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Marvel Art
Marvel Dimensions: A Graphic Novel
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26112 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 1, 2026
About the author
Alex Ross
1,379 books503 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 9, 2026
Any Alex Ross illustrated book is worth checking out, and this is no different.
The story, writing, character development, and world were not as deep and fleshed out as they could’ve been. I think a full series on the InVerse universe would be great, but as a standalone, there is much to be desired.
The art is amazing, especially the first half of the book before the art style goes more traditional (but even then it is still great, colouring too). A few of the new character designs were not overly original, but most of them were quite cool.
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!
The story, writing, character development, and world were not as deep and fleshed out as they could’ve been. I think a full series on the InVerse universe would be great, but as a standalone, there is much to be desired.
The art is amazing, especially the first half of the book before the art style goes more traditional (but even then it is still great, colouring too). A few of the new character designs were not overly original, but most of them were quite cool.
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!
April 20, 2026
Any Alex Ross is book will be filled with amazingly detailed and impressive artworks! Unfortunately that is largely all there is to Marvel Dimensions: A Graphic Novel. The bulk of the pages offer brief biographies and origins of major heroes and villains of the Marvel universe. They bookend a What If...? story that questions what it means to be a super powered entity and the possibilities of am multiverse.
Honestly, its hard to tell what this offers outside of great art. From the publication announcement Ross describes it as "like a combination of my most famous works... where my love of comics history and ambitious world-building collide."* Alex Ross is best known for Marvels, Kingdom Come, or, most recently, Fantastic Four: Full Circle.
The story feels like a retread of themes from Marvel Zombies about the possible ways power could corrupt or that there always seems to be a war between good and evil. And do we really need more origins stories for the Marvel Universe?
As a NetGalley reader it is possible I missed out on the bonus 32 page comic that could add a lot more to the story, but the e-version provided feels very light with the bulk of the pages already re-introducing characters I knew very well before the start of the movies in the early 2000s.
Recommended to new readers of the Marvel Universe, fans of great art or Marvel's What If...?.
*Josh Weiss. "Marvel Dimensions: Alex Ross Announces 'Sweeping tour' through the Marvel Universe.' SYFY. February 10, 2026. https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/alex-r... (Accessed April 20,2026)
I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.
Honestly, its hard to tell what this offers outside of great art. From the publication announcement Ross describes it as "like a combination of my most famous works... where my love of comics history and ambitious world-building collide."* Alex Ross is best known for Marvels, Kingdom Come, or, most recently, Fantastic Four: Full Circle.
The story feels like a retread of themes from Marvel Zombies about the possible ways power could corrupt or that there always seems to be a war between good and evil. And do we really need more origins stories for the Marvel Universe?
As a NetGalley reader it is possible I missed out on the bonus 32 page comic that could add a lot more to the story, but the e-version provided feels very light with the bulk of the pages already re-introducing characters I knew very well before the start of the movies in the early 2000s.
Recommended to new readers of the Marvel Universe, fans of great art or Marvel's What If...?.
*Josh Weiss. "Marvel Dimensions: Alex Ross Announces 'Sweeping tour' through the Marvel Universe.' SYFY. February 10, 2026. https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/alex-r... (Accessed April 20,2026)
I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Abrams ComicArts for an advance copy of this graphic novel that looks at Marvel Superheroes through a different mirror, one where hope and heroics were not inspiration for being a heroes, but control and oppression, creating a world reminiscent of our own, though some still try to save it.
The idea of What If...? in comics has always interested me. Unlike many I am not a continuity well Watcher. I feel that certain things should stand, but the rest are just well myths in a way. Bad storylines, certain clone or dead Aunts can be forgotten. Maybe send a hero out on the road again wondering about his place in the world, a story told before but updated for the modern day. Alternate worlds allow this, and also allows people like myself and those who insist on continuity in all things good stories without endangering the status quo. Few have take this to heart like that comic artist Alex Ross. Ross has created works that allow characters to show their best, their worst, and all their possibilities. Dark tales, light tales, always well told, and with beautiful art. This might be his darkest tale, however, and one not easily forgotten. Marvel Dimensions: A Graphic Novel by Alex Ross features a world of heroes corrupted by the world, not striving to make it better, accepting in many ways of the worst that humanity is capable of, though there are still a few who try to make it better, or bring it all down.
The book starts in the Blue Area of the Moon, a place full of old civilizations, a breathable atmosphere, and once the home of the Uatu, the Watcher. The Watchers are an ancient race, who observe rather than interfere, telling the truth, while seeing all. Our narrator is not Uatu, but the hero known as Machine Man, Aaron Stack, or X-51. A sentient robot created for war, Machine Man has found peace on the Moon, watching the world, and also watching other universes. One in particular bothers him. A universe close to our own, but one where the heroes have been corrupted. By emotions, by governments, by baser instincts. The Fantastic Four have cursed powers. Spider-Man never learned great responsibility. The Hulk is a living bomb. However there are a few ready to stand up for something, and a cataclysmic battle awaits, with the fate of an entire Universe at stake.
This is a huge story, with lots of characters, and yet it is a short story, more a what might have been instead of a true What If...?. Alex Ross has proven to be a very good writer, as well as an exceptional artist, and this one is no different. There is a lot of sadness, as if the current world has infected the comic world. The characters are well rendered, but the ugliness of their sins show in the pages. When even Machine Man is disgusted, one knows the writing is good, and the characters are very bad. This might be a set-up to a future story, or maybe Ross is trying to exorcise some demons. Either could be true.
