{"id":4669,"date":"2014-09-16T14:04:00","date_gmt":"2014-09-16T14:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.floridacitrus.org\/oj\/news\/florida-citrus-unveils-americas-newest-hero\/"},"modified":"2023-01-24T18:06:55","modified_gmt":"2023-01-24T18:06:55","slug":"florida-citrus-unveils-americas-newest-hero","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.floridacitrus.org\/oj\/news\/florida-citrus-unveils-americas-newest-hero\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Citrus unveils America\u2019s newest hero"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Redesigned by Marvel, Captain Citrus has a new look and new ambitions.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

TAMPA, Fla. \u2013 Armed with super powers and a knack for making smart choices, the world\u2019s newest comic book hero is traveling from Florida to schools across the country to help teach children about nutrition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Florida Department of Citrus, together with Marvel Custom Solutions, unveiled the redesigned Captain Citrus Tuesday at Heroes\u2019 Haven Comics in Tampa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transformed from life-sized orange into a young man mysteriously powered by the sun, the newly imagined Captain Citrus is a sculpted hero clad in a muscle-skimming citrus-hued suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Appearing alongside Marvel\u2019s popular Avengers Assemble characters in a series of custom comic books, Captain Citrus battles villains while helping to convey the values of the Florida citrus industry and the importance of making smart choices about nutrition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The FDOC\u2019s partnership with Marvel includes a print comic book distributed free to one million children in schools across the country this fall. An educational teacher\u2019s guide, providing a lesson plan aligned with best practices teaching guidelines, will accompany them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two additional digital chapters of the Captain Citrus story will be released at CaptainCitrus.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally created in 2011, Captain Citrus began as an effort to spread the nutritional message of Orange Juice in Florida classrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the partnership with Marvel, Captain Citrus is now an asset that can be used worldwide, said Doug Ackerman, executive director of the FDOC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRaising awareness of the amazing nutritional benefits of Florida Citrus, especially among families, is a priority,\u201d Ackerman said. \u201cWith a well-established audience and a proven track record of success, Marvel is the perfect partner to help make that happen on a global level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the debut issue, readers are introduced to John Polk, a young man empowered by mysterious solar pods discovered in his family\u2019s citrus grove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When trouble arises in nearby Orlando, the Avengers go into action and Polk feels compelled to join them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harnessing the power of Florida sunshine and an affinity for the grove where he grew up, Captain Citrus helps defeat the villain and his plans for world domination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combining entertainment with education, the accompanying teacher\u2019s guide provides a lesson plan focused on helping students make smarter choices about nutrition while highlighting the amazing qualities of 100% Florida Orange Juice, including taste, vitamin C, potassium, folate and no added sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Creative Director and Editor for Marvel Entertainment, Bill Rosemann oversaw the development of Captain Citrus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThroughout our 75 years of heroic storytelling, Marvel has not only entertained a worldwide audience, but inspired them as well,\u201d Rosemann said. \u201cIn addition to battling evil, the Avengers also represent the ideals we all should strive for, including trust, diversity, and teamwork. Likewise, Captain Citrus will show readers that while they may not be able to fly or shoot solar blasts, they can make healthy choices in their everyday lives and unleash the hero within.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n