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Marvels (1994) #4

Marvels (1994) #4

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Double-sized! Regular price! Alex Ross and Kurt Busiek conclude their groundbreaking journey through the Golden Age of Marvel Comics with the heartbreaking tale of Spider-Man, the Green Goblin, and Gwen Stacy.

45 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1994

36 people want to read

About the author

Kurt Busiek

1,859 books626 followers
Kurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.

Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.

During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).

Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.

In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.

In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.

In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.

Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.

Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,

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5 stars
70 (46%)
4 stars
52 (34%)
3 stars
22 (14%)
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5 (3%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Dominic Gizzo.
8 reviews
June 20, 2024
A great wrap up to an incredible series. Like I said in my “Book 1” review, it’s an awesome perspective from which to view and interpret some of the same comics and characters we’ve grown to know and love. I am particularly fond of the amazing art style and design of Alex Ross.
Profile Image for Stella Borrillo.
8 reviews
April 10, 2018
This book was just as good as the others, even on book four. It was a well done closing and included many familiar heroes that made it all the more enjoyable.
2,367 reviews31 followers
May 22, 2018
And thus ended a wonderful little run. Phil, our photographer, was desperate to get things right for the Marvels. After all, they spend their lives dedicated to saving us, yet we spend ours trying to knock them down.

Lots of villains and heroes introduced here. The main plot revolves around Spider-man killing George Stacy. Phil wants to get Spider-man off. Of course, Phil is now old. And he eventually packs it in telling his assistant to carry on without him. In the final shot, a photograph of Phil, his wife, and a normal boy, who happens to be Ghost Rider. ;)

I really liked this run!
Profile Image for Mikey Baker.
689 reviews1 follower
August 4, 2025
i thought this was an interesting way to view the Death of Gwen Stacy, from the eyes of Phil, our narrator. He grew attached the Gwen and hated how the “Marvels” got all the headlines while Gwen became a page 10 piece…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Josh Bungs.
45 reviews
May 24, 2020
Great book. Original, intriguing, with amazing art. Maybe the best graphic novel I've read. Will reread in the not distant future
Profile Image for OinkFish Pigs.
533 reviews6 followers
March 8, 2022
I really loved this ending of Phil ending his obsession and realizes there are goods and bads to the Marvels.

High 10
Profile Image for Jakub Brudny.
1,102 reviews12 followers
February 2, 2023
No tak to już jest z historiami, że czasami końcówka zawodzi, tutaj zdecydowanie jest to problem, bo ten numer wydaje się być o niczym. Szkoda
Profile Image for Rupak.
31 reviews23 followers
August 18, 2023
Moral of the story, normal people's lives do matter!!!!

Gwen Stacy's death always makes me emotional, damn it!😭💔
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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