I liked this story, though I hated most of the characters. One knows how easy it is to turn bad. We see this everyday. Looking away as things happen to neighbors, soon to friends and family. I am not sure if this is what Ross was going for, but it really does speak of our times. A different kind of story, with amazing art, and a lot of questions. A work that I am still thinking about, and one I won't easily forget.
The idea of What If...? in comics has always interested me. Unlike many I am not a continuity well Watcher. I feel that certain things should stand, but the rest are just well myths in a way. Bad storylines, certain clone or dead Aunts can be forgotten. Maybe send a hero out on the road again wondering about his place in the world, a story told before but updated for the modern day. Alternate worlds allow this, and also allows people like myself and those who insist on continuity in all things good stories without endangering the status quo. Few have take this to heart like that comic artist Alex Ross. Ross has created works that allow characters to show their best, their worst, and all their possibilities. Dark tales, light tales, always well told, and with beautiful art. This might be his darkest tale, however, and one not easily forgotten. Marvel Dimensions: A Graphic Novel by Alex Ross features a world of heroes corrupted by the world, not striving to make it better, accepting in many ways of the worst that humanity is capable of, though there are still a few who try to make it better, or bring it all down.
The book starts in the Blue Area of the Moon, a place full of old civilizations, a breathable atmosphere, and once the home of the Uatu, the Watcher. The Watchers are an ancient race, who observe rather than interfere, telling the truth, while seeing all. Our narrator is not Uatu, but the hero known as Machine Man, Aaron Stack, or X-51. A sentient robot created for war, Machine Man has found peace on the Moon, watching the world, and also watching other universes. One in particular bothers him. A universe close to our own, but one where the heroes have been corrupted. By emotions, by governments, by baser instincts. The Fantastic Four have cursed powers. Spider-Man never learned great responsibility. The Hulk is a living bomb. However there are a few ready to stand up for something, and a cataclysmic battle awaits, with the fate of an entire Universe at stake.
This is a huge story, with lots of characters, and yet it is a short story, more a what might have been instead of a true What If...?. Alex Ross has proven to be a very good writer, as well as an exceptional artist, and this one is no different. There is a lot of sadness, as if the current world has infected the comic world. The characters are well rendered, but the ugliness of their sins show in the pages. When even Machine Man is disgusted, one knows the writing is good, and the characters are very bad. This might be a set-up to a future story, or maybe Ross is trying to exorcise some demons. Either could be true.
I liked this story, though I hated most of the characters. One knows how easy it is to turn bad. We see this everyday. Looking away as things happen to neighbors, soon to friends and family. I am not sure if this is what Ross was going for, but it really does speak of our times. A different kind of story, with amazing art, and a lot of questions. A work that I am still thinking about, and one I won't easily forget.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Face front, true believers! Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross’s 1990s limited series Marvels remains a high watermark for comics, a work that proved that this is a true American art form and not just a category of juvenile pulp fiction to be dismissed by critics and naysayers. Busiek told a compelling story, lending a journalistic perspective to what a world populated with real-life superheroes might actually feel like. But it was Ross’s fully painted artwork that gave those stories a life and depth rarely seen in comics before. I’ve been a fan of both ever since, especially Ross. Getting the chance to read Marvel Dimensions, his upcoming graphic novel from Abrams ComicArts in partnership with Marvel Comics, was a genuine treat. I devoured it in a single sitting on my iPad at the car wash.
By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth, this review is lousy with spoilers. Consider yourself warned. ’Nuff said!
The first half of the book retells the origin stories of many familiar heroes and teams, focusing primarily on the Golden, Silver, and Bronze Age characters most beloved by fans: Namor the Sub-Mariner, Captain America, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man, Iron Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, Doctor Strange, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, the Black Panther, and Wolverine, among others. These origins are well-trodden territory and Ross doesn’t reinvent them, but his artwork carries the brief stories along with enough majesty to make them worth revisiting. For anyone new to Marvel Comics or its cinematic universe, this section functions as a gorgeous primer. All of it is narrated from the Watcher’s base on the moon, not by Uatu himself, but by Ross’s interpretation of Aaron Stack, the Machine Man, X-51.
The second half shifts to a parallel dystopian world where familiar heroes are villains and familiar villains are heroes, a concept the book dubs “The InVerse.” This territory has been covered before by both Marvel and the Distinguished Competition, and the story doesn’t do a great deal to distinguish itself from prior alternate-universe fare. The artwork here feels slightly less interesting than the first half, though I couldn’t tell you exactly why. Something about it just didn’t land quite the same way for me. Half a star comes off for this section.
What does set the InVerse apart is the sheer volume of distinct alternative character designs Ross produces for the roughly 200 heroes and villains who populate this world. That alone is a genuinely astounding creative achievement. The story is self-contained and, to my knowledge, doesn’t affect the continuity of any other Marvel timeline.
Story: 🦸🦸🦸
Artwork: 🦸🦸🦸🦸.5
Overall: 🦸🦸🦸🦸
Read this if you’re a casual fan looking to learn more about the history of Marvel’s most beloved characters (no deep cuts here, and plenty of omissions) or if you simply appreciate Alex Ross’s painted style at its best. There isn’t a lot of narrative depth, but there is plenty of beauty to appreciate.
Excelsior!
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy (ARC) from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth, this review is lousy with spoilers. Consider yourself warned. ’Nuff said!
