Marvels

Marvels is a four-issue limited series comic book written by Kurt Busiek, painted by Alex Ross and edited by Marcus McLaurin. It was published by Marvel Comics in 1994.

Set in the 1939 to 1974 time period, the series examines the Marvel Universe, the collective setting of most of Marvel's superhero series, from the perspective of an Everyman character, news photographer Phil Sheldon. The street-level series portrayed ordinary life in a world full of costumed supermen, with each issue featuring events well known to readers of Marvel comics, as well as a variety of minute details and a retelling of the most famous events in the Marvel universe.

Marvels was a success, winning multiple awards and launching the careers of Busiek and Ross, who would both return to the "everyday life in a superhero universe" theme in the Homage Comics series, Astro City.

Warren Ellis' Ruins returned to this theme in 1995, but an actual sequel was not developed until 2008 with the release of Marvels: Eye of the Camera.

Publication history

Marvels was a four-issue miniseries (cover-dated January–April 1994) by writer Kurt Busiek with painted art by Alex Ross.^[1] It was followed by an issue #0 (August 1994) containing a 12-page story of the original 1940s Human Torch by Busiek and Ross, two text articles, and 18 pages of Ross superhero pinups.^[2] The series was later collected into a trade paperback edition.

Plot

The story begins in early 1939 with the origin of the original Human Torch (Marvel Comics #1) told from his point of view. The android is created by scientist Phineas Horton, and the project is considered a success until the android catches on fire when air is projected into its glass chamber, only to go out when the air is gone. Horton shows his creation to the public, which is met with demands from the terrified civilians to destroy it. Horton decides to bury the android. The android describes himself as "aware of everything, understanding nothing", when he reflects on his "father" (Horton), who saw the Torch for what he was, and the harshness of the public. The chamber cracks, allowing air into the chamber at which point he is once again engulfed in flames. The Human Torch escapes and describes his appearance as the beginning of a "golden age".

Meanwhile, young Phil Sheldon, an aspiring photographer, and young J. Jonah Jameson are shocked by these "Marvels". Sheldon is more confused than Jameson by the spectacle and, worried, he seeks the support of his fiancée, Doris Jacquet. More costumed avengers begin to appear, notably Namor the Sub-Mariner (Marvel Mystery Comics #4), and fights erupt between him and the Human Torch (Marvel Mystery Comics #9). Sheldon decides it would be irresponsible for him to raise children in a world where these Marvels run rampant, and breaks off his engagement with Doris. It is only when Captain America is unveiled to the world (Captain America #1) that Sheldon becomes less apprehensive about the Marvels. When World War II begins, Sheldon, Doris, and many others see the Marvels joining forces with the Allies on a news reel; they celebrate and all of their fears are put to rest. But after rekindling his romance with Doris, Sheldon hears that the Human Torch and Namor are fighting again (Human Torch #5), and the battle this time damages New York City's landmarks. During the fight, they come near but do not directly encounter Sheldon; he is knocked out by a small chunk of masonry and permanently blinded in his left eye. Still, he has lost all fears of the Marvels and goes on to marry Doris. Sheldon becomes a war correspondent in Europe, reporting on the Allied Forces and the Marvels as they go up against the Nazis.

In the mid 1960s, Sheldon is now a husband and father of two; Beth and Jennie, and is preparing to write a book called "Marvels". At this point, New York now has two superhero teams, the Fantastic Four and The Avengers. Sheldon is excited by recent news of the return of Captain America, a hero from his youth, but all is not well with the fear of the mutants growing among the public, especially around the mutant team known as The X-Men. He joins a mob and comes face to face with the X-Men. The X-Men leader, Cyclops, refuses to engage with the mob, saying "they're not worth it" toward an enraged Iceman as they escape. Not knowing what he meant, the words stay on Sheldon's mind. On the positive side, some Marvels are treated as celebrities, as seen by Sheldon at the gala opening of Alicia Masters' sculptures. Gossip spreads over the upcoming marriage between Reed Richards and Sue Storm. Sheldon runs home after hearing about an anti-mutant mob in the area and finds that his daughters are hiding their friend, a mutant girl with a skull-like head. Sheldon sees the importance of hiding this girl, but is worried for his family. Following the wedding of Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards) and the Invisible Girl (Sue Storm), Sentinels are unleashed during a television debate with Professor Xavier but instead malfunction and begin rampaging throughout the city. A mob forms, attacking and destroying everything in sight, with only Sheldon helping the injured. The newly repaired Sentinels stop the mob, but Sheldon returnns home to find that the mutant girl is gone. Though Sheldon does not know if she will be alright, he prays for her safety.

