Marvels 10th Anniversary (Marvel Heroes)

Rating:
Summary: The book that made Alex Ross famous
Review: Best. Artwork. E-V-E-R. This comic, in my opinion blows all other art away, even in other comics Ross has drawn. I originally bought this book FOR the art and I was so impressed I went out and bought as many of Alex Ross' books as I could get my hands on. The story is set in WW2 and the 1960s Marvel Universe, so you get to see some of the history of Marvel. It isn't a superhero book either but rather follows the life of a simple photographer in New York City and ends with one of the most famous Marvel stories ever.

Rating:
Summary: The Marvel Universe throguh the eyes of the everyman
Review: First and formost, I am not a very big Marvel fan. I picked this up after reading "Kingdom Come" and thoroughly enjoying Alex Ross' art. The art here was just as good as it was in Kingdom Come but the story was totally different. As a matter of fact, this was different that any comics stories I've read. Nearly all stories put the superheroes in the driver's seat, with the stories being from their point of view and narration. This was the exact opposite. This story, much to its credit is told from the point of view of a photojounalist, Phil Sheldon. He chroicles the entire birth of the Marvel Universe, from the birth of the Human Torch in the 1940's to the death of Gwen Stacy in the more recent chain of events. He tells a story of awe, appreciation, respect and fear regarding the Marvels (as he likes to call these superheroes). He reflects the emotions of how humans would truly react whether this phenomenon had really occurred. The end product being a masterpiece and one of the best comic stories....no, one of the best stories ever written. As I mentioned in the beginning, the art is flawless and truly a feast for the eyes. The details that Ross places on every panel he paints is truly uncanny and cements his status as on the best artists in the medium. Much applause and crdit should go to the author, Kurt Busiek who does the seemingly impossible task of tying together all the events on the Marvel Universe in a very coherent manner (from the sighting of the X-MEN to the senate hearing for Tony Stark, the disbanding of The Avengers to the death of Captain Stacy). This shows that he had put in a lot of work on this painstaking research and story. All of these factors puts MARVELS on the list with other comic masterpieces such as The Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, etc. Anybody who believes comics are for kids and just a showcase for colorful and flamboyant superheroes should read this. This story manages to penetrate deeply emotional issues that are comparable and might even rival some of the writing done in the more mature and regular medium.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!!! Excellent!!! Excellent!!!
Review: First off, let me say that I absolutely love the art work in the comic series. AMAZING!!!

What a gift it is to have a written story that rivals the artwork.

I thoroughly enjoyed Marvels. I love the concept of seeing the birth of superheros, in the Marvel Universe, through the eyes of a photo journalist. From it's skaky beginnings with the battles between the original Human Torch and the very angry Sub Mariner up until the very sad tragic death of Gwen Stacy at the hands of the Green Goblin.

Everything else in between those two story plots are just comic genius. An accurate timeline of Marvel events happening at once to every and all characters. While the Hulk was on a rampage in Washington, The Fantastic Four were having a wedding, and the Wasp was having her own clothing line... etc.

Upon reading the series, I kept recalling all these stories I had read as a child. To see them all combined, backed by beautiful artwork was a sheer pleasure.

I highly recommend this graphic novel for old and new fans. Very smartly written. Very beautifully drawn.

Rating:
Summary: The Marvel Universe through new eyes
Review: For the 1994 mini-series, Marvels, Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross, came-up with an idea so brilliant, yet so simple, it is curious why no one thought of it years ago. Marvels presents the Marvel Universe (The fictional world that holds all of characters of Marvel Comics including Spider-man, The Hulk, The Fantastic Four, Captain America and more) through the eyes of the common man. Of coarse, to keep the book from being a commonplace tale with some supermen in the background, Mr. Busiek and Mr. Ross needed a protagonist that would have some interaction in the spandex-clad guardians of this world. Enter photojournalist, Phil Sheldon. Despite snapping photos of The Mighty Thor and The Uncanny X-men (and despite his astute introspection) Mr. Sheldon is just your average joe. He is a middle-aged man who commutes to work every morning, plays bridge every weekend, and tucks his daughters in every night. He is also the mouthpiece for the feelings one would expect of a man living in a time of unprecedented spectacles: curiosity, skepticism, awe and a huge hunk of fear. Mr. Busiek obviously undertook massive brainstorming and employed very careful reasoning to construct such a believable, not to mention likable, character with such rational, plausible concerns about an extreme, fantastic world.

If there was ever an artist born for such a project it is Alex Ross. His paintings are clear, crisp and, most of all, convincing. He sacrifices excessive dynamics and flashiness for images that are utterly realistic. Only actual photographs of a shimmering extraterrestrial floating down from the heavens or a man in a red and blue costume swinging from building to building could possibly be a step up from his work. Mr. Ross' stunning artwork greatly enhances the feelings of awe and wonderment of a man looking-up at the sky and seeing human beings airborne.

Throughout the years of overused ideas, disregard for scientific realities and perspectives from behind the mask, the fantastic events of comicbooks lost their majesty. By viewing them from the eyes of someone no more spectacular than me or you, Mr. Busiek and Mr. Ross return that feeling of wonderment and exhilaration one may have felt in 1938 when Superman first flew or in 1941 when Captain America tackled the Axis Powers with just a shield and a side-kick with more lushness, deliberation and proficiency than ever before. Marvels will do nothing less than make a reader forever see the Marvel Universe in a new light.

Rating:
Summary: This book is OK.
Review: I first read these issues when they came out in 1993, and I was quite impressed with how they worked it out. The intelligent script by Kurt Busiek and the real life paintings of all the Marvel Characters by Alex Ross, certainly made the Marvel Universe now appear like a real world with real flesh and blood characters living in it. Along with essays by Stan Lee and John Romita, this book serves as both good reading and also as a blue print for how these characters are being done at the movies.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best comics ever in a brilliant special edition
Review: It's hard for me to justify the expense of a hardcover graphic novel, especially if it's a collection of individual issues I already have, but when I heard about the Marvels 10th Anniversary edition I knew I would have to get it. Not only is Marvels one of my favorite comics of all time, but the extras packed into this book really show how collected editions are starting to become the DVD equivalent for comic books.

In "Marvels," Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross took us through the life of photojournalist Phil Sheldon, an old-fashioned newspaperman with printer's ink in his veins and a camera to his eye. Phil, however, lives in a more fantastic universe than you or I, he lives in the Marvel Universe, home of Captain America, the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man and the X-Men. Through four issues, we watch how Phil and his world grew and changed, how people thought about the superheroes -- the Marvels, as Phil called them -- and how perceptions evolved along the way. It's a beautiful, poignant series about ordinary heroism, hero worship, and the heroic ideal. Ten years later, it's still one of the best comics I've ever read.

If you've already read the comics, though, there is still stuff here for you. This collection includes the four pitches Busiek and Ross went through to get the series made, the complete scripts for all four issues, character sketches, production and promotional artwork, a guide to "Easter Eggs" in the artwork, a section on Ross' technique of painting from photographed models and even the text of all the newspaper articles that only partially appeared throughout the series. It's packed, and that makes the reading all the more fun.

If you've never read "Marvels," you're missing out. If you read it and loved it, this book takes the story one step further. Kudos to Marvel for putting out such a great edition of such an important comic book.

Rating:
Summary: Plotless with little characterization
Review: This book was not worth reading. While it starts out with the 'birth' of the human torch, soon many random superheros and super villains are incorporated within the book. There's lots of action, but the reader doesn't really care who wins or who loses, since other than the torch and the protagonist (a photographer) there is absolutely no characterization! Obviously the author is trying to pack in as many superheros/supervillains into one book as he can. There's almost nothing to keep you turning the pages in this book and i am surprised i even finished it. I recommend sticking with a book that focuses on just one hero (or one group of heros, such as with the X-Men). Don't waste your time reading this book with no plot or characterization.

Idea to fellow female readers: Check out "Merridian" instead. It is way cool.

To female and male readers: pick up an ordinary comic book or a good graphic novel like Galaxy Express 999.

Rating:
Summary: A great graphic novel!
Review: This fascinating graphic novel is a history of the Marvel universe, seen through the eyes of "common people", and more particularly, Phil Sheldon, press photographer. Throughout his career, Phil watches the superheroes ("Marvels" as he calls them), and also he watches the common people as they interact with the Marvels. Along the way, the reader is treated to a few essays by Stan Lee, Kurt Busiek, Alex Ross, and Scott McCloud, with their thoughts on the Marvels.

This book bored my eight-year-old son, as the superheroes were such minor characters. But, I found myself caught up in the story; reliving memories of watching the Marvel universe unfold throughout my life. (Boy, do I wish that I had saved those old comic books!) I found the authors' take on things to be quite though provoking. Indeed, he showed how people have always had a love/hate relationship with the Marvels from their inception through the 1970s, in spite of the other changes in their world.

This is a great graphic novel, one with a refreshingly different take. I highly recommend it to you!

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: This is what got me into comics in the first place. This story is well written and has great art. The story isn't about the superheros directly but about humans looking at the "Marvels" from the outside. The art, while not traditional comics art, but rather paintings are fantastic. They look like painted art rather than abstract art stuffed in to look like a comic book. The story is a human interest story but very well done, not dry and boring. This might not be a good buy if you're just getting into comics but it is still a great story with excellent art.