Comic Review: Marvels
Man, this book is a great one. I just picked up the hard-cover 10th Anniversary edition and went back through... the artwork doesn't get any less stunning as time has gone by.
Comic Book: "Marvels" (Limited Series)
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: Alex Ross
Available: At most comic shops in trade paperback; at most collectible shops in the original 4 part series.
Background/Summary: This 4 piece work of art came out in 1994 and then later was re-published in 1999. It is a re-imagined look at some of Marvel Comics' key moments, all through the eyes of a human news photographer. The entire book is painted art, as opposed to regular pencil & ink art.
The story traces the beginning years of the Marvel Comics Universe, re-envisioning many of the key moments and telling a compelling, human story through the eyes of the perfect everyman… a newspaper photographer whose life intertwines with those of the superheroes he both admires and fears.
Mad Parts:
+ The end of part one, the huge, two page splash of many golden age Marvel heroes parachuting into a Nazi stronghold. This was definitely a winner.
Props:
+ To artist Alex Ross! His attention to detail and "realistic superhero" looks have taken the comics industry by storm. The coolest thing about this book is getting to see classic "Marvel Comics moments" re-imagined from a different point of view in a completely different manner.
+ To writer Kurt Busiek! His very human story and keen attention to dialogue are crucial in portraying the everyman who the story circles around. Just the whole concept is something worth reading for.
Slops:
+ Not really any. The story is told cleanly and clearly, with a certain nostalgiac flair that predates any cursing, sex, nudity, etc.
Mad Minister's Verdict: This is something I am extremely pleased about recommending to anyone and everyone. This could easily be considered a contemporary classic in comics and should definitely be read by all those who remember picking up copies of the original stories when they first came out, or who is just a fan of comics in general.
The story is great, the art superb and the moral content is not too shabby either. This is a family friendly comic, but artistically mature enough to interest anyone who might have an interest in reading it.
Mad Points: 4 outta' 5. (Comics don't get much better than this one!)