The first half of the book retells the origin stories of many familiar heroes and teams, focusing primarily on the Golden, Silver, and Bronze Age characters most beloved by fans: Namor the Sub-Mariner, Captain America, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man, Iron Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, Doctor Strange, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, the Black Panther, and Wolverine, among others. These origins are well-trodden territory and Ross doesn’t reinvent them, but his artwork carries the brief stories along with enough majesty to make them worth revisiting. For anyone new to Marvel Comics or its cinematic universe, this section functions as a gorgeous primer. All of it is narrated from the Watcher’s base on the moon, not by Uatu himself, but by Ross’s interpretation of Aaron Stack, the Machine Man, X-51.
The second half shifts to a parallel dystopian world where familiar heroes are villains and familiar villains are heroes, a concept the book dubs “The InVerse.” This territory has been covered before by both Marvel and the Distinguished Competition, and the story doesn’t do a great deal to distinguish itself from prior alternate-universe fare. The artwork here feels slightly less interesting than the first half, though I couldn’t tell you exactly why. Something about it just didn’t land quite the same way for me. Half a star comes off for this section.
What does set the InVerse apart is the sheer volume of distinct alternative character designs Ross produces for the roughly 200 heroes and villains who populate this world. That alone is a genuinely astounding creative achievement. The story is self-contained and, to my knowledge, doesn’t affect the continuity of any other Marvel timeline.
Story: 🦸🦸🦸
Artwork: 🦸🦸🦸🦸.5
Overall: 🦸🦸🦸🦸
Read this if you’re a casual fan looking to learn more about the history of Marvel’s most beloved characters (no deep cuts here, and plenty of omissions) or if you simply appreciate Alex Ross’s painted style at its best. There isn’t a lot of narrative depth, but there is plenty of beauty to appreciate.
Excelsior!
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy (ARC) from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
Read
April 20, 2026Another in the increasing range of Marvel comics not actually published by Marvel (this one is from Abrams), which, alongside the recent layoffs and the general lack of excitement about most of what they are releasing, deepens the sense that all is not well in the House of Ideas. It's arguable, though, that they dodged a bullet here. Alex Ross' painted style, often using living models, makes for magnificent covers, but his interiors can be stilted, stiff figures in one epic pose after another with no sense of fluidity. And as a writer...well, there are plenty worse, but apart from anything else his Silver Age loyalism can turn sour sometimes. Initially, this seems like it's playing to his strengths, opening with an unseen watcher talking about the shared history of Marvel Earth and ours, illustrated by panels of same which would be at home in a great children's encyclopaedia, and then gorgeous vistas of the Blue Area of the Moon*. But from that we're into a too-long series of double-page spreads restating the too-familiar origins of Marvel mainstays, and just when you're wondering if that's going to be the whole damn thing, the unseen watcher reveals himself, explains the deal, and soon I was longing for more superfluous if pretty playing of the hits.
Our watcher**, you see, has found an alternate version of Marvel Earth unlike any other. Except that, even though he shows us brief Ross glimpses of various prior Marvel alternate timelines, he appears to think it's unique that this is a world where the heroes...are villains! Aaaaah. So if you've ever wanted to see Alex Ross do a made-over mirror universe Marvel (and yes, some characters do now have facial hair when they don't normally), before blowing it up again in a rushed solo precis of the usual event-concluding crossover ruck, then boy are you in luck. For the rest of us, there's an awkward sense of reading fanfic that doesn't significantly distinguish itself from the dozens of dark parallel worlds that came before. Yes, it has traces of subtext: the watcher talks about following variations of the same stories over and over, admits "I need to believe in the illusion of justice." But it's hardly Grant Morrison, is it? And I suspect there might be a teensy, very subtle hint of real-world commentary in scenes of an America under the thumb of a coterie of bickering, thin-skinned arseholes devoid of a single redeeming feature. But it's still not enough to make this feel like more than a celebrity artist's self-indulgence.
*If you don't know what the Blue Area is, you are probably not the intended readership for Marvel Dimensions.
**SPOILER: It's Machine Man. But, because this is Alex Ross, obviously not the fun modern version.
(Netgalley ARC)
Our watcher**, you see, has found an alternate version of Marvel Earth unlike any other. Except that, even though he shows us brief Ross glimpses of various prior Marvel alternate timelines, he appears to think it's unique that this is a world where the heroes...are villains! Aaaaah. So if you've ever wanted to see Alex Ross do a made-over mirror universe Marvel (and yes, some characters do now have facial hair when they don't normally), before blowing it up again in a rushed solo precis of the usual event-concluding crossover ruck, then boy are you in luck. For the rest of us, there's an awkward sense of reading fanfic that doesn't significantly distinguish itself from the dozens of dark parallel worlds that came before. Yes, it has traces of subtext: the watcher talks about following variations of the same stories over and over, admits "I need to believe in the illusion of justice." But it's hardly Grant Morrison, is it? And I suspect there might be a teensy, very subtle hint of real-world commentary in scenes of an America under the thumb of a coterie of bickering, thin-skinned arseholes devoid of a single redeeming feature. But it's still not enough to make this feel like more than a celebrity artist's self-indulgence.
*If you don't know what the Blue Area is, you are probably not the intended readership for Marvel Dimensions.
**SPOILER: It's Machine Man. But, because this is Alex Ross, obviously not the fun modern version.
(Netgalley ARC)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The majority of this book is just Alex Ross doing two-page secret origin recaps for dozens of marvel superheroes and groups. Looks nice, sure, but a bit of a slog to actually get through.
And tucked in the back there's a sort of story introducing the In-Verse, a Marvel take on Star Trek's Mirror Universe or DC's Earth-3 where all the heroes are instead evil super villains with goofy new code names. I say it's a sort of story, because mostly it's just a series of scenes where the members of a group of evil doppelgangers stick their head into frame long enough to say their new codenames and do something wicked before we cut to a different group of evil doppelgangers who only have enough time to announce some of their names and be slightly sinister, repeated with diminishing returns until we have enough groups to cram into a massive battle royale that gets crashed by yet more doppelgangers of -- Oh-ho! A twist! -- traditional villains with the most simplistic and silliest names yet.
Examples? Captain America is the American Sword. Iron Man is Blacksmith. Reed Richards is Mr. Unknown, the leader of the Unknowables, a group that includes Aunt Petunia's favorite nephew, the Blot, and, I think, Burningman? X-Men is fixed to O-Men, though I don't think it's because of their o-faces. Loki is the Asguardian. Thanos is Titanson. Green Goblin is Dragonrider -- because of that little thing he flies on, and how it can be made to look more like a dragon than a bat if the artist so chooses.
I was bored and irked by turns. Storywise, this is more like the garbage Ross did with Jim Krueger (Justice and Project Superpowers) rather than his masterworks with Kurt Busiek (Marvels) and Mark Waid (Kingdom Come).
I get the impression there are plans to expand on this In-Verse concept in the future, and I will most definitely pass on any sequels, even if they do have Alex Ross art.
Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.
And tucked in the back there's a sort of story introducing the In-Verse, a Marvel take on Star Trek's Mirror Universe or DC's Earth-3 where all the heroes are instead evil super villains with goofy new code names. I say it's a sort of story, because mostly it's just a series of scenes where the members of a group of evil doppelgangers stick their head into frame long enough to say their new codenames and do something wicked before we cut to a different group of evil doppelgangers who only have enough time to announce some of their names and be slightly sinister, repeated with diminishing returns until we have enough groups to cram into a massive battle royale that gets crashed by yet more doppelgangers of -- Oh-ho! A twist! -- traditional villains with the most simplistic and silliest names yet.
Examples? Captain America is the American Sword. Iron Man is Blacksmith. Reed Richards is Mr. Unknown, the leader of the Unknowables, a group that includes Aunt Petunia's favorite nephew, the Blot, and, I think, Burningman? X-Men is fixed to O-Men, though I don't think it's because of their o-faces. Loki is the Asguardian. Thanos is Titanson. Green Goblin is Dragonrider -- because of that little thing he flies on, and how it can be made to look more like a dragon than a bat if the artist so chooses.
I was bored and irked by turns. Storywise, this is more like the garbage Ross did with Jim Krueger (Justice and Project Superpowers) rather than his masterworks with Kurt Busiek (Marvels) and Mark Waid (Kingdom Come).
I get the impression there are plans to expand on this In-Verse concept in the future, and I will most definitely pass on any sequels, even if they do have Alex Ross art.
Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a three-star review - 5 stars for the art and maybe 2 stars for the content/story.
I feel this was created to just showcase Alex Ross's art and if you're in the comic space, you know Alex Ross is one of the best artist out there (Kingdom Come, Marvels). Half of it is just origins of the famous Marvel heroes in his usual art style. Again, the art for it is just superb with 2-page spreads that reading it in a phone or computer doesn't do it justice.
The first half part feels it wanted to be the Marvel's equivalent to DC's recently released New History of the DC Universe, written by Mark Waid and tons of different artists. There's some minor connections and it seems to be in chronological order - like the first Marvel hero is the first one introduced, some other heroes being referenced in the origin pages, etc.
Then the "interlude" is in another Alex Ross art style, similar to his other Marvel Arts comic - Fantastic Four: Full Circle. This middle part shows another... Dimension, where the good superheroes are bad. I wonder if this is the bonus "32-page comic book" mentioned in the blurb, which is odd since it gives context to the latter half.
The Final Part is the continuation of the interlude and some thoughts of the narrator on good vs evil and other dimensions. This feels like the final big battle of a Marvel event, where tons of inverted heroes fight each other to pursuit the goal. It's just a bunch of people fighting in two-page spreads. Then it ended abruptly, since the narrator had seen enough. I wonder if this is supposed to be a prequel or companion book to a future Marvel event.
I feel this was created to just showcase Alex Ross's art and if you're in the comic space, you know Alex Ross is one of the best artist out there (Kingdom Come, Marvels). Half of it is just origins of the famous Marvel heroes in his usual art style. Again, the art for it is just superb with 2-page spreads that reading it in a phone or computer doesn't do it justice.
The first half part feels it wanted to be the Marvel's equivalent to DC's recently released New History of the DC Universe, written by Mark Waid and tons of different artists. There's some minor connections and it seems to be in chronological order - like the first Marvel hero is the first one introduced, some other heroes being referenced in the origin pages, etc.
Then the "interlude" is in another Alex Ross art style, similar to his other Marvel Arts comic - Fantastic Four: Full Circle. This middle part shows another... Dimension, where the good superheroes are bad. I wonder if this is the bonus "32-page comic book" mentioned in the blurb, which is odd since it gives context to the latter half.
The Final Part is the continuation of the interlude and some thoughts of the narrator on good vs evil and other dimensions. This feels like the final big battle of a Marvel event, where tons of inverted heroes fight each other to pursuit the goal. It's just a bunch of people fighting in two-page spreads. Then it ended abruptly, since the narrator had seen enough. I wonder if this is supposed to be a prequel or companion book to a future Marvel event.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Those who have watched Marvel's What If...? animated series will find Marvel Dimension quite fascinating, as it begins by showing a different origin story for each superhero through a very engaging montage. The story is explained through Machine Man, a robot serving the Watcher's purpose, observing all the possibilities and variations in the multiverse. However, this one focuses on the "In-Verse," a dimension where our favourite Marvel superheroes exist on the opposite spectrum of their purpose.
We have the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Inhumans, Defenders, and many more, but they are manipulated by their hunger for power and sheer need for dominance. These superheroes don't exist to protect the people of their Earth or universe but instead serve themselves above everything else. When the spectrum of power is reversed, the classic antagonists of Marvel become the protectors of the universe in this dimension. From the Sinister Six, Galactus, and Doctor Doom to Thanos's grand entry, Alex Ross presents a twisted universe that is both unsettling and frightening. The artwork deserves praise for how it makes the events feel larger than life and brings our beloved heroes into their cruelest forms, requiring us to redesign the way we perceive them. One look at these morally corrupted heroes is enough to tell us that they aren't there with even the slightest intention of protecting humanity.
For someone like me, who is a hardcore Marvel geek and is always curious to see how Marvel will play with its concepts and characters, Marvel Dimension provided a glimpse of a possibility that I genuinely hope gets adapted, even as a feature episode of What If...? series.
We have the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Inhumans, Defenders, and many more, but they are manipulated by their hunger for power and sheer need for dominance. These superheroes don't exist to protect the people of their Earth or universe but instead serve themselves above everything else. When the spectrum of power is reversed, the classic antagonists of Marvel become the protectors of the universe in this dimension. From the Sinister Six, Galactus, and Doctor Doom to Thanos's grand entry, Alex Ross presents a twisted universe that is both unsettling and frightening. The artwork deserves praise for how it makes the events feel larger than life and brings our beloved heroes into their cruelest forms, requiring us to redesign the way we perceive them. One look at these morally corrupted heroes is enough to tell us that they aren't there with even the slightest intention of protecting humanity.
For someone like me, who is a hardcore Marvel geek and is always curious to see how Marvel will play with its concepts and characters, Marvel Dimension provided a glimpse of a possibility that I genuinely hope gets adapted, even as a feature episode of What If...? series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!
Marvel Dimensions is a book I have complex feelings on - what it does well, it truly excels at. What it doesn’t do as well, sadly did not work for me.
The positives - Alex Ross’s artwork is fantastic. Incredibly detailed two page spreads recall the origin stories of many of Marvel’s finest, and demand to be put on display. These segments are very well done with simple yet effective descriptions adding a lot to the pieces. The colour choices add appropriate variation and accentuate the many dimensions and stories that these characters call home. If you like comic book art, you truly do owe it to yourself to explore what is on offer here.
The story is where I have a few qualms - once the initial introductions are done, the remainder of the book tells the story of the Inverse, an opposite version of the Marvel universe. Some questions are asked on what would happen if many of these characters had different experiences, however this is all stuff we have seen before. In an era defined by the multiverse story, the idea of our heroes being bad isn’t revolutionary, and has been executed in more depth in other places.
The story is still fun to read, but a little disjointed and heavily carried by the artwork. If this had been longer and had more time to develop its own unique plot, I definitely would have rated it higher.
Marvel Dimensions is a book I have complex feelings on - what it does well, it truly excels at. What it doesn’t do as well, sadly did not work for me.
The positives - Alex Ross’s artwork is fantastic. Incredibly detailed two page spreads recall the origin stories of many of Marvel’s finest, and demand to be put on display. These segments are very well done with simple yet effective descriptions adding a lot to the pieces. The colour choices add appropriate variation and accentuate the many dimensions and stories that these characters call home. If you like comic book art, you truly do owe it to yourself to explore what is on offer here.
The story is where I have a few qualms - once the initial introductions are done, the remainder of the book tells the story of the Inverse, an opposite version of the Marvel universe. Some questions are asked on what would happen if many of these characters had different experiences, however this is all stuff we have seen before. In an era defined by the multiverse story, the idea of our heroes being bad isn’t revolutionary, and has been executed in more depth in other places.
The story is still fun to read, but a little disjointed and heavily carried by the artwork. If this had been longer and had more time to develop its own unique plot, I definitely would have rated it higher.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When you see an Alex Ross cover on the shelf you IMMEDIATELY know it's Alex Ross. This graphic novel is no different.
The first third of the book plays out like flipping through a Rolodex of the Marvel Universe. We see the heavy hitters (Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, etc) drawn in the signature Ross style.
While the art is consistently breathtaking, this section did feel a bit long for my tastes. It’s a gorgeous "greatest hits" reel, but I found myself waiting for the narrative hook to sink in. However, the Phoenix was an absolute standout for me. A beautiful two page splash. Iconic.
Around the halfway mark, the book takes a turn. Our narrator (no spoilers but it was a cool reveal) pulls back the curtain on a new reality: an alternate Earth, "In-Verse."
This is where the book shifts gears from a greatest hits display to a narrative arc through an alternative world.
Once we begin exploring this new world, the narrative feels a bit paint by numbers. Despite the high-concept setup of the In-Verse, the plot beats follow a fairly predictable path for an alternate-reality story. Enjoyable even if nothing particularly Earth-shattering.
Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Ross and Abrams ComicArts for the ARC.
The first third of the book plays out like flipping through a Rolodex of the Marvel Universe. We see the heavy hitters (Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, etc) drawn in the signature Ross style.
While the art is consistently breathtaking, this section did feel a bit long for my tastes. It’s a gorgeous "greatest hits" reel, but I found myself waiting for the narrative hook to sink in. However, the Phoenix was an absolute standout for me. A beautiful two page splash. Iconic.
Around the halfway mark, the book takes a turn. Our narrator (no spoilers but it was a cool reveal) pulls back the curtain on a new reality: an alternate Earth, "In-Verse."
This is where the book shifts gears from a greatest hits display to a narrative arc through an alternative world.
Once we begin exploring this new world, the narrative feels a bit paint by numbers. Despite the high-concept setup of the In-Verse, the plot beats follow a fairly predictable path for an alternate-reality story. Enjoyable even if nothing particularly Earth-shattering.
Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Ross and Abrams ComicArts for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Abrams ComicsArt provided an early galley for review.
My first exposure to Ross' beautiful painted work was in Marvels. So, this was a nice, fitting way to revisit that in an all-new book.
This book will definitely be best enjoyed in a printed format as so much of the art is done in double-page spreads. The first half presents profiles of so many characters, recapping their origins and histories through (what I calculate) to be around the mid-1970's or so. This includes reinterpretations of classic panels and covers by Ross. I had fun trying to guess who the narrators were of each vignette.
The second half shifts to a place called "the In-Verse", a What If kind of reality where everything you ever knew about the Marvel Universe is spun on its axis. It is a big blow-out of combatants and confrontations. It reminded me a bit of another Marvel project Ross did - Earth X. Because this is some place new with so little tied to the Marvel Universe I grew up on, this part of the story left me feeling a little distant and uncaring about the end results. For me, the magic of shared universes like Marvel or DC is the long relationship I have built to it thanks to its sprawling continuity.
My first exposure to Ross' beautiful painted work was in Marvels. So, this was a nice, fitting way to revisit that in an all-new book.
This book will definitely be best enjoyed in a printed format as so much of the art is done in double-page spreads. The first half presents profiles of so many characters, recapping their origins and histories through (what I calculate) to be around the mid-1970's or so. This includes reinterpretations of classic panels and covers by Ross. I had fun trying to guess who the narrators were of each vignette.
The second half shifts to a place called "the In-Verse", a What If kind of reality where everything you ever knew about the Marvel Universe is spun on its axis. It is a big blow-out of combatants and confrontations. It reminded me a bit of another Marvel project Ross did - Earth X. Because this is some place new with so little tied to the Marvel Universe I grew up on, this part of the story left me feeling a little distant and uncaring about the end results. For me, the magic of shared universes like Marvel or DC is the long relationship I have built to it thanks to its sprawling continuity.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Marvel and NetGalley for an ARC.
Alex Ross is one of those artists whose work makes you stop and stare at a page for minutes at a time, and Marvel Dimensions is packed with those moments. The painted artwork is absolutely stunning as Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, Wolverine and more rendered in that photorealistic style that made Marvels and Kingdom Come legendary. Every double-page spread feels poster-worthy.
What surprised me most was that this isn't just an art book or a greatest-hits tour of Marvel history. It opens with a confident, sweeping retelling of classic origins, but the tone gradually shifts into something stranger and more ambitious with storylines twisting in on themselves, characters behaving unexpectedly, a narrator who turns out to be less reliable than he seems. Ross is clearly trying something well beyond simply showcasing gorgeous paintings and mostly pulls it off. The story didn't always land as hard as the visuals for me, but the combination of breathtaking art, Marvel history, and an increasingly unexpected plot made this a very enjoyable read.
If you love Alex Ross or simply want to see Marvel's heroes presented at their most iconic and mythic, this is well worth your time. Beautiful, ambitious, and unlike anything else on the shelf.
Alex Ross is one of those artists whose work makes you stop and stare at a page for minutes at a time, and Marvel Dimensions is packed with those moments. The painted artwork is absolutely stunning as Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, Wolverine and more rendered in that photorealistic style that made Marvels and Kingdom Come legendary. Every double-page spread feels poster-worthy.
What surprised me most was that this isn't just an art book or a greatest-hits tour of Marvel history. It opens with a confident, sweeping retelling of classic origins, but the tone gradually shifts into something stranger and more ambitious with storylines twisting in on themselves, characters behaving unexpectedly, a narrator who turns out to be less reliable than he seems. Ross is clearly trying something well beyond simply showcasing gorgeous paintings and mostly pulls it off. The story didn't always land as hard as the visuals for me, but the combination of breathtaking art, Marvel history, and an increasingly unexpected plot made this a very enjoyable read.
If you love Alex Ross or simply want to see Marvel's heroes presented at their most iconic and mythic, this is well worth your time. Beautiful, ambitious, and unlike anything else on the shelf.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
From the original What If...? comics to the classic Age of Apocalypse crossover and even fully developed extended series like Exiles, Marvel has produced some of its most fun and creative work over the years by exploring 616's many alternative universes. Out of all of these stories and series, Alex Ross's extended Earth X / Universe X / Paradise X collaborations with Jim Krueger and John Paul Leon may be my favorite. While by no means flawless, everything about those three miniseries came together beautifully, making a success out of what could and probably should have been seen as an overly earnest effort to transcend the one superhero sub-genre that can't help but feel like fan-fiction.
Years later, how does Ross's own Marvel Dimensions hold up? Well, the art is truly phenomenal, as always. At the same time, the unbelievably extended character-by-character introductions in the first half of the book really test the reader's patience, and, even worse, they ultimately only serve as padding to what proves to be a short, simplistic, and truly underdeveloped exploration of how rivalry and antagonism can shape foils. Krueger is deeply missed here, but, if you're a fan of Ross, you should pick it up for the artwork.
Years later, how does Ross's own Marvel Dimensions hold up? Well, the art is truly phenomenal, as always. At the same time, the unbelievably extended character-by-character introductions in the first half of the book really test the reader's patience, and, even worse, they ultimately only serve as padding to what proves to be a short, simplistic, and truly underdeveloped exploration of how rivalry and antagonism can shape foils. Krueger is deeply missed here, but, if you're a fan of Ross, you should pick it up for the artwork.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In Marvel Dimensions, Alex Ross takes on the role of both writer and artist. He handles both tasks admirably.
Marvel Dimensions opens with two page origin stories for various classic Marvel characters. Each is narrated by a different character. Afterwards, it shifts into the story. The story that follows is an epic look at a Marvel Universe that could be.
Let’s get the artwork out of the way first. Is Alex Ross. The art is fantastic. He switches between painted and pencils and inks. This causes a different feel to some of the panels.
The designs he comes up with for characters leaves me wanting to see more of some of them.
As for the story, it was good. It kept my interest. I was looking forward to seeing more of the redesigns. If there was any downside to the story, it was the character histories at the beginning. There were just so many in a row. I began to hear myself thinking, “another one??”
Maybe if he had broken them up a bit. Did a few, have some story, a few more, more story.
In all, of you come just for the artwork, you won’t be disappointed. The story is a nice bonus. Enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of ARC from NetGallery. Reviews and opinions are my own.
The art work in this book is absolutely phenomenal, Alex Ross really knocked it out of the park. The first third of the book was a history into many of Marvel's most iconic heroes. The panels in this section were drawn beautifully, but did end up feeling a bit long. With this being a digital copy, I don't think I got the double page spread that this would obviously look like in a physical copy.
The rest of the book took us through a large universal What If... like storyline. I actually enjoyed the story which basically showed us a reversal of good and evil. I particularly enjoyed trying to figure out which character was which, however in some circumstances it wasn't exactly immediately clear so could understand if others find the way this is presented a bit frustrating. The dialog for this section of the book felt a bit rigid, but was overall a quick read.
If you're a fan of Alex Ross's art, that's basically what this book is a showcase of. It's probably not a book I usually would have picked up on my own, but overall had fun reading this.
The art work in this book is absolutely phenomenal, Alex Ross really knocked it out of the park. The first third of the book was a history into many of Marvel's most iconic heroes. The panels in this section were drawn beautifully, but did end up feeling a bit long. With this being a digital copy, I don't think I got the double page spread that this would obviously look like in a physical copy.
The rest of the book took us through a large universal What If... like storyline. I actually enjoyed the story which basically showed us a reversal of good and evil. I particularly enjoyed trying to figure out which character was which, however in some circumstances it wasn't exactly immediately clear so could understand if others find the way this is presented a bit frustrating. The dialog for this section of the book felt a bit rigid, but was overall a quick read.
If you're a fan of Alex Ross's art, that's basically what this book is a showcase of. It's probably not a book I usually would have picked up on my own, but overall had fun reading this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of ARC from NetGallery. Reviews and opinions are my own.
The art work in this book is absolutely phenomenal, Alex Ross really knocked it out of the park. The first third of the book was a history into many of Marvel's most iconic heroes. The panels in this section were drawn beautifully, but did end up feeling a bit long. With this being a digital copy, I don't think I got the double page spread that this would obviously look like in a physical copy.
The rest of the book took us through a large universal What If... like storyline. I actually enjoyed the story which basically showed us a reversal of good and evil. I particularly enjoyed trying to figure out which character was which, however in some circumstances it wasn't exactly immediately clear so could understand if others find the way this is presented a bit frustrating. The dialog for this section of the book felt a bit rigid, but was overall a quick read.
If you're a fan of Alex Ross's art, that's basically what this book is a showcase of. It's probably not a book I usually would have picked up on my own, but overall had fun reading this.
The art work in this book is absolutely phenomenal, Alex Ross really knocked it out of the park. The first third of the book was a history into many of Marvel's most iconic heroes. The panels in this section were drawn beautifully, but did end up feeling a bit long. With this being a digital copy, I don't think I got the double page spread that this would obviously look like in a physical copy.
The rest of the book took us through a large universal What If... like storyline. I actually enjoyed the story which basically showed us a reversal of good and evil. I particularly enjoyed trying to figure out which character was which, however in some circumstances it wasn't exactly immediately clear so could understand if others find the way this is presented a bit frustrating. The dialog for this section of the book felt a bit rigid, but was overall a quick read.
If you're a fan of Alex Ross's art, that's basically what this book is a showcase of. It's probably not a book I usually would have picked up on my own, but overall had fun reading this.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A very remarkable graphic novel, exceptional art and great plot! A dark toned Marvel Universe is revealed and the twists of the story are the cherry of the top!
