Rating: 
Summary: THE BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL I HAVE EVER READ
Review: This narrowly beat out The Dark Knight Returns for that title. There are two things that make this book great. First, it has the best idea for a graphic novel ever: instead of thinking of simply another adventure for a popular character, go back through time to relive ALL of the best adventures of ALL our favorite characters, and depict them as if these things actually happened. Second, and most important, it has the best comic artwork that I have ever seen - it is both beautiful and realistic. Favorite image: The Human Torch fighting with The Sub-Mariner over New York City.
Rating:
Summary: Alex Ross's Debut as a major illustrator
Review: This one has the Marvel Universe from a photographers point of view. It's quite a treat to look at all our favorites painted in photo realism. This one is worth reapeated viewings. It's one of those graphic novels that can be read several times like the Dark Knight and still be enjoyed.
Rating:
Summary: A great delight
Review: This returned me to the genre after nearly fifteen years away from it--after a long period when comics became far too dark and violent, Busiek and Ross reminded us of the thrill of hero-worship, and the original excitement of the Marvel line in the Sixties. Ross's photo-realistic illustrations make you feel as if the stories really took place, and he's got a lovely sense of drama and excitement--look at the New Yorkers' thrilled faces when Captain America jumps over their heads, or Sue Storm's enthralled expression when Reed Richards announces their engagement to the press. And Busiek is the best writer in the business--he has a wonderful sense of pace and rhythm, and the famous scene which closes the third book, "Day of Judgement," is masterfully done.An added bonus: see if you can tell who's who both among the guests at Alicia Masters' sculpture exhibition and at the wedding of Reed and Sue--I found surprise after surprise!
Rating:
Summary: Reminiscent of Busiek's Astro City
Review: This was an extremely well-crafted plot. Putting everything in a chronological order was interesting and a great choice. I especially liked Chapter 3 (Judgment Day) and Chapter 4 (The Death of Gwen Stacy). The art was spectacular, but what made this story work was the viewpoint character Phil Sheldon--He was a layered, flawed everyman capable of both courage and prejudice. Through his journey, and the lens of his omnipresent camera, we are given a perspective on the familiar that we might have missed the first time around. I also really enjoyed Busiek's take on our favorite Bugle Publisher, J. Jonah--dead-on. It made a nice contrast having Phil and Jonah play off each other. All-in-All a fantastic addition to the genre.
Rating:
Summary: The Marvel Universe comes alive
Review: Top story by Kurt Busiek and great paintings by Alex Ross make the Marvel Universe come alive in this great book. Here the heroes are treated like real people and it's told from a reporter's point of view. Now if only Kurt and Alex would do a sequal to this, or another book that makes the Marvel Universe seem like a true everyday world.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect Marriage of Artwork and Story
Review: When I first saw some work by Alex Ross a few years ago I thought that the colours were nice but there was something "not right" about the characters. The thing is that Ross draws all of his characters as if they existed in the real world. I see now, especially after buying "Marvels" that his style captures more wonder than your simple inked and coloured pencils. There are none of the extremes that we see in comics today like implausible looking women for example. "Marvels" is about the world of Marvel characters seen through the camera of one man on the ground. We see the fear that people have of those who are "different" from another perspective and we see how the flip flops in loyalty from one moment to the next are seen by ordinary people (think of how often a member of the avengers has gone rogue or had their integrity questioned, its like a soap opera!). The writing is superb, when I met Busiek and Ross at a comic signing I had not read Marvels or I would have congratulated them on such a great job. Busiek made me like Gwen Stacy and further fueled my dislike of J. Jonah Jameson, the trade reads like a sweeping drama which, as I said before, captures so much wonder. Who is this trade for? Anyone with who likes and is aware of some of the past of the Avengers, Spiderman, the original X-men, the Fantastic Four, and even further back The Human Torch. Also, if you would like to see some of the most beautiful artwork then check out anything by Alex Ross, he is so very talented. This trade is still on bookstore shelves so you can even flip through it locally or request it at your local library. "Marvels" is very touching, especially the first story about the original Human Torch. If you enjoy the old glory days of Marvel before their present day heartless comic line (aside from JMS' Amazing Spider-Man of course) "Marvels" is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect Marriage of Artwork and Story
Review: When I first saw some work by Alex Ross a few years ago I thought that the colours were nice but there was something "not right" about the characters. The thing is that Ross draws all of his characters as if they existed in the real world. I see now, especially after buying "Marvels" that his style captures more wonder than your simple inked and coloured pencils. There are none of the extremes that we see in comics today like implausible looking women for example. "Marvels" is about the world of Marvel characters seen through the camera of one man on the ground. We see the fear that people have of those who are "different" from another perspective and we see how the flip flops in loyalty from one moment to the next are seen by ordinary people (think of how often a member of the avengers has gone rogue or had their integrity questioned, its like a soap opera!). The writing is superb, when I met Busiek and Ross at a comic signing I had not read Marvels or I would have congratulated them on such a great job. Busiek made me like Gwen Stacy and further fueled my dislike of J. Jonah Jameson, the trade reads like a sweeping drama which, as I said before, captures so much wonder. Who is this trade for? Anyone with who likes and is aware of some of the past of the Avengers, Spiderman, the original X-men, the Fantastic Four, and even further back The Human Torch. Also, if you would like to see some of the most beautiful artwork then check out anything by Alex Ross, he is so very talented. This trade is still on bookstore shelves so you can even flip through it locally or request it at your local library. "Marvels" is very touching, especially the first story about the original Human Torch. If you enjoy the old glory days of Marvel before their present day heartless comic line (aside from JMS' Amazing Spider-Man of course) "Marvels" is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: not for the uninitiated
Review: While the artwork is good, the story is too weak and shallow for those uninitiated in the Marvel universe (like me). There are tons of references to characters and events that for the most part just left me confused. While I have a decent familiarity with some of the Marvel characters, unless you've been reading dozens of Marvel comics for decades (since the story starts with Marvel #1) I'm not sure how much sense a lot of the story makes. People come in and out, battles are over, the city is destroyed, reparations are made. The basic premise, of how normal people adjust to living in a world of "Marvels", is a great idea. This graphic novel just doesn't pull it off extraordiarily well. Rather than feeling "ambitious" by showing some of the great events from 30+ years of Marvel comics, it just feels like someone is telling in-jokes and you're not an insider. Of course, if you are a huge fan of comics and have read them voraciously you might find more to like here.
Rating:
Summary: Overated and Poorly Written
Review: Yes, Alex Ross' artwork, as always is stunning. Busiek's writing on the other hand, is so bad I avoided anything he wrote like the plague until Thunderbolts. The plot barly exists and this is really an excuse for Ross to paint some great scenes from Marvel's past.
| 
