NEW YORK (NYTimes) - DC Entertainment, home of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and other heroes, is planning two new graphic novel imprints aimed at younger readers.

DC Zoom will feature stories for middle school readers, and DC Ink will focus on young adults. Books from the two divisions are scheduled to come out in the fall.

Though a few of the graphic novels will have creators who are already working in the comic book industry, the majority of the writers are a Who's Who of popular novelists for young readers. They include Laurie Halse Anderson (Speak), Melissa de la Cruz (the Descendants series), Michael Northrop (TombQuest) and Ridley Pearson (the Kingdom Keepers series).

"Any initiative that will create material for 7- to 15-year-olds, I'm all for," said Mr Chuck Rozanski, president of Mile High Comics, which has three comic stores in and near Denver. "That's our biggest growth area in the store."

He noted that a lot of comics, particularly those centred on superheroes, attract a limited, die-hard audience. "The young people coming into stores are not getting material they can take ownership of," he said. "They are hungry for adventure and for the kind of escapism that comics can provide."

DC Ink will begin with two graphic novels: one featuring Harley Quinn, a supervillain from the Batman universe, and one with Mera, the regal, longtime love interest of Aquaman.

DC Zoom will make its debut with DC Super Hero Girls: Search For Atlantis.

If that sounds like a line-up heavy on heroines, there is a reason.

"If you look at readership in middle grade and Y.A. in general, you'll see a swing on the side of female readers," said Ms Michele Wells, vice-president for content strategy at DC.

The adventures meant for middle graders will feature characters who are figuring out the world around them, including dealing with parents and teachers.

The young adult graphic novels will focus more on questions of personal identity, with budding heroes deciding what paths they will take.