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Marvels Annotated #1
Marvels Annotated #1
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the series that changed the way we look at super heroes, the landmark MARVELS is back! In the year 1939, young photojournalist Phil Sheldon attends the sensational unveiling of the fiery android Human Torch — little knowing he is witnessing the dawn of the Age of Marvels! Prepare to relive Marvel’s Golden Age from a whole new point of view as Phil covers the superhuman sightings of the 1930s and 1940s — from the terror caused by the Human Torch’s epic clash with the Sub-Mariner to the patriotism stirred by the debut of Captain America and more! Packed with extras and completely remastered, you don’t want to miss this unique look back at the MARVELS phenomenon! Collecting MARVELS #0-1.
- GenresComicsMarvelSuperheroes
105 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2019
About the author
Kurt Busiek
1,864 books634 followersKurt 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,
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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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 13, 2025
Planning to read up on all the Marvel comics - this should be fun!
Also The art is just amazing!
Also The art is just amazing!
February 17, 2019
Really great story! The art was awesome, and the back matter was really interesting. I liked this one more than the DC version (which I read a couple of years ago and was written after this was originally published). Definitely would recommend!
May 14, 2019
In 1990, writer Kurt Busiek and artist Alex Ross teamed up for a 4 issues series pretty much using the formula that Busiek eventually used in Astro City, but this time he did it for Marvel characters. The every man in this case was photographer Phil Sheldon and the reader was getting a worm's eye view of the early Marvel universe from the original human torch to Sub-mariner, et al.
Ross' incredible photo-realism painted artwork creates a lifelike look and feel putting the reader on the streets in NYC and gazing in wide wonder at the wondrous heroes above the city all the while dotting each frame with Easter eggs galore which brings us this 2019 series and it's detailed annotations appearing at the end of the book. Also included is Busiek's script for issue 1 along with the original concept, cover art, sketches, and articles that appeared in former Marvel books. A nice touch was Stan Lee's forward to the collected Marvels book.
I love annotations for comic books and really appreciated this book a lot and look forward to reading the next three books in the series.
Ross' incredible photo-realism painted artwork creates a lifelike look and feel putting the reader on the streets in NYC and gazing in wide wonder at the wondrous heroes above the city all the while dotting each frame with Easter eggs galore which brings us this 2019 series and it's detailed annotations appearing at the end of the book. Also included is Busiek's script for issue 1 along with the original concept, cover art, sketches, and articles that appeared in former Marvel books. A nice touch was Stan Lee's forward to the collected Marvels book.
I love annotations for comic books and really appreciated this book a lot and look forward to reading the next three books in the series.
Read
November 17, 2025A great intro to the MCU for people interested in reading the comics. Annnd... I'm officially starting the modern continuity guide. TBD on how much time I spend on this side quest.
October 30, 2025
Busiek is at his best when he can be a giant nerd about the Marvel Universe. And if you pair that encyclopedic knowledge of Marvel heroes with Alex Ross' pencils, then you end up with one of Marvel's best comics ever. Marvels is a modern classic.
Marvels follows the appearance of superheroes in Manhattan through the lens of photojournalist Phil Sheldon, a regular guy having to come to terms with the existence of god-like beings and having to deal with the consequences of their fights. What is it like to live in a world where everything can be upset at the whim of two superpowered beings? How capricious it seems to Phil, when, unlike the reader, he is not privy to the motivations of the heroes fighting and wreaking havoc all over Manhattan. Easy to understand J. Jonah Jameson's take on heroes as a menace.
Excellent first volume, albeit a bit slow to start. Lots of fun cameos - I did not expect Popeye to make an appearance!
Marvels follows the appearance of superheroes in Manhattan through the lens of photojournalist Phil Sheldon, a regular guy having to come to terms with the existence of god-like beings and having to deal with the consequences of their fights. What is it like to live in a world where everything can be upset at the whim of two superpowered beings? How capricious it seems to Phil, when, unlike the reader, he is not privy to the motivations of the heroes fighting and wreaking havoc all over Manhattan. Easy to understand J. Jonah Jameson's take on heroes as a menace.
Excellent first volume, albeit a bit slow to start. Lots of fun cameos - I did not expect Popeye to make an appearance!
December 3, 2024
I enjoyed this comic's perspective, written from the viewpoint of a journalist following closely the earlier comics of Mariner, Human Torch, and Captain America. The series has four total, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it progresses. It wasn't anything captivating, though. I haven't read too many comics, and going into 2025, I'd like to take a deeper dive. Therefore, this may be too critical of a rating, but I have to start somewhere!
March 13, 2021
I enjoyed the story and the artwork. The 1940's setting really wasn't my vibe though.
August 23, 2024
This was suggested to me to enter the modern Marvel comics. What a banger introduction!
The art was *chef's kiss*
The art was *chef's kiss*
August 6, 2025
hoping to finally get into comics - this was such a good started and i love the new art
June 23, 2019
Μια εξαιρετικά καλοδουλεμένη και διαφορετική προσέγγιση της πρώτης εμφάνισης των υπερηρώων στο σύμπαν της Marvel. Το πρώτο κομμάτι δίνεται μέσα από τις σύντομες σκέψεις του πρώτου Human Torch (όχι του Johnny Storm, των Fantastic 4) και στη συνέχεια βλέπουμε την ιστορία μέσα απ' τα μάτια του πρωταγωνιστή μας, ενός απλού δημοσιογράφου της εποχής. Το σενάριο είναι πολύ ενδιαφέρον και μας δείχνει μια διαφορετική ματιά των γεγονότων, αυτή μέσα απ' τα μάτια του απλού κόσμου. Τα σχέδια του Alex Ross είναι πραγματικά υπέροχα, ρεαλιστικά και μοιάζουν πιο πολύ με πίνακες ζωγραφικής παρά με panel από comic. Περιλαμβάνουν δε και πολλά μικρά Easter eggs και αναφορές σε γεγονότα των comic αλλά και ιστορικά της εποχής που διαδραματίζεται η ιστορία. Το τελευταίο κομμάτι του "βιβλίου" με σχολιασμό, πρωτότυπα σχέδια και το σενάριο αποτελούν απλά το κερασάκι στην τούρτα.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews