Marvel: The Characters and Their Universe: Collectors

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Overview of the "Marvel Age" Of Comics
Review: I put off buying Marvel: The Characters and Their Universe because of the price. I finally decided to give in to the temptation, and WOW, am I glad I did! I had an absolute BLAST reading this book.

The book is beautifully designed; It looks, smells, and feels GREAT. It's so attractive that at times I actually hated to open it for fear of getting it dirty. The cover art by Kaare Andrews is just gorgeous. Content-wise, Author Michael Mallory does a nice job of covering the history of the Marvel Bullpen and it's major players (Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko), and the Marvel Universe and it's major characters (Captain America, The Hulk, Spider-Man, and The X-Men each get extensive chapters of their own, The Fantastic Four, The Avengers, Daredevil, The Silver Surfer, et al, all share smaller chapters). The chapters are lavishly illustrated, and filled with beautiful art from the Comics, Movies, TV shows, and video games that the characters have appeared in. I'm a REAL Marvel Comic afficionado, and not only did I NOT find too many mistakes in the book (A few, but nothing major...), but I actually learned a lot; My favorite tidbit- Captain America co-creator Joe Simon hails from my adopted hometown of Rochester, New York.

Marvel: The Characters and Their Universe is a luxury item, to be sure, but one I'm glad I splurged on. I guarantee any Marvel Zombie will love it.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Introduction to Marvel I've Seen
Review: Most people who know me know I've loved comic books since I was a mere lad. Mallory's book on the Marvel Universe not only reminds me of exactly why comic books have inspired and thrilled me throughout my life, it includes things that not even I (ravenous comic book consumer that I am) have experienced. Mallory divides his book into several sections, some of which chronicle in detail the pop culture evolution of particular characters in the Universe (Spiderman, The Hulk, Captain America, and the X-Men come to mind.) It also details why comic book lovers consider the universe so special. Marvel was the first comic book company to seriously attempt to create a coherent universe out of all their titles. Ironically, unlike DC, they seem to have had less difficulty making readers take their universe seriously, by-passing all of the convoluted Earths and complicated and contradictory timelines that caused DC to write sometimes horribly ridiculous cross-over events to eradicate half of their characters.

One of the most important things that Mallory outlines in this book, and what makes Marvel so accessible to broad ranges of people, is the fact that the characters to come out of the Marvel Universe are so believable. They aren't perfect gods like their DC counterparts. They do sometimes make the wrong decisions. Spiderman, for instance, is a computer nerd. Iron Man is an alcoholic who has a hard time relating to other people. The X-Men are shunned across the globe because of their powers. These characters aren't automatically celebrated as like Superman and the Flash. People are afraid of those with more power than themselves. Mallory brings out this most human, and ultimately most important, aspect of the Marvel Universe. His book works because it brings out the characters behind those shiny and colorful spandex costumes, making sure that the reader understands that superheroics is not just about having powers and easily saving the day. It's also about wrestling with personal issues.

The book itself is quite simply beautiful. Hundreds of full color pictures chronicle the development of these characters. Dozens of interviews with such people as Stan Lee, Joe Simon and others add to the nuanced approach this book takes in discussing its subject matter. When I recieved the book in the mail, I was literally taken aback at the cover. I think many of you would agree, its one of the most spectacular covers I've ever seen on a book. More than simply chronicling the stories of the Marvel Universe, more than simply being a critical review of the characters within the universe, the book itself is a work of art, something you can display proudly on a coffee table or the like. Mallory brings up so many social issues that were inevitably tied with the production of these comics (Tony Stark's experiences in Vietnam being only one example), that the book inspires many discussions on the ways in which popular culture interacts with the world. Comic books aren't just superficial stories to escape the world. If Marvel comics have taught us anything, it's that comics can deal with real world issues in ways that are appealing. We don't have to think that gods from Olympus (a recent metaphor used to describe the characters in DC comics) watch down on us. They are among us. We have the ability to become heroes ourselves. The Marvel Universe, and indeed Mallory's analysis of that universe, reminds us of our own powers and our own responsibilities. Like Peter Parker's Uncle Ben once said "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility." Mallory's book shows us the degree to which Marvel comics aren't an escape from the world, but are an inspiration to act responsibly as heroes within our own world.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Introduction to Marvel I've Seen
Review: Most people who know me know I've loved comic books since I was a mere lad. Mallory's book on the Marvel Universe not only reminds me of exactly why comic books have inspired and thrilled me throughout my life, it includes things that not even I (ravenous comic book consumer that I am) have experienced. Mallory divides his book into several sections, some of which chronicle in detail the pop culture evolution of particular characters in the Universe (Spiderman, The Hulk, Captain America, and the X-Men come to mind.) It also details why comic book lovers consider the universe so special. Marvel was the first comic book company to seriously attempt to create a coherent universe out of all their titles. Ironically, unlike DC, they seem to have had less difficulty making readers take their universe seriously, by-passing all of the convoluted Earths and complicated and contradictory timelines that caused DC to write sometimes horribly ridiculous cross-over events to eradicate half of their characters.

One of the most important things that Mallory outlines in this book, and what makes Marvel so accessible to broad ranges of people, is the fact that the characters to come out of the Marvel Universe are so believable. They aren't perfect gods like their DC counterparts. They do sometimes make the wrong decisions. Spiderman, for instance, is a computer nerd. Iron Man is an alcoholic who has a hard time relating to other people. The X-Men are shunned across the globe because of their powers. These characters aren't automatically celebrated as like Superman and the Flash. People are afraid of those with more power than themselves. Mallory brings out this most human, and ultimately most important, aspect of the Marvel Universe. His book works because it brings out the characters behind those shiny and colorful spandex costumes, making sure that the reader understands that superheroics is not just about having powers and easily saving the day. It's also about wrestling with personal issues.

The book itself is quite simply beautiful. Hundreds of full color pictures chronicle the development of these characters. Dozens of interviews with such people as Stan Lee, Joe Simon and others add to the nuanced approach this book takes in discussing its subject matter. When I recieved the book in the mail, I was literally taken aback at the cover. I think many of you would agree, its one of the most spectacular covers I've ever seen on a book. More than simply chronicling the stories of the Marvel Universe, more than simply being a critical review of the characters within the universe, the book itself is a work of art, something you can display proudly on a coffee table or the like. Mallory brings up so many social issues that were inevitably tied with the production of these comics (Tony Stark's experiences in Vietnam being only one example), that the book inspires many discussions on the ways in which popular culture interacts with the world. Comic books aren't just superficial stories to escape the world. If Marvel comics have taught us anything, it's that comics can deal with real world issues in ways that are appealing. We don't have to think that gods from Olympus (a recent metaphor used to describe the characters in DC comics) watch down on us. They are among us. We have the ability to become heroes ourselves. The Marvel Universe, and indeed Mallory's analysis of that universe, reminds us of our own powers and our own responsibilities. Like Peter Parker's Uncle Ben once said "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility." Mallory's book shows us the degree to which Marvel comics aren't an escape from the world, but are an inspiration to act responsibly as heroes within our own world.

Rating:
Summary: Marvel had Jack Kirby, DC never quite did.....
Review: One reason why Marvel has so much better characters then Dc is that Marvel had the artistic genius of Jack Kirby working for them. Jack being the artist, and Stan being the writer/editor was a combination that has not been seen in comics before and most likely will not be seen again in the field. Together they created about 50% of the Marvel Universe as we know it now between 1961 and 1966. Kirby would later work at DC both on and off over the years, but the amount of work he did there was less then half of what he did for Marvel. If there is one reason why Marvel has enjoyed the success they have, is because Jack Kirby worked there as long as he did, and I think it's time they acknowledge that.

Rating:
Summary: Marvel had Jack Kirby, DC never quite did.....
Review: One reason why Marvel has so much better characters then Dc is that Marvel had the artistic genius of Jack Kirby working for them. Jack being the artist, and Stan being the writer/editor was a combination that has not been seen in comics before and most likely will not be seen again in the field. Together they created about 50% of the Marvel Universe as we know it now between 1961 and 1966. Kirby would later work at DC both on and off over the years, but the amount of work he did there was less then half of what he did for Marvel. If there is one reason why Marvel has enjoyed the success they have, is because Jack Kirby worked there as long as he did, and I think it's time they acknowledge that.

Rating:
Summary: Great Read and Coffee Table Book
Review: This book is great. It goes into, although briefly the rise of marvel comics. The meat and potatoes of this book though is the study of the marvel characters. Captain America, Spider-man, The Incredible Hulk, and the X-Men are looked into in depth. Other characters in the marvel universe are also explored but not in the length of the others mentioned. Whats great about this book is that it looks at the characters major story lines and their origins but also their representations in other mediums. WOndering about Captain America in the movies or on t.v.? Then this is the book for you. There is also another great book titled "marvel universe." That book looks at the characters in the comics only. So if you want just a study of the comics go with "Marvel Universe." If you want a book that looks at everything invovled with the character go with this one. Or buy both, they are fantastic books. So buy both! I did.

Rating:
Summary: Action packed
Review: This book is great. Full color, large pictures and information from the past to present on most Marvel Heroes. What is great is that you can be entertained and kept interested while reading about charactors you might not have had any interest in before.

Rating:
Summary: Great Read and Coffee Table Book
Review: This book is great. It goes into, although briefly the rise of marvel comics. The meat and potatoes of this book though is the study of the marvel characters. Captain America, Spider-man, The Incredible Hulk, and the X-Men are looked into in depth. Other characters in the marvel universe are also explored but not in the length of the others mentioned. Whats great about this book is that it looks at the characters major story lines and their origins but also their representations in other mediums. WOndering about Captain America in the movies or on t.v.? Then this is the book for you. There is also another great book titled "marvel universe." That book looks at the characters in the comics only. So if you want just a study of the comics go with "Marvel Universe." If you want a book that looks at everything invovled with the character go with this one. Or buy both, they are fantastic books. So buy both! I did.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book on the universe created by Stan and Jack.
Review: This book on the Marvel Universe gives a very in depth look about the creation of Marvel Comics in the 1960's and how Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created a universe full of human heroes that an everyday reader could relate with. Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, the X-Men, Captain America...the list goes on. Here they created a universe that was beliveable and had their characters live in a real city like New York (No fictional Gothom City or Metropolis here) avoiding the convoluted storylines that DC would often do (and still does to this day). On a more personal note it makes one really hope that the various Marvel films now in production will be a success. I'm hopeing for good films to be made on the Lee/Kirby charecters alone, Of the newer Marvel heroes, created by later generations of writers and artists, the only one I ever liked was Moon Knight, created by Doug Moench.