As the 1960s progress, Sheldon is preoccupied with his work, to the detriment of his family. The news is filled with stories of the Avengers being declared menaces, the law going after Tony Stark, Spider-Man sightings, and possible comings of Judgement Day. When the Silver Surfer appears to the world and defeats the Fantastic Four, this leads to the appearance of Galactus. With the city in panic, Sheldon believes in his heart that Earth will end, and he goes home to be with his family in the final moments. Suddenly, news comes that the Fantastic Four have managed to defeat Galactus, thus saving the Earth. In the wake of the Fantastic Four's victory, Sheldon promises that he will spend more time with his family. However, he is later disgusted by the way the public has again turned on the heroes, with one newspaper claiming that the Galactus threat was a hoax. Sheldon rages at a crowd carrying on an anti-mutant conversation.

In the 1970s, Sheldon releases his book Marvels, an instant bestseller. He is still dismayed at the public's reaction to the Marvels, and is disgusted by J. Jonah Jameson laying into Spider-Man, who has been framed for the death of NYPD Captain George Stacy. He resolves to investigate the murder and clear Spider-Man's name. While talking to a witness with Luke Cage, he learns that not only do the police believe Spider-Man is innocent, but that they suspect Doctor Octopus is the real killer. It is revealed that Spider-Man is being blamed because of Jameson, who reveals the true reason why people hate the Marvels: a mixture of jealousy and insecurity, the belief that humans cannot compete with the selfless heroism and nobility of the Marvels. It is also by befriending Gwen Stacy (Captain Stacy's daughter) that he learns from her, during a brief Atlantean invasion of Manhattan led by Namor, that the Marvels exist to help the innocent, beyond petty human jealousies and spite. This revelation leads to Spider-Man being cleared. Soon afterwards Gwen is kidnapped by the Green Goblin. A chase between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin leads to the Brooklyn Bridge and the fight leads to the death of Gwen, despite (or because) of Spider-Man's attempt to save her. The police forensic report reveals that Gwen died from the shock of the fall. Sheldon's faith in the Marvels is irreparably shattered, as Sheldon cannot reconcile Spider-Man's failure to save Gwen with what he sees as the hero's purpose in life. In the end, he decides that he has had enough, and he plans to retire. Before he can hang up his camera, a final photo is taken of Phil, his wife, and a "nice, normal boy". Unbeknownst to him, the boy is Danny Ketch, who will eventually become the demonic hero Ghost Rider.

Collected editions

In 1995, Marvels was compiled into a trade paperback that featured the Human Torch short story (2003 re-release ISBN 0-7851-0049-0). For the tenth anniversary in 2004 Marvel released a 400-page hardcover (ISBN 0-7851-1388-6). In 2008 the original was reprinted as a hardcover (ISBN 0-7851-2784-4) and softcover volume (by Panini Comics, ISBN 1-905239-97-1) and in 2012 as issue 15 of The Official Marvel Graphic Novel Collection as number 13.

Awards

• 1994:
  • Won "Best Finite Series" Eisner Award^[3]
  • Won "Best Painter" Eisner Award, for Alex Ross^[3]
  • Won "Best Publication Design" Eisner Award, for Comicraft^[3]
  • Nominated for "Best Cover Artist" Eisner Award, for Alex Ross^[3]
  • Nominated for "Best Single Issue", for Marvels #2 "Monsters"^[3]

Sequels

Marvel later published similar limited series under the "Marvels" header, with other writers and painters, though none of these titles were as successful as the original.

In 1995, Marvel released the darker Ruins by writer Warren Ellis and painters Cliff and Terese Nielsen, was a two-issue parallel world series in which Sheldon explored a Marvel Universe that had gone terribly wrong.

In 2008, the long promised direct sequel, Marvels: Eye of the Camera, a 6-part limited series, began. It returns to Sheldon's perspective, after his retirement. Alex Ross did not return for this sequel, however Kurt Busiek returned as writer with Roger Stern as co-writer for issues 3–6, with artwork by Jay Anacleto.

Other versions

Kingdom Come

Ross also did the artwork for the DC Comics mini-series Kingdom Come. Phil Sheldon makes a cameo at the superhero press conference held at the UN building in Kingdom Come #2. He also makes an appearance in the last page of the epilogue in the Kingdom Come trade paperback. He is seated next to the Spectre in his civilian guise of Jim Corrigan and Norman McCay.

Spider-Man: Blue

Phil Sheldon is mentioned in Peter's first scene in the Daily Bugle in Spider-Man: Blue. J. Jonah Jameson requests Sheldon to cover the photo op of Harry Osborn in the hospital. He is reminded that "Phil is covering the Tony Stark trial".

In other media

Television

• Phil Sheldon makes a cameo appearance on The Super Hero Squad Show episode "This Al Dente Earth!" voiced by Charlie Adler. He takes a picture of Iron Man, Silver Surfer, and Galactus after Silver Surfer convinces Galactus not to devour the Earth.

References

External links

• 'Marvels' at the Comic Book DB