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A review by chrissie_whitley
Marvels: The Remastered Edition by Kurt Busiek
5.0
Told in four parts, Marvels is as much about the story and characters as it is about the art — the defining feature that sets graphic novels and comics apart from other mediums.
Spanning 1939 through 1974, the story follows Phil Sheldon, part everyman and part mid-zone observer. As a news photographer whose career shifts from street beats to war zones and then back to the Daily Bugle, Sheldon's position behind the viewfinder offers a unique vantage point. He's close enough to witness the marvels — the superheroes — but always removed, capturing their world from a distance.
Through Phil's lens, and over the decades covered, Busiek introduces the "monsters" as they meet humanity, only to turn the focus inward, examining the monsters within ourselves. The story dives into mob mentality, exploring how quickly we love, hate, idolize, and tear down. It's a powerful meditation on the fickleness of humanity: our tendency to elevate figures only to revel in their downfall.
The story is stellar and the artwork is stunning — a softly smudgy dreamscape straight out of a study on the slide from a modern to postmodern society. The first part, set first in 1939, is straight out of 1940s cinema — I swear William Holden and Gregory Peck are back there supporting the story's spine. And as the decades rush by, the artwork shifts: bold and saturated for the vibrant 1960s, before giving way to the naturalistic muddiness of the '70s.
I also loved what looked like a ton of celebrity cameos sprinkled throughout by artist, Alex Ross. While some of his reference models and staging are in the back of the collection, there were delightful surprises throughout. The '60s especially were filled with notable faces: John F. Kennedy in an elevator, Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore at Reed Richards and Sue Storm's wedding (with the groom modeled on Russell Johnson, a.k.a. the professor from Gilligan's Island). My personal favorite? An unmistakable Bea Arthur attending a museum event.
Whether you're new to comics or a seasoned reader looking for a break from longer runs, Marvels is a great avenue to explore or test your footing. Easily my favorite comic collection yet.
Spanning 1939 through 1974, the story follows Phil Sheldon, part everyman and part mid-zone observer. As a news photographer whose career shifts from street beats to war zones and then back to the Daily Bugle, Sheldon's position behind the viewfinder offers a unique vantage point. He's close enough to witness the marvels — the superheroes — but always removed, capturing their world from a distance.
Through Phil's lens, and over the decades covered, Busiek introduces the "monsters" as they meet humanity, only to turn the focus inward, examining the monsters within ourselves. The story dives into mob mentality, exploring how quickly we love, hate, idolize, and tear down. It's a powerful meditation on the fickleness of humanity: our tendency to elevate figures only to revel in their downfall.
The story is stellar and the artwork is stunning — a softly smudgy dreamscape straight out of a study on the slide from a modern to postmodern society. The first part, set first in 1939, is straight out of 1940s cinema — I swear William Holden and Gregory Peck are back there supporting the story's spine. And as the decades rush by, the artwork shifts: bold and saturated for the vibrant 1960s, before giving way to the naturalistic muddiness of the '70s.
I also loved what looked like a ton of celebrity cameos sprinkled throughout by artist, Alex Ross. While some of his reference models and staging are in the back of the collection, there were delightful surprises throughout. The '60s especially were filled with notable faces: John F. Kennedy in an elevator, Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore at Reed Richards and Sue Storm's wedding (with the groom modeled on Russell Johnson, a.k.a. the professor from Gilligan's Island). My personal favorite? An unmistakable Bea Arthur attending a museum event.
Whether you're new to comics or a seasoned reader looking for a break from longer runs, Marvels is a great avenue to explore or test your footing. Easily my favorite comic collection yet.