Marvels

Rating:
Summary: The Marvel universe as seen by the average Joe
Review: MARVELS is a neat chronicle of watershed events in the Marvel universe that occur over a period of about fifty years. It's also seen from the perspective of the average, non-superpowered 'man on the street'. It all unfolds from the view of a newspaper photographer, as he witnesses the legendary battle between Namor the Sub-Mariner and the original Human Torch, the rise of the X-Men & their battle for equality, the death of Gwen Stacey, the aftermath of the X-Men's first battle with the Hellfire Club, and many more turning points in the Marvel world's history, all from an almost-safe distance.

Alex Ross's photorealistic painted artwork, rather than the pencil-ink-color process that is the norm, gives the book a 'real world' look. It's how the Marvel universe would look like were it shown 'live-action'. MARVELS marks Ross's big break into the comics scene, eventually making him one of the most in-demand talents in the medium today. This book was my first exposure to Ross' efforts, and I've been a big fan of his art ever since.

But there's also Kurt Busiek's story, which shows the man's reactions to the events as an outsider looking in. His story artistry gives you a glimpse, if you were able to, of how you'd experience the world of superheroes.

'Late!

Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: Marvels is one of the best graphic novels ever! It gels Marvel history from a normal person's point of view. If you ever imagined what it would feel like to be in the Marvel universe then pick this one up.

Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Comics Tale Ever!
Review: MARVELS isn't your typical comic story. Rather than a yarn about vigilantes jumping roof to roof or super-powered champions defending the planet from an otherworldly menace, it's the story of a one-eyed family man/photographer named Phil Sheldon, who happens to live in the Marvel Universe!! Through the eye of everyman Sheldon, we are taken on a trip through Marvel Comics' greatest points of history and their ramifications on the average human being. Book 1 begins in the Golden Age, we witness the blazing birth of the synthetic Human Torch and he grandoise slugfests with the avenging undersea monarch, Namor. We experience the sudden appearance of Captain America putting the kibosh on numerous Nazi plots. Book 2 is about the mania surrounding the most famous wedding of all time - that of Mr. Fantastic to the Invisible Girl, and how anti-mutant paranoia errupts into bloody riots that following night, as Phil learns something about himself and both man and mutantkind. Book 3 shows how the citizens of Earth dealt with the impending apocalypse came with Galactus, and how the Fantastic Four were shockingly treated after defeating the menace. Book 4 is truly the most personal tale, as Sheldon sets out to clear the name of Spider-Man who is persecuted for a murder he didn't commit, as Phil interviews the victims daughter, Gwen Stacy, girlfriend of Peter Parker, who was murdered before the eyes of Sheldon and Parker's alias, Spider-Man. The writing and artwork in MARVELS is so impeccably amazing, that words do it no justice - it is truly the single greatest piece of comics literature because it makes the spectacular so real.

Rating:
Summary: THE GREATEST COMIC I HAVE EVER READ
Review: No matter how much you think you know about the Marvel Universe, Marvels will absolutely blow you away. The team of Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross is absolutely amazing, and that is why I think that they are the two greatest talents in the world of comics today. The writing is utterly amazing. I haven't read anything that captured the awe-inspiring magnificence of the Marvel super-heroes. And then there's the art. I don't even have the words to tell you what it is like to see the art in this book. The best word I can give you is wow. Alex Ross is simply a genius. That is why, along with the extraordinarily good writing, Marvels should be hanging on a wall in the Louvre Museum.

Rating:
Summary: The mature Marvel comic experience starts here
Review: Photorealistic art. That would be great enough. Then there's a "everybody in" story, which is always fun, especially if you happened to read the early Marvel comics in their first run. And what's best is... there's a wonderfully mature story in there! Here's a guy who manages to show an army of laughable freakazoids as real characters, however bizarre. The only real revolution in comics after the Watchmen/Dark Knight stunts.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Stuff!
Review: Ross does a great job on the art, unforunetly Kingdom Come's is twice as good. Busiek's script is wonderfully crafted, yet second to some of his Astro City work. The end result is a great tale, probably the best Marvel work of all time, but if you don't already have Kingdom Come and Astro City: Life in the Big City, you have no buisness buying this. Get those first, and then consider Marvels.

Rating:
Summary: "Cover quality" artwork on every page...
Review: The photorealistic, painted artwork of Art Ross all by itself makes this graphic novel a must-own. Kurt Busiek adds a retro, more "realistic", as-seen-by-the-man-on-the-street, look at characters like the Human Torch and Spiderman. I consider this a cornerstone of my "comic" library, along with "Kingdom Come" (which also features the incredible artwork of Ross).

Highly recommended...

Rating:
Summary: This book is OK.
Review: This book is all right. it had several parts that were amazingly boring. For instance, the publishers had to add every little detail they wanted to try and make this book fantastic. I have heard that comics were originally written for kids, but this books IS not! Who wants to read a book that is boring and has all kinds of wild explosins going on by the Marvels? To me, the Marvel Universe is NOT important! It is not a good book at all! Not bad, though.

Rating:
Summary: A GREAT GRAPHIC NOVEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: This book was a great representation of the Marvel superheroes coming from just your average Joe, in this case a reporter with no super powers at all. Alex Ross's realistic artwork is not penciled and inked, but is painted, which gives the perfect graphic novel picture-perfect paintings to go with a fabulous graphic novel. Also, Kurt Busiek's story adds on to the great artwork, making this a must-read. Keep up the great work,Marvel!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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.