Customer Reviews

The Marvel Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles from the World of Marvel

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book and it provides a nice overview of Marvel Comics from its pulp magazine roots to its current incarnation as a multimedia giant.

The reader is given glimpses of the inside of Marvel, however the main gimmick of this collection is the reproductions of various Marvel items; and this is where the disappointment lies. Some of the items like the buttons are just paper reproductions (not actual badges); the reprint of the Marvel No Prize Book is dark in color; and the reproduction of a Marvel Convention Program is so small as to be unreadable. In all cases full size reproductions could have been slid into the plastic binder pockets.

Some of the ommissions are glaring. Marvel Value Stamps are reproduced and it is stated that a prize was given for a full set of stamps; but what was the prize?

The binding is spiral so turn the pages slowly and you will have to settle in your mind if you want to throw out the cardboard backed inside the box or retain it for mint value.

While the Marvel Vault makes a nice gift book; a more complete and fun to read history (including key story reprints) is Marvel- Five Decades of the World's Greatest Comics by noted comic historian Les Daniels.

Over the past couple of years there have been some fantastic books that have been published about Marvel Comics. Last year, Sterling Publishing released "The Amazing Marvel Universe" which featured Stan Lee's 50 greatest moments in Marvel history. The book came with an audio box programmed with 68 tracks of commentary from Stan Lee himself. This year, Running Press has released another outstanding collector's book, "The Marvel Vault: A Museum-in-A-Book" and the title says it all.

This book traces Marvel's history from the Golden Age right up through the present and is loaded with reproduction memorabilia culled from Marvel's nearly 70-year history. It is written by Roy Thomas, writer and former Marvel Editor-in-Chief (and one of the foremost comic book scholars around) along with comic book critic and historian, Peter Sanderson.

Marvel's lineage is traced back even prior to the formation of Timely comics to publisher Martin Goodman who began publishing pulp magazines in 1932. With the pulp market dwindling in the late 1930's, Goodman jumped into the new market of comic books with the publication of Marvel Comics #1 in 1939, and the rest, as they say, is history. I mentioned all of the little treasures to be found within...the reproduction pieces all come in clear plastic sleeves for protection. The first such piece is a set of 8 sketches by artist Bill Everett featuring his creation, the Sub-Mariner. These sketches are breakdowns for covers or splash pages, one of which shows the Human Torch and Toro lobbing fireballs at Hitler.

Naturally the book covers Marvel's major Golden Age heroes but it also spotlights those who failed rather miserably such as Red Raven and the original Vision. Rare panel art and covers, many of them being seen for the first time since their publication decades ago, is a highlight of the book. Often times, when people think about Marvel's history they jump right from the Golden Age to the early 1960's, completely overlooking the decade of the 1950's. Marvel did not totally abandon the super hero comic as many might think, evidenced by the debut of Marvel Boy, later known as Quasar. Marvel's books of the 50's were highlighted by an array of horror, sci-fi, war, and westerns with nearly forgotten titles like Mystic, Menace, Navy Combat, and Yellow Claw. I loved the chapter on the 1950's because I knew so little about Marvel's books of that period.

It was the 60's where Marvel exploded with Fantastic Four #1 in 1961. Another of the treasures is Stan Lee's two-page, typed treatment for Fantastic Four #1. From there we meet The Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor, Dr. Strange, Iron Man, and the Avengers. There are vintage photographs of the Marvel Bullpen and rare convention photos such as Marvel's long-time secretary Flo Steinberg attending a 1960's comic convention, and Roy Thomas playing softball in Central Park in the 70's. I've always felt that the reason that Marvel eventually surpassed DC as the top publisher was the way they listened to, and embraced their fan base with clubs, and no-prizes, and letter column comments. With this book you can own your own ID card and certificate to the Merry Marvel Marching Society, Marvel's original fan club. Classic comic ads are reprinted for things such as Marvel T-shirts, which could be had for the princely sum of a buck and a half...with .15 cents for postage and handling!

Some of the other reproduction pieces include a Howard the Duck campaign sticker, a set of 10 of the Marvel Value stamps from the mid-70's which NO ONE ever cut out, a visitor pass to the Marvel offices, and a copy of Roy Thomas' stock certificate from 1993 for twenty shares when the company went public.

For an old Marvel fan like myself, this is the kind of book that made you feel like a kid again when comics were just plain fun. With Christmas fast approaching, this will make a great gift. At $50 it is well worth the price.

REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

The Marvel Vault is billed as a "museum in-a-box", and that's pretty much what it is. It's illustrated not only with covers and interior art from pricey comics and photos of their creators, but also with reproductions of ephemera such as character and cover sketches and unedited artwork. Also, several clear vinyl sleeves hold reproductions of Marvel ephemera such as the Marvel Value Stamps and the program book from the 1973 Marvel Comic Art Convention.

There are better choices if you're looking for a history of Marvel Comics (Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics by Les Daniels is probably the best known, but also worth reading are Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and the American Comic Book Revolution by Ronin Ro and Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book by Gerard Jones, though the last doesn't focus exclusively on Marvel) but the real attraction here is the rare art, preproduction sketches and other stuff out of the reach of the average comics fan. It's fun to see ephemera from the original Marvel fan club and hand-drawn greeting cards autographed by the entire Marvel staff. The presence of the ephemera overshadows the superficial and error-riddled text.

When I first say The Marvel Vault, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. However, now that I received it (as a much appreciated gift) I have to say that it is really quite nice. What we have here, essentially, is (as the cover states) a museum in a book - covering the life of Marvel from its inception and origins in the pulp magazine trade to today's incarnations, without glossing over any of the difficult times. That would be nice and all well and good by itself, but what sets this book apart is the fact that this museum in a book comes with exhibits - everything from the sublime (reproductions of original sketches of the Sub-Mariner, printed on paper that looks aged) to the absurd (a reproduction of the menu from the short-lived Marvel restaurant in Hollywood - some of the dishes are a hoot). There are many, many other artifacts besides, and all are a lot of fun. These are all packaged in clear vinyl holders within the book and easy to get at and put away. I think this is a great concept - let's hope DC does one, too! Only one caveat do I have - this is probably a gift best appreciated by older comics fans. Many of the artifacts date from the 1970s-1980s, so younger collectors may not have the same reverence or nostalgia for the artifacts that older ones might. Overall, though, a very nice book with a wonderful concept.

The Marvel Vault is a Beautiful Elegant Book, Tons of Cool stuff,images and Illustrations, I give it as a Gift, I need to get my own copy now! A Must for a Marvel Collector.A++++

it's not a bad intro to the marvel world, but if you have read any of the so called marvel encyclopedia or just a well informed graphic novel fan, then you really don't need this book. the content is decent, but nothing too revealing or in depth. at less than 200 pages with lots of graphics, what can you really expect?

as for the reproduction goodies that were supposed to be the main selling point of this collection. there were some, but i was expecting more. actually, i was hoping for a reproduction of spider-man number one, but i guess that might be asking too much. still, i just don't look at those reproductions with tears of joy.

i have no doubt this book was put together by hand, but it doesn't mean that much to me, when it was not exactly built to last. it's like a loose leaf notebook, except you cannot turn the pages without caution like you do with a book, unless you don't mind the pages falling like autumn leafs. every single time i want to close the book, i had to re-adjust the page positions to make sure that i don't accidentally bend or torn any of the pages.

other than my complaints above, it's not a bad afternoon reading. just make sure that patience is one of your virtue, if you expect to keep this book in good shape. now, i need to figure out if i should led the book stand up straight and lay flat on my bookshelf.

I am so surprised at the last two reviews. This is not a book and should never be reviewed as one