Alex Ross art is extraordinary. The use of colours and the artwork is otherworldly and gives to the character depth, structure and dynamics which fits perfectly to the concept of the Graphic Novel.
As about the story, I find the plot twists very interesting,it keeps the reader in interest to keeping reading and it gives you the vibes of a Silver Age comic, which I find fascinating and nostalgic, a great starting point for new readers and a tribute to the characters we loved. A graphic novel that every Marvel Comics collector and fan should have on their library.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an Unbiased review.
Alex Ross art is extraordinary. The use of colours and the artwork is otherworldly and gives to the character depth, structure and dynamics which fits perfectly to the concept of the Graphic Novel.
As about the story, I find the plot twists very interesting,it keeps the reader in interest to keeping reading and it gives you the vibes of a Silver Age comic, which I find fascinating and nostalgic, a great starting point for new readers and a tribute to the characters we loved. A graphic novel that every Marvel Comics collector and fan should have on their library.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an Unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Marvel Dimensions is an incredibly beautiful and ambitious graphic novel that begins as one thing and then interestingly shifts to something else. Whenever I am reviewing a Marvel series, I have to confess that while I really enjoy the characters, I don’t have the love and emotional connection to them that I do for the distinguished competition and so my excitement is always a bit tempered and this is no exception but I did quite enjoy the double page spreads and I loved seeing the What If-esque turn the story takes. Alex Ross’s art is always a treat and I will always take a look at whatever project he is doing.
Special Thanks to Abrams ComicArts and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
Special Thanks to Abrams ComicArts and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
August 2, 2026
There are simply no words left to describe the artistry that Alex Ross has so masterfully achieved after all these years, and still somehow continues to provide us with.
What starts out as a seemingly simple retelling of the origin of major Marvel heroes, Ross quickly launches us into a story of inverses and variations of our well-known heroes with staggeringly genius results.
While this ARC was presented digitally, I feel like only reading it this way would be a major disservice to art & artist. This needs to be held in hands and absorbed physically & mentally.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
What starts out as a seemingly simple retelling of the origin of major Marvel heroes, Ross quickly launches us into a story of inverses and variations of our well-known heroes with staggeringly genius results.
While this ARC was presented digitally, I feel like only reading it this way would be a major disservice to art & artist. This needs to be held in hands and absorbed physically & mentally.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
May 24, 2026
I was so pleasantly surprised to see Alex Ross again. His drawing is top notch here. I love how he introduces various characters and how he drew them in a single color scheme in that introduction.
Some of the plot was a bit confusing but aren’t all comic books? I loved the old costumes and I’m a sucker for that realism in Ross’ drawings. All in all this was a great book and made me yearning for more. I’m gonna need to find a Ross Omni if they make one!
Some of the plot was a bit confusing but aren’t all comic books? I loved the old costumes and I’m a sucker for that realism in Ross’ drawings. All in all this was a great book and made me yearning for more. I’m gonna need to find a Ross Omni if they make one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Alex Ross's art is amazing as always, but it feels like the only purpose of this release was to showcase his art. Almost half of it was just showing off characters, yes, in very cool and detailed artwork, but the story itself feels a little stale.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.
Alex Ross's art is amazing. I will never not want to study his techniques and brilliance on the printed page. His ideas here in this story that he created are quite imaginative, while borrowing a little from the very initial DC Crisis concepts. It seems like this is a great set-up for things to possibly come.
Alex Ross's art is amazing. I will never not want to study his techniques and brilliance on the printed page. His ideas here in this story that he created are quite imaginative, while borrowing a little from the very initial DC Crisis concepts. It seems like this is a great set-up for things to possibly come.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Alex Ross's art evokes such emotion and changes the entirety of comics as you know them. I'm gonna be honest, I really had no idea what was happening throughout this book but Alex Ross is just a god when it comes to illustration that I enjoyed my time reading this anyways. Super cool if you like Marvel and Alex Ross.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Alex Ross is one of the premier
comic book artists of the generation.
So I grabbed this thinking it
would be amazing.
Turns out it is a kids guide
to the base level Marvel Heroes.
Not really relevant for someone
who has been reading comics
for 40+ years.
Still pretty though.
comic book artists of the generation.
So I grabbed this thinking it
would be amazing.
Turns out it is a kids guide
to the base level Marvel Heroes.
Not really relevant for someone
who has been reading comics
for 40+ years.
Still pretty though.
May 25, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an arc of this book!
I will read/engage with anything Alex Ross draws or paints. As usual, his artwork for this book is incredible and mind blowing. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the story/plot per se but was still serviceable.
I will read/engage with anything Alex Ross draws or paints. As usual, his artwork for this book is incredible and mind blowing. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the story/plot per se but was still serviceable.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance reader's copy from NetGalley.
Great art work. I am a sucker for origin stories and almost half the book is some great vignettes summarizing backstories. Then becomes a what if alt universe exploring what makes a hero vs a villain. Could have gone deeper on that exploration. Felt rushed, but overall a fun read. Love to see a live action adaptation at some point.
Great art work. I am a sucker for origin stories and almost half the book is some great vignettes summarizing backstories. Then becomes a what if alt universe exploring what makes a hero vs a villain. Could have gone deeper on that exploration. Felt rushed, but overall a fun read. Love to see a live action adaptation at some point.
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