This week I’m taking it back once again to the big two publishers. Marvels is written by Kurt Busiek with artwork by Alex Ross and published of course by Marvel Comics. Released in 1994, this series spans four issues in total. It is often regarded as one of the best superhero comic books of all time. The story is set in our very own New York City and follows news photographer, Phil Sheldon as he chronicles the legendary exploits of the universe’s greatest heroes.

This story was the main inspiration for the Kingdom Come series published by DC Comics which I also reviewed. Despite sharing an artist in Alex Ross, both stories are wholly unique with each honing in on the overall tone of their respective universes perfectly. Marvels is less about the heroes themselves and more about the common man and their relationship with heroes, be it positive or negative.

In contrast to DC, Marvel’s heroes are less deific and are treated more like strange phenomena that often disrupt daily life. Some heroes are idolized like celebrities, while others are shunned for their disruptive tendencies. Personally, the story of Marvels isn’t quite as interesting as Kingdom Come. It feels more like a celebration of Marvel comics and their history. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it lead to me feeling less invested in the overall story as I was never surprised by the places it treads.

Each issue focuses on an individual era of comics respectively. The first is the Golden Age which developed during pre-and-post World War II America. This era featured heroes such as Namor, Captain America, Patriot, and more. Next is the Silver Age which was jumpstarted by the introduction of the Fantastic 4 in 1961. It’s here where you find the origins of Marvel’s most familiar faces such as The Avengers, X-Men, Hulk, and Spider-Man.

Finally, issue 4 takes us into the Bronze Age of 8os and 90s Marvel. For those familiar with the classic tales, it’s fun to see them unfold through a different lens, albeit a much less interesting one. The perspective of our mild-mannered working protagonist allows readers to clearly see how the culture of America directly influenced the stories during each period. However, this is something that I feel is still translated well by the original material.

On the other hand, if you haven’t read many Marvel books, this story provides a nice overview of the core themes and key storylines which comprise the universe to coax you into exploring further if desired. Alex Ross’ artwork is again perfect for this book. His paintings are a portrait of the past and it’s certainly evident that he put his heart and soul into this book. I particularly enjoyed his rendition of the Silver Surfer’s iconic battle against the planet eater, Galactus in Fantastic 4 issues #48-#50.

Marvels is definitely the book I would hand to someone looking for an introduction to comics. However, for longtime fans I don’t believe this is a must-read. It’s still a well-put-together book with a lot of polish behind it, but don’t expect to be gripped by each and every page.

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Marvels

19.99

7

Score

7.0/10

Pros

• Alex Ross' artwork
• Good introduction to Marvel history

Cons

• Story is less interesting for comic veterans
• Ending left much to be desired