'Asked & Answered with the Women of Marvel': Jen Grunwald

Get to know the Asked & Answered with the Women of Marvel series here. Be sure to head over to Marvel.com/askedanswered every other week for more!

Jennifer Grunwald puts the 'Marvel' in Women of Marvel. As Senior Editor of Special Projects at Marvel Comics, Jen has been bringing you your favorite trade paperbacks, omnibuses and must-have collections since Peter Parker was played by an American actor. A fan at heart with a heart as big as Galactus, Jen is beloved by nearly every creator, editor and fan she’s ever met. (And I say nearly only because you might not believe me otherwise.)

She’s got a thing for Rogue. She built a comic shop on her Animal Crossing island. She’s a Woman of Marvel. And we had some questions for her.

We asked. She answered.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

Hit snooze.

What are you totally into right now?

I’ve been playing a lot more video games over the past year+.

Superpower of choice?

Teleportation, no question.

Choose one to attend: Game Seven of the World Series when the Mets clinch it, or the World Cup when Germany’s football team (Die Mannschaft) brings it home? 

DIE MANNSCHAFT ÜBER ALLES! (Sorry, Mets.)

If you could take a trip in the Tardis, when and where would you go?

I think I’d go to the far future and find out what the heck became of humanity and Earth.

What was your favorite book, comic, movie, or TV show as a kid?

Depends how far back you want to go, but I became pretty obsessed with the X-Men starting at around 12 years old.

What is your favorite book, comic, movie, or TV show now?

This is difficult; there’s so much excellent media these days, but in the immediate, I’m just so in love with Ted Lasso. Weird, I know. ;)

Which Rogue is the best Rogue?

I know most people love the classic ’90s yellow & green, but I’ve always been partial to the older black and green ones. She has a few but it’s essentially a black body suit with green accents, like the one with the green t-shirt and the double belts (which are clearly just for show).

Incidentally, that’s the costume she’s wearing on my desk right now!

Tell us all the toys and keepsakes on your desk.

A lot less at my home office than my old desk but currently a small Rogue, a little 10th Doctor with 3D glasses, a tiny TARDIS, an original Milk & Cheese drawing by Evan Dorkin and a statue from Disney of Sorcerer Mickey commemorating having worked here for 15 years! I should be getting a 20th year statue next year!

Current knitting project? 

I hate to admit this but I’ve barely knit/crocheted during these Covid times. I think I have a We Are Knitters shirt started but it’s been so long, I’ll probably have to restart it. ☹ 

So, you put a comic book shop on your Animal Crossing island. What’s the top-selling series?

X-Men, duh.

All-time favorite knitting project?

I’m pretty into this giant rainbow shawl I made out of like 50 different colored tiny balls of yarn (though I think that one was crocheted)!

Truth or dare?

Always truth! I have little to hide and I’m chicken when it comes to dares!

What’s the best thing about your best friend?

I have a few best friends and the best thing about all of them is that they are always ready to spring into action when I need them. (And vice versa!)

Weirdest comic book panel you’ve come across in a reprint?

Definitely one of the funniest to me is an old panel of Nova (Richard Rider) flying towards a baddie, but the angle is through the baddie’s legs and Nova is saying “All right, body-beautiful, here I come!” ahahaha (I printed it out at the time and hung it up by my desk.)

When and where have you appeared in the Marvel universe?

Actually, I was just recently drawn into S.W.O.R.D. #6 (Thanks Valerio!) at the X-Men Hellfire Gala with my good friend Scott Adsit because he was “invited” and he asked me to be his plus one! 

What is your current hair color? 

Purple!

What’s your all-time favorite hair color?

Probably magenta because it’s nice and bright and lasts the longest!

In a Kree invasion, which Marvel heroes are protecting Astoria with you?

I mean, I’m obviously gonna want Rogue but also Pixie and Kate Pryde! (X-Men forever!)

Mantra or quote that keeps you going?

“F$^& it.”

Best thing about being a Woman of Marvel?

That the list of women at Marvel has been growing more and more every year!

MacKenzie Cadenhead is a children’s book author and an old school (Read: former) Marvel editor — not old-old but let’s just say she knew Gwen Stacy when she was dead. She co-authors the "Marvel Super-Hero Adventures" chapter book series for young readers and is a proud Woman of Marvel. You can see what she’s up to over at Instagram @mackenziecadenhead.

The Women of Marvel podcast assembles to chat all things Marvel and more! New episodes are released every other Thursday. You can find Women of Marvel on Sirius XM, Marvel.com/podcasts and Apple Podcasts.