Origins of Marvel Comics

Rating:
Summary: The Fantastic Four, Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor & Doc Strange!
Review: "Origins of Marvel Comics" presents the origins and history of its most famous creations with introductions from Stan (the Man) Lee that are interesting if not insightful. I am certain that to some degree Lee is mythologizing these actions of comic creation, but I really have no idea where to draw the line on how much credit he gets in all this and am not ashamed that my copy of this book is autographed. The main thing about this volume is that at a time where reprints were few and far between, "Origins of Marvel Comics" gives you the first appearance of classic super heroes along with what in 1974 were more recent stories as well. For "The Fantastic Four" we get issue #1 where they take on the Moleman and #55 "Where Strikes the Silver Surfer," both of which are drawn by Jack Kirby. "The Incredible Hulk" offers more Kirby art with issue #1 (with the Hulk still grey on the cover) and #118 where he fights the Sub-Mariner drawn by Herb Trimpe. "Amazing Fantasy" #15 provides the first story with Steve Ditko's Spider-Man while #72 of "The Amazing Spider-Man" features "Rocked by...The Shocker!" drawn by John Romita. Kirby again draws both stories when "Journey Into Mystery" #83 introduces "The Mighty Thor" while issue #143 has Thor, Balder and Sif taking on the Evil Enchanters. Finally, there are a trio of stories with Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts, drawn by Ditko and Marie Severin. Of course the origin issues are of more interest than the others and do not really add anything significant. There are other volumes in this "series," providing more of the same.

Rating:
Summary: The Fantastic Four, Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor & Doc Strange!
Review: "Origins of Marvel Comics" presents the origins and history of its most famous creations with introductions from Stan (the Man) Lee that are interesting if not insightful. I am certain that to some degree Lee is mythologizing these actions of comic creation, but I really have no idea where to draw the line on how much credit he gets in all this and am not ashamed that my copy of this book is autographed. The main thing about this volume is that at a time where reprints were few and far between, "Origins of Marvel Comics" gives you the first appearance of classic super heroes along with what in 1974 were more recent stories as well. For "The Fantastic Four" we get issue #1 where they take on the Moleman and #55 "Where Strikes the Silver Surfer," both of which are drawn by Jack Kirby. "The Incredible Hulk" offers more Kirby art with issue #1 (with the Hulk still grey on the cover) and #118 where he fights the Sub-Mariner drawn by Herb Trimpe. "Amazing Fantasy" #15 provides the first story with Steve Ditko's Spider-Man while #72 of "The Amazing Spider-Man" features "Rocked by...The Shocker!" drawn by John Romita. Kirby again draws both stories when "Journey Into Mystery" #83 introduces "The Mighty Thor" while issue #143 has Thor, Balder and Sif taking on the Evil Enchanters. Finally, there are a trio of stories with Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts, drawn by Ditko and Marie Severin. Of course the origin issues are of more interest than the others and do not really add anything significant. There are other volumes in this "series," providing more of the same.

Rating:
Summary: Pricey Origins Book
Review: An overview of the classic Marvel heroes coupled with newer stories to bring this into the 90s. Priced a little on the high side considering the number of stories in this volume. Commentary by Stan Lee in sometimes enlightening but leaves out a lot of real information. Creators such as Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko do not get the full credit that they deserve.

Rating:
Summary: This title needs to be reprinted with an updated history
Review: Ironically good old Stan Lee is in a suit with Marvel over the 10% profit he asked for..... the success of the Spidey movie.

He did the same thing to his co creators. He robbed them of credit. I couldn't stand to see Stan in interviews say how he made his creations with the help of an "artist". What an understatement! Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko were the major artists who wrote the story through their rough margin notes and what they drew for Stan each month. Stan just filled in the ballons with dialogue. The "artists" were just as much writers as Stan was. Kirby and Ditko provided Stan the universe he calls his own.