchester County, New York, where they meet their adult counterparts. 

The teens think the adults are a bunch of sellouts, while the adults think the teens are inexperienced brats. However, the two groups must work together to find a way to send the teenagers back to the past.

Kamala Kahn - Ms. Marvel (2014)

In 2014, editors Sana Amanat and Stephen Wacker, along with writer G. Willow Wilson and artist Adrian Alphonia, created Kamala Kahn, a Pakistani American shape-shifting super heroine from Jersey City, who becomes a new Ms. Marvel after the previous heroine retires.

  Kamala must learn to control her powers and protect her family and classmates from The Inventor, while also completing her schoolwork and religious duties. Like Miles Morales, Kamala was made a member of the Avengers in 2015.

Barbara Gordon – Batgirl (2014)

In 2014, writers Cameron Stewart and Brendan Fletcher, with artist Babs Tarr, re-invented the character of Batgirl, changing her from a 30-year-old detective to a 21-year old student and moving her to a Williamsburg analogue called “Burnside.”

This new Batgirl fights crime while working to manage her social-media presence and make time to go to her friend’s band’s concerts.

Teen Titans (2014)

In 2014, writer Will Pfeifer and artist Kenneth Rocafort relaunched the Teen Titans comic series, wherein the titular team fight to guide and defend a new generation of super-powered teenagers.

Their goal is to mold these teens into heroes, rather than letting them become villains. At the same time, the old heroes and the new teens have to get used to living and training together in Titans Tower.

Khalid Nassor - Doctor Fate (2016)

Egyptian-American Khalid Nassor is DC comics' newest teen hero. After stumbling upon the helmet of Fate at the Brooklyn Museum, Khalid is endowed with  a costume and abilities that he must use to defend the world against Anubis, the Lord of the Dead.

This graphic novel is coming soon to a library near you!

Correction 3/1/2016: Brendan Fletcher is co-writer on Batgirl, while Babs Tarr is the series' artist.