Marvel Firsts: Before Marvel Now!

Marvel Firsts

by Dan Slott, Steve McNiven (Illustrations), Kieron Gillen (Text)

Great stories from the creators who have ReEvolutionized comics! Relive the excitement as the Avengers disassemble, the Punisher fights a civil war, Spider-Man faces a brand-new day, darkness falls on the Fantastic Four, X-Force takes its war underground, Thor faces exile, Captain America is reborn and Wolverine gets Mystique - brought to you by some of today's most talented writers and artists! Collecting AVENGERS (1963) #500, PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL (2007) #1, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #546, DARK REIGN: FANTASTIC FOUR #1, UNCANNY X-FORCE #1, THOR (1966) #604, CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #444 and WOLVERINE (2003) #62.

Genres: Graphic Novels

188 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2012

About the author

Dan Slott is an American comic book writer, the current writer on Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, and is best known for his work on books such as Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, She-Hulk, Silver Surfer, The Superior Spider-Man, and Ren & Stimpy.

Reviews

[Rick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Individually these stories, for the most part, are all parts of some interesting stories. And that's the problem. There isn't a single complete story here. At best these narratives are all the first chapters of other stories. Many are in fact part of some really good stories, unfortunately they are just part of those really good stories. So this collection is, at best about as frustrating as getting a cool batteries-not-included toy for your birthday, but having no batteries; or at worst having batteries but nothing to put them in. 
A lot of these aren't even "first issues" except that they are the first chapter of a story arc. Gee, thanks for the anthology collection of teasers. Great job Marvel. Nice to see that the House of Ideas that Stan, Jack, Steve & friends built has become the House of Marketing Ploys. Stan would be so proud to see his tradition carried on to such extremes. 
Back in the day, a first issue from Marvel meant a new character, at least, and maybe even an origin too. But you could certainly count on getting an actual story, and not just an episodic chapter. This volume really only advertises to the customers that there really I no reason to buy the individual issues any more. Just buy the collected editions. Except this one. 

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good art throughout the book. I would have preferred to have one complete story instead of the just the first chapter of eight different on-going stories.

[Gabriel A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of this trade was an absolute pleasure to read. six or seven stories from the current crop of creators that are the most popular at Marvel right now. It made me want to read more X-Force, Punisher, and Spider-Man.

[Yosef Shapiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

My major issue with this collection is that it only presents parts of the stories. We are left hanging .

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. It can be a little frustrating to be left hanging with every story, but that's almost always how these collections are. They're meant to make you want to pick up the next volume.