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No período de 1939 a 1974; a série examina o Universo Marvel, onde se encontra a maioria das séries de super-herói Marvel, na perspectiva de um homem comum: o fotógrafo jornalista Phil Sheldon. A série mostra a vida ordinária num muito cheio de super-homens de fato, com cada livro apresentado eventos bem conhecidos dos leitores da Marvel assim como uma variedade de detalhes ao minuto e nova ficção de eventos no mesmo universo.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 12, 1994

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About the author

Kurt Busiek

1,857 books629 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
208 (47%)
4 stars
153 (34%)
3 stars
59 (13%)
2 stars
16 (3%)
1 star
6 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Emily Bedford.
273 reviews19 followers
June 4, 2022
I loved seeing how 'normal' people deal with the aftermath of the marvels.
Profile Image for zach.
588 reviews
July 10, 2024
really loved this! the perspective it was written from was so fascinating. and the art… 😫🤌
Profile Image for Steve.
32 reviews
October 26, 2023
This is how to start Marvel Comics

5 Star art, 5 star story. The immergence of some of the first "Marvels" such as Namor, The Human Torch and Captain America, told from the point of view of a photo journalist in the early days of World War II. I've only recently started reading Marvel properly and this along with Wolverine Origins Part I and II has been perfect.
Profile Image for Stella Borrillo.
8 reviews
March 19, 2018
This is a great story of superheroes. Especially because written from a separate point of view. It gives personalization to characters as well as has many interesting action scenes. It was overall a great read.
Profile Image for Ritika Chhabra.
520 reviews57 followers
December 7, 2018
Cool, so I don't have much to say except that Phil Sheldon definitely resembles Tobey Maguire AND he is a photographer! What were the chances of that!

I also think I just saw a glimpse of Nick Fury here. He was smoking and I've heard that he smokes a lot so maybe it WAS him. Hehe.

It was good, just a little boring but the art was definitely great! <3
Profile Image for Michael.
1,820 reviews5 followers
February 15, 2018
This was a great comic book; really original. Basically, the narrator's point of view is that of a civilian on the ground as iconic events from early Marvel comic books happen. In this case, it is the epic battles between the Human Torch and Prince Namor in New York City, as well as some of the superhero-influenced events during the build up to American't involvement in World War II. It's a clever idea! I was reminded a little bit of the opening scene in Batman vs. Superman when Bruce Wayne is watching the events at the end of Man of Steel but from a different point of view (on the ground in a city that's being destroyed by battling aliens).

The artwork was beautiful, too. It was influenced by Edward Hooper's work, and at one point, the panels in the comic actually riffed on his famous "Nighthawks" painting.

I read all four volumes in this series. I'm not going to review them all. I enjoyed them tremendously!
Really good stuff.
1 review
October 2, 2015
Extremely creative!

The story that propelled Busiek into the public eye. A forerunner of even better tales to come! Ross's art is, as always exquisite. Well worth the $13.75 for the Kindle version.
2,367 reviews31 followers
May 21, 2018
I love the storytelling in this issue. We have an old-school newspaper reporter yearning to go to Europe to cover World War II. He finally is offered his chance, but he turns it down. There's enough action in New York for him to follow. And there is his sweetheart whom is to marry.

This story is told through the newspaperman. He is at first bothered by what he calls the Marvels as they destroy his city as they battle. He sees the hypocrisy of it all when the news reel plays at the theater showing Captain America doing America's bidding in Germany.

When The Human Torch and the Sub Mariner battle, the newspaperman is there to cover it. He is injured as debris from a building damaged in the fighting hits him. He loses an eye. He still marries the girl.

The newspaperman recognizes that the world has indeed changed. People are now mere spectators to the Marvels, who seem to be a growing breed.
Profile Image for Fiorella.
160 reviews9 followers
March 11, 2021
De las mejores lecturas definitivamente de este 2021. JOYA, una verdadera joya. Amo la creatividad de los autores para recrear tremenda historia. A través de los ojos de Phil Sheldon, un fotógrafo, podemos conocer otro enfoque de los superhéroes de Marvel. De inmediato continuo con el segundo cómic.
Las ilustraciones y esta historia hacen que en verdad sea muy muy único.
Profile Image for Nomonde Wanzi.
31 reviews1 follower
November 22, 2022
The most beautiful artwork I've ever seen in a comic book. Simply gorgeous. Anyone who doesn't consider comics "real art" needs to see this series and apologise for how wrong they've been. The story is quite engaging and it was fun to see people like J Jonah Jameson and Ben Urich during their younger years.
Profile Image for Jakub Brudny.
1,178 reviews13 followers
January 26, 2023
Ech, spodziewałem się czegoś zupełnie innego po przeczytaniu numeru 0 :// Oczywiście trudno oceniać ten komiks za to czym nie jest, ale mimo wszystko bardzo zmuszałem się do czytania go, a historia jest prosta i w zasadzie tylko pod koniec rysownicy naprawdę pokazali co potrafią, więc ocena też nie jest za wysoka.
Profile Image for Mikey Baker.
1,169 reviews3 followers
July 30, 2025
really interesting standalone story about “the Marvels” of the 1940’s: Namor, Human Torch, and Captain America. Namor and Human Torch aren’t loved by the public at first but then they are. Namor invades man kind…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Bookworm Erica.
1,975 reviews31 followers
April 22, 2021
Gorgeous . Just gorgeous !

Ive wanted to read this series for so long .
Profile Image for Courtney.
270 reviews
March 17, 2022
It was an ok read. Nothing special or mind blowing. Just an great throwback to a simpler time in comic book writing and telling.
Profile Image for Dominic Gizzo.
8 reviews
February 18, 2024
Interesting spin on regular comics. Read from the perspective of a journalist witnessing the arrival of super powers during the Second World War.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ryan Gässer.
431 reviews
May 31, 2026
That was awesome! I’m sad that it took me so long to read this series. Thank you Kurt, Alex & Team for an absolutely wonderful read.
Profile Image for Rupak.
32 reviews23 followers
October 19, 2023
Phil Sheldon and his eccentricity!

No matter how much history shows us that without the help of the Soviets US and UK couldn't beat Hitler; but in comics, America is an almighty force. On one hand, American superheroes defeating Germans and Japs, on the other hand they are saving Africa by colonizing it — this is the story basically. The story is just a distraction, the original motive is to glorify the American society, like all the Marvel comics usually do. In one scene even child labour was glorified. Child labour, militarism, white elite society everything has been glorified.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews