Marvel Comics in the 1970s: The World inside Your Head

by Eliot Borenstein

Marvel Comics in the 1970s explores a forgotten chapter in the story of the rise of comics as an art form. Bridging Marvel's dizzying innovations and the birth of the underground comics scene in the 1960s and the rise of the prestige graphic novel and postmodern superheroics in the 1980s, Eliot Borenstein reveals a generation of comic book writers whose work at Marvel in the 1970s established their own authorial voice within the strictures of corporate comics. Through a diverse cast of heroes (and the occasional antihero)―Black Panther, Shang-Chi, Deathlok, Dracula, Killraven, Man-Thing, and Howard the Duck―writers such as Steve Gerber, Doug Moench, and Don McGregor made unprecedented strides in exploring their characters' inner lives. Visually, dynamic action was still essential, but the real excitement was taking place inside their heroes' heads. Marvel Comics in the 1970s highlights the brilliant and sometimes gloriously imperfect creations that laid the groundwork for the medium's later artistic achievements and the broader acceptance of comic books in the cultural landscape today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Comics, History, Superheroes

282 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2023

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't imagine too many people are precisely located in the center of the potential audience for a book like this than I am. I discovered comic books in 1966 when I was 7, and by the time covered in this work, basically 1972-1977, it seemed as if comics were growing up right alongside me. Not all of them, of course, but I was most impressed by the ones written by Steve Englehart, Don McGregor, and Steve Gerber, as well as some of the ones written by Doug Moench and Marv Wolfman. Borenstein does a deep dive into most of the comics I loved the most as a teen.

Borenstein is a comics fan, but he's a Professor of Russian and Slavic studies for a day job. The guy is extremely good at seeing patterns in these comic books that I only dimly understood at the time. I could tell they were different from all the rest, but Borenstein goes deeper into explaining what made them work (and what flaws they still had) than anybody I've read.

Doctor Strange, Captain America, the Avengers by Englehart. Werewolf by Night and especially Master of Kung Fu by Moench. Tomb of Dracula by Wolfman. Killraven and Black Panther by McGregor. Man-Thing, Omega the Unknown, and Howard the Duck by Gerber (though I wish he had made the chapter longer and covered the Defenders as well). Yes, comic books are a visual medium, and he does refer to the artists some of the time - but these writers were consistently different from the rest of Marvel's output at the time, and it's great to see them recognized.

[Nick Tangborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deep nerdness waxing heavily on plot summaries. For fanatics only.

[Kevin]

An interesting and an intellectual read on the landscape of 1970s Marvel. I especially appreciated Borenstein's ability to discuss the historical & cultural importance of characters that have become insensitive and problematic in our contemporary understanding of race and culture. Borenstein gracefully writes across the challenges to understand the history without vaulting problematic characters out of the dustbin of history.

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at Marvel Comics in the 70's, concentrated on some of my favorite comic book writers: Steve Englehart, Steve Gerber, Doug Moench, and Don McGregor.
I didn't always agree with the authors interpretations and conclusions, but I do enjoy hearing other people talk about comics.

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I see a book with this title, I'm going to read it. The interest that this book held for me was contaminated by its obligatory stupid wokeness and predictably smug sophistry.

[Ben Shakey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really just a bunch a recaps of issues, felt like I could have just read wikipedia entries or even the issues themselves

[Steven Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I overall enjoyed this book, but it was not what I expected. No interviews of the staff of the time. No history of the creative process. This is a scholarly review of the comics themselves. The focus is on the offbeat and unusual, not necessarily the titles that were leading sales and paying the bills (with the exception of Englehart’s Captain America and his Avengers.)

Surprisingly, the introductory pages are not about a Marvel Comic, but a review of DC/Vertigo’s Enigma series.

The longest portions of the book focus on Doug Moench (mostly his Master of Kung Fu) and Don MacGregor (with more attention than the series deserved given to Killraven.) Shockingly, Chris Claremont, who began his genre-defining run on X-Men in 1975, gets a handful of pages in the epilogue. Talents like Gerry Conway, Len Wien and Bill Mantlo are barely or not-at-all mentioned.

It’s clear the author holds commercially successful works somewhat in contempt. At times the text comes off as snobbish and embarrassingly woke.

A note on the narration for the Audible version: the mispronounced words got distracting. Though I was impressed at how deftly the narrator rhymed “pastiche” with “mustache.”

[Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very academic and very, very, very, very thorough summary of five Marvel writers’ comics work from the 1970s.

As someone who hosts a Marvel Comics history podcast, I respect the effort that went into this. But it’s for a pretty specific audience.

If you’re in the market for some dense literary analysis and a whole lot of summarizing of comics from a very specific time period, here it is. But if you’re looking for something more broadly approachable, or are interested in learning more about the creators themselves, this is not likely to be the book for you.

[Michael Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 1970s typically doesn’t get as much attention as the 60s or 80s in terms of major comics history, but this book does a nice job showcasing how creators took what was established in the decade prior and added their spin to it, dating to make more radical stories and give more depth to certain characters that may not have been as loved as the biggest sellers.

The arc summaries might get old to some, but it’s definitely nice seeing these stories and creators get love.

[John Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Academic exploration of several major Marvel series in the 1970s. Start out establishing Jen Jack Kirby and stanplease contributions acontributions about making superheroes more human and introspective Period Then we get looks at Doctor Strange Tomb of Dracula Master of Kung Fu Werewolf By Knight and Howard the Duck and wrap up with a brief look at Claremont's X-Men.

[Paul Dinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this is your jam, you are going to love this book. It's section on Dough Moench and Master of Kung Fu has been done better in All the Marvels. But his section on Steve Gerber is excellent despite leaving out a discussion of his Defenders run which is masterful in balancing comedy and super hero isms. Gerber's Guardians of the Galaxy is good, but not as good as that.

[Douglas Biggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is an academic deep dive into multiple Marvel authors and their runs in the 1970s. Was it overly nerdy? Did it try to apply too much philosophical insight into comic books? Did all this make my day? Yes to all three.

[Rob Eastin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting look at some of the writers of marvel comics in the 70s and how they evolved comics with their revolutionary approaches.

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit more academic than I anticipated. But still an interesting look into fascinating period of comics history.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice serious look at what made these comics special. Not too serious.