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Wizard gave this bad boy spot #2 on their best graphic novels of all time. I highly disagree, Marvels is better than DC: The New Frontier by a long shot. This novel is the most realistic superhero comic ever created. What would all of us puny humans have to say about all these superhero's destroying our property in fist fights? Regular Joe's don't usually have a huge appearance in superhero books, but now in Marvels the regular people carry the spotlight. This book looks at how people would react in a universe where superheroes are a part of daily life. Busiek's extremely realistic writing, and Alex Ross's super-real drawings make this graphic novel more than just a comic book.
The book travels from beginning to end in Marvel History. It's best to know a little bit of the history, or else you'll have no clue why Galactus is attacking Earth, or who in the world Gwen Stacy is. Any person without the history lesson isn't going to take away as much from Marvels as a fan would. However, if you are a fan, be prepared to read something you've never read before.
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I've flipped through the 10th Anniversary issue and the various collected editions in both paperback and hardcover, but none of them have a complete #0, they only have that excerpt with the birth of the Human Torch. But they don't include the rest of the issue, so I was just wondering why that is?
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Marvels should be included in any top ten list of must read mini-series for the true comic book fan. Alex Ross' style of painting his figures brings Marvels' super-heroes to life in a way never seen before. If you have always wanted to see what these characters would look like if they actually existed, Ross is the artist for the job. It's clear that Busiek loves the subject matter, and he finds a way to combine golden and silver age themes with a new story that truly engages the reader.
Another treat for nostalgia buffs, Ross sneaks in celebrities from the eras he's dealing with. For example, during chapter 1, we see a couple in a movie theater who look like Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. Later during the silver age, we see pepole on the street who look like Dick Van Dyke, Dick York, and even JFK.
Marvels in many ways is an "alternate universe" look at Marvel comics. The writer imagines a world in which the superheroes existed during the same time that their adventures were written. Thus, the debut of the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, Spider-Man, etc. all take place during the early to mid 1960s. The style of clothing and cars reflect this.
This hardcover edition would make a fantastic gift for the comic book lovers in your life!
Rating:  -
good artwork with an OK story. I think my expectations were a bit too high going in, and given that it was mostly a recap of comic history that I had already read the originals. I'm not sure how entertaining it would be for someone unfamiliar with the old stories.
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Marvels is a comic book classic and rightly so. Combining the excellent writing of Kurt Busiek and the breathtaking painted visuals of Alex Ross, the story takes a look at the Marvel Universe from the common man's perspective. Following the life of a New York City reporter, this graphic novel shows humanity's reaction to the mighty superheroes that walk Marvel Earth.
The story is wonderful for several reasons. The most obvious is Alex Ross' artwork, which gives a very realistic look to a fantasy world. There is also Kurt Busiek's encyclopedic knowledge of Marvel continuity, which enables him to weave a tale that uses events ranging from the battle between the original Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner, the marriage of Reed Richards and Sue Storm followed quickly by the first appearance of the Sentinels, and the coming of Galactus, all without making the history seem unwieldy or unnatural. The most important piece of Marvels, though, is the human characters and their reactions as generations of super-powered individuals act as saviors, villains, and much more. In a world that is rescued from annihilation on an almost daily basis, we see the street-level reactions to superheroes that often make common men and women seem irrelevant. At the same time, we see the moral ambiguity of the Marvel Universe in action, watching individuals like Namor go from hero to villain and back again.
Marvels is an intensely human story in a genre that is often about anything but humans. Even if you don't regularly read Marvel comics, it is well worth picking up this graphic novel. Generations from now, it will be looked upon not only as an excellent comic book story, but as a work of art in its own right.
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