Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics

by Les Daniels

Introduction by Stan Lee. Large format book will incur extra shipping charges.

Genres: Comics, Nonfiction, History, Marvel, Superheroes, Reference, Graphic Novels

Hardcover

First published September 1, 1991

About the author

Les Daniels was one of the earliest historians of comic books and an author of horror novels.

Reviews

[Roberto Guedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book - which was one of my inspirations for writing my own books about comic book history.

[Rick Pucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect coffee table book.
Great historical account of not only Marvel but the entire Multi-Billion dollar comic book industry.
I learned so much.
Never knew DC kept Marvel's publishing to a minimum in the earlier years - like a monopoly.
Never knew precisely why both Jack Kirby & Steve Ditko - amazing, imaginative artists...eventually left Marvel and their relationship with head honcho Stan Lee.
Never knew Marvel tapped into old comic book heroes not their own and brought them back to life such as The Human Torch ( my fave), the Sub Mariner, Captain America, and Captain Marvel for example.

Solid chronological timeline and I really enjoyed reading - and in this book - seeing, the ones that didn't make it, e.g. The Whizzer, The Sentry or Asbestos lady!

A must read for not only fans of The MU but any comic book nerd!

[Graham Barrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Read as a kid, review from 2024)

I read this early in my introduction to superhero comics but unlike the guidebooks about the actual characters, I wasn't as interested in this one's depiction of the history of Marvel's publication and office, more interested in the comics reprinted in this book. Still it was neat seeing how the company changed from the Golden Age to the Silver Age and into the 90s as well as learning Marvel did other comics beyond superheroes.

[Jakob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though it was published a while ago, this guide from Les Daniels is very informative. I learned a lot about Marvel, and i did not know a lot of things. I enjoyed the parts about the X-men, Ghost Rider, and X-factor the best, but they were all amazing.

[Liedzeit Liedzeit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous. Better than the Roy Thomas book. Less pictures more story.

[Rog Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Christmas present!

[Keerthana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great. Would love to read this in-depth of a history that tracks into modern MCU too

[Jamieson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at Marvel Comics up to about 1990. Lots of pictures and bits of comics. A must for any Marvel fan to thumb through.

[Archer M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is totally great!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chronicles Marvel Comics. A book from my childhood.

[D.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was given me by a sister who only vaguely understands that I like comics, so figured this'd do for me. I do not, however, like superhero comics in general, and haven't had a fondness at all for Marvel since I was a kid. But I thought it was high time I read this (and its DC counterpart).
It's not bad. The writing is solid, informative and snappy, though just a bit too cheerleadery overall to make this an effective unbiased history of the company. For someone with a slightly more than passing interest in THE major comic publisher of the past many decades, though, this is an adequate overview of how it got where it is today. Also included are one-page profiles of some of the bigger superhero characters, which are interesting because they make a vague attempt to explain the appeal and psychology of the characters more than offering the standard Marvel Universe history of them.

[Murf Reeves · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sneak peek inside the creation of Marvel comics over 50 years! The origins of comics and the fact that so few people were involved in the creation of their characters, based on the franchise of today. Stan Lee is a bad dude!!! I was reading comics in the early eighties, when Wolverine and the X-men were getting their first taste of notoriety, and to see the characters from the perspective of writer and penciler is awesome! Seems like a fun ride creating the Fantastic Four and Spiderman and having to constantly re-ceate as the times change. I still read comics and this book helps me to understand how some of the Marvel characters influenced my life

[Alex Andrasik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, this book is basically a big advertisement for Marvel Comics. But for a gawky preteen still in awe of the color and action and humanity of the books, this was like discovering the Bible for the first time (if you're into that kinda thing). For the first time I had, all in one place, the origins of every major figure in the universe, as well as at least a thumbnail of the creative and business process going on behind them. It was thrilling, and I still fondly thumb these pages now and then to relive that thrill. Best probably to be read for the first time at about that early age.

[Charlie Curran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful coffee table book that gives a full history of Marvel Comics up to the early 1990s. It does gloss over more controversial elements of Marvel's history, such as the Jim Shooter era and also the company's treatment of the likes of Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko but, for anyone interested in the company, it's a treat, with plenty of full colour illustrations. but has it really been a quarter of a century since the thing came out? How time flies.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's good, covering the history of Marvel comics from its beginning to 1991 (publication date). As a result, it's a little dated, and so misses much of the more depressing parts of comics history, like the collapse of the direct market, Marvel's bankruptcy, and of course, Rob Liefield. But it's very pretty and if you're interested in comics history, well worth the read.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and getting to learn about Marvel throughout the 20th century (and their policy of, "Just throw titles/characters out there! One of 'em's got to be a winner!"). It was just need to get to see how the comics have evolved, and it was a great way to dive right into the Marvel culture, especially when you don't know as much as you'd like. Also, Stan Lee is just adorable.

[captain america · Rating 3 out of 5]

a long commercial for marvel but i enjoyed the 60s/70s illustrations when i was a kid marvel maniac. i sold my entire comic book collection for two-hundred bucks to finance my move to new mexico from new jersey in 1976. shit. it was worth thousands.

[Michael P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is such a pro-Marvel shill job that one almost thinks that Daniels was paid by Marvel to write it. Good for a lot of facts and reproduced art; bad for analysis and anything critical. This book is enjoyable, but vapid. It would make good toilet reading, except that it is so heavy.

[TheDenizen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contains some interesting information about Marvel comics, but is mostly pretty shameless about self-promotion. The best part is the glossy reproductions of several old comics included at the back of the book.

[Roland · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was younger I was creaming in my pants over this book. Its a great collection of old covers, trivia, and history of Marvel Comics.

[Brett]

Comics

[D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have liked it to be more focused on the creation of characters rather than the behind the scene production.

[Jdetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a company book, shilling for Marvel and glossing over any unpleasantness. It also tells a story that most Marvel fans already know. However, it is a fun stroll down memory lane.