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Marvel Comics For Dummies
Explore the iconic super heroes and storylines from Marvel Comics
You may be familiar with heroic characters from Marvel Comics like Black Panther, Iron Man, and Wolverine, or villains like Loki and Thanos. But how much do you know about Squirrel Girl, Cyclops, or the Leader? With over 85 years of comics published since their founding, the Marvel Comics archive is a vast universe of iconic stories and legendary characters. Marvel Comics For Dummies is your shortcut to navigating this immense collection of heroes and their adventures. Learn the background of key characters, explore essential storylines, and discover the interconnectedness of the Marvel universe. Created in collaboration with Marvel Comics, this full-color guide contains striking comic book artwork along with interesting insights that serve as an exciting map to the Marvel universe.
Uncover Marvel’s origin story Get to know iconic Marvel super heroes and villains Tour the Marvel Comics Multiverse Make sense of Marvel’s many super-hero teams Explore definitive storylines that span the history of Marvel Comics From curious newbie to long-time reader, Marvel Comics For Dummies brings the Marvel Multiverse to life.
You may be familiar with heroic characters from Marvel Comics like Black Panther, Iron Man, and Wolverine, or villains like Loki and Thanos. But how much do you know about Squirrel Girl, Cyclops, or the Leader? With over 85 years of comics published since their founding, the Marvel Comics archive is a vast universe of iconic stories and legendary characters. Marvel Comics For Dummies is your shortcut to navigating this immense collection of heroes and their adventures. Learn the background of key characters, explore essential storylines, and discover the interconnectedness of the Marvel universe. Created in collaboration with Marvel Comics, this full-color guide contains striking comic book artwork along with interesting insights that serve as an exciting map to the Marvel universe.
Uncover Marvel’s origin story Get to know iconic Marvel super heroes and villains Tour the Marvel Comics Multiverse Make sense of Marvel’s many super-hero teams Explore definitive storylines that span the history of Marvel Comics From curious newbie to long-time reader, Marvel Comics For Dummies brings the Marvel Multiverse to life.
272 pages, Paperback
Published February 26, 2025
9 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 5, 2025
Erano anni che volevo provare a leggere una di queste guide "for dummies" della Hoepli, e così, per testarne l'attendibilità, per pura curiosità qualche settimana fa ho deciso di provarci, scegliendone una su un argomento a me caro: l'universo Marvel.
Il volume mantiene le promesse, è a tutti gli effetti un bignami molto ben strutturato e a prova d'imbecille sulla storia dei fumetti Marvel, i suoi supereroi e le loro origini, i loro acerrimi nemici, i principali archi narrativi delle varie testate, e spiega anche cosa distingue i fumetti Marvel da tutti gli altri comics. C’è tutto.
L’impressione che ne ho avuta, tuttavia, è che si tratti più che altro di un prontuario rivolto a chi di quel mondo non sa niente e non ne vuole sapere niente, ma che, per i motivi più disparati, ha bisogno di conoscerne le basi e pure di corsa, magari per fare colpo su una persona veramente appassionata, o per non essere tagliato fuori da una discussione a tema supereroistico. Perché gli appassionati, anche quelli di livello intermedio come il sottoscritto, le informazioni del saggio le sanno già tutte (la parte più interessante è forse la storia della casa editrice prima di chiamarsi Marvel e l'evoluzione dei comics lungo tutto un secolo, ma chi legge fumetti americani tendenzialmente arriva da solo a conoscere anche questi retroscena), così come non consiglierei il tomo neppure a chi volesse approcciarsi per la prima volta e con genuino interesse a quel mondo lì, perché non avrebbe senso leggersi i riassuntini delle vite dei supereroi e delle saghe più famose, molto meglio affrontare direttamente gli albi a fumetti senza spoilerarsi nulla e scoprire tutto da sé, altrimenti dove starebbe il divertimento?
Perciò non saprei neanche bene che giudizio dare a questa guida, probabilmente utilissima per tutte quelle persone i cui partner sono fumettari incalliti e, nonostante a loro non gliene freghi nulla dei supereroi, siano alla ricerca di una scorciatoia per capire i riferimenti usati dai propri compagni. O se una persona ha un datore di lavoro che smania per la Marvel e vuole apparire informata sui fatti. Non vedo altre applicazioni pratiche all’orizzonte. L'inganno, però, durerebbe poco: come in ogni ambito del sapere, non basta leggere un bignami, per quanto ben strutturato come questo, per riuscire a farsi passare per degli esperti in materia.
Il volume mantiene le promesse, è a tutti gli effetti un bignami molto ben strutturato e a prova d'imbecille sulla storia dei fumetti Marvel, i suoi supereroi e le loro origini, i loro acerrimi nemici, i principali archi narrativi delle varie testate, e spiega anche cosa distingue i fumetti Marvel da tutti gli altri comics. C’è tutto.
L’impressione che ne ho avuta, tuttavia, è che si tratti più che altro di un prontuario rivolto a chi di quel mondo non sa niente e non ne vuole sapere niente, ma che, per i motivi più disparati, ha bisogno di conoscerne le basi e pure di corsa, magari per fare colpo su una persona veramente appassionata, o per non essere tagliato fuori da una discussione a tema supereroistico. Perché gli appassionati, anche quelli di livello intermedio come il sottoscritto, le informazioni del saggio le sanno già tutte (la parte più interessante è forse la storia della casa editrice prima di chiamarsi Marvel e l'evoluzione dei comics lungo tutto un secolo, ma chi legge fumetti americani tendenzialmente arriva da solo a conoscere anche questi retroscena), così come non consiglierei il tomo neppure a chi volesse approcciarsi per la prima volta e con genuino interesse a quel mondo lì, perché non avrebbe senso leggersi i riassuntini delle vite dei supereroi e delle saghe più famose, molto meglio affrontare direttamente gli albi a fumetti senza spoilerarsi nulla e scoprire tutto da sé, altrimenti dove starebbe il divertimento?
Perciò non saprei neanche bene che giudizio dare a questa guida, probabilmente utilissima per tutte quelle persone i cui partner sono fumettari incalliti e, nonostante a loro non gliene freghi nulla dei supereroi, siano alla ricerca di una scorciatoia per capire i riferimenti usati dai propri compagni. O se una persona ha un datore di lavoro che smania per la Marvel e vuole apparire informata sui fatti. Non vedo altre applicazioni pratiche all’orizzonte. L'inganno, però, durerebbe poco: come in ogni ambito del sapere, non basta leggere un bignami, per quanto ben strutturato come questo, per riuscire a farsi passare per degli esperti in materia.
March 20, 2025
I am what you would refer to as an old-timer and curmudgeon when it comes to comic books.
At 72 years old I’ve been reading comic books since I was five years old way back in 1958.
Like most kids from that time I read comic books, mostly DC Comics, Gold Key and Harvey. They were safe, predictable and essentially made for kids.
In 1961 things changed. Editor and Chief of then Timely Comics: Stan Lee, had had enough of writing comic books and was about to leave the industry.
Legend says that his wife told him that since he was quitting comic books anyway why didn’t he write a comic book the way he wanted to.
The opportunity arose to do just that and The Fantastic Four was born.
The reader response was astounding and with the blessing of his publisher Stan Lee pulled out all the stops and introduced a whole new universe of comic book characters: The Marvel Comics Universe.
You know the names: Spider-Man, The Hulk, The Avengers, The X-Men, Daredevil, The Sub-Mariner, Thor, Captain America, Ironman, Doctor Strange and dozens more.
Marvel Comics were about ordinary people, given extraordinary powers but still coping with day-to-day events, problems and ups and downs. Stan Lee humanized them.
Most young people and non-comic book readers think of the Marvel movies when Marvel Comics is mentioned. Few really understand the history, the origins of the characters and the creative artists and writers who create the most popular comic books in the the world: Marvel Comics.
Author Troy Brownfield and Wiley Brand proudly present Marvel Comics For Dummies which is the perfect introduction to the Marvel Universe, its characters, major storylines, heroes, villains, collecting and so much more.
Easy-to-follow and understand text accompanied by full-color art make catching and boning up on Marvel Comics a breeze.
Even an old curmudgeon like myself will enjoy this very comprehensive, well-written and fascinating book.
1 Corinthians 16:13 - Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
At 72 years old I’ve been reading comic books since I was five years old way back in 1958.
Like most kids from that time I read comic books, mostly DC Comics, Gold Key and Harvey. They were safe, predictable and essentially made for kids.
In 1961 things changed. Editor and Chief of then Timely Comics: Stan Lee, had had enough of writing comic books and was about to leave the industry.
Legend says that his wife told him that since he was quitting comic books anyway why didn’t he write a comic book the way he wanted to.
The opportunity arose to do just that and The Fantastic Four was born.
The reader response was astounding and with the blessing of his publisher Stan Lee pulled out all the stops and introduced a whole new universe of comic book characters: The Marvel Comics Universe.
You know the names: Spider-Man, The Hulk, The Avengers, The X-Men, Daredevil, The Sub-Mariner, Thor, Captain America, Ironman, Doctor Strange and dozens more.
Marvel Comics were about ordinary people, given extraordinary powers but still coping with day-to-day events, problems and ups and downs. Stan Lee humanized them.
Most young people and non-comic book readers think of the Marvel movies when Marvel Comics is mentioned. Few really understand the history, the origins of the characters and the creative artists and writers who create the most popular comic books in the the world: Marvel Comics.
Author Troy Brownfield and Wiley Brand proudly present Marvel Comics For Dummies which is the perfect introduction to the Marvel Universe, its characters, major storylines, heroes, villains, collecting and so much more.
Easy-to-follow and understand text accompanied by full-color art make catching and boning up on Marvel Comics a breeze.
Even an old curmudgeon like myself will enjoy this very comprehensive, well-written and fascinating book.
1 Corinthians 16:13 - Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
August 28, 2025
I had this at three stars in my mind, but bumping it up because the summaries for She-Hulk and Deadpool were written in fourth-wall breaking first person monologue. Otherwise this was a mixed bag and I do wonder if someone without Marvel experience would really be able to follow the overload of information. It also seemed extremely tied to the MCU which I guess I understand, but it also made very little reference to the MCU so it was a bit of a mixed message. I most enjoyed the first few chapters that laid out the history and general overview of what Marvel is all about. I appreciated some of the observations about what made Marvel comic heroes so special. The last segment outlining some of the hallmark comic events was also valuable. What I really didn't like was how the book seemed to ignore the context of the comics and rarely included actual comic information about first appearances and dates associated with heroes or concepts.
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May 8, 2025A little disappointing. There is a lot of information, but for a "dummies" book, still assumes the reader knows some basic Marvel info. Also, the dummies style can be redundant. May be a good reference, but it's not a good read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews