ou can add THQ to the growing list of Marvel licensees. The publisher announced today that it has acquired the exclusive video-game rights for Hasbro’s “Marvel Super Hero Squad” franchise. If you’re unfamiliar with the property, you probably haven’t walked down a toy aisle lately. Aimed squarely at kids, it reimagines iconic Marvel characters—including Hulk, Spider-Man, Doctor Doom and many others—as short, squat caricatures with large, grinning faces. And they all live in Super Hero City.

"Marvel is one of the true crown jewels in the entertainment industry and we are thrilled at the prospect of both building the Marvel Super Hero Squad brand and further developing our relationship with Marvel," said Brian Farrell, president and CEO, THQ. "We are dedicated to expanding our unmatched success story in the kids space and this agreement with Marvel is an excellent complement to our portfolio."

If nothing else, Marvel has demonstrated a devious ability to divide, combine and repackage its various licenses for games, with sneaky workarounds popping up seemingly out of nowhere. Clever.

The first Marvel Super Hero Squad game is set for a fall 2009 release.