I remember when Marvels came out and don’t honestly remember which struck me more, the amazing story or the amazing painting. Kurt Busiek had been overshadowed by his boyhood friend Scott McCloud (author of Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art), but had carved himself a nice career jumping from title to title for decent runs without ever sticking on one title for too long. Alex Ross had a couple series under his belt, but nothing that had caught anyone’s eye. But after this, everyone knew both their names.

Alex Ross came up with the basic idea of looking back at the Marvel Universe and after attempting to write it himself, Kurt Busiek was brought on to write it. The story looks at the Marvel Universe from the beginnings in the 1930s through the mid-1970s (end of the Silver Age as defined by Gwen Stacey’s death). Where Marvels makes an interesting choice is to focus on non superheros.

Phil Sheldon is an up and coming photographer (working with such reporters as J Jonah Jameson) who is in a scientific exhibit from Phineas Horton who has created a robotic man (The Human Torch). Sheldon then has to deal with The Human Torch and the new villain Submariner. They have many battles which affect people’s lives and Sheldon is there to capture the pictures of the heroes and of the people they affect. We follow Sheldon through WWII and the introduction of many more heroes and then through the Silver Age heroes culminating in Spider-Man and the death of Gwen Stacy.

The focus on Sheldon and his life makes a great contrast to the bigger-than-life stories that the heroes experience. The shock of mutants hits Sheldon’s life as his girls find and help out a young mutant girl. The Fantastic Four wedding and handling of Galactus show how the Sheldon hasn’t been spending enough time with his family. The death of Captain Stacy leads Sheldon to investigate Spider-Man (which Jameson famously has a vendetta against) to prove the hero’s innocence. When Gwen Stacy dies, Sheldon realizes that his time is done and retires (with a hint at the new heroes coming forward).

Marvels was a blockbuster of for Marvel, but a career defining series for both Busiek and Ross. After this, Ross was highly sought after for his cover art and for high profile (and high price) series. His painting style was more realistic and exciting than what was generally seen at that time. And the style made him famous. Busiek parlayed his new fame into his dream series (Astro City) as well as high profile storylines in both Marvel and DC . Marvels is a dream series for anyone who is into historical comics and loves the older Marvel storylines. Highly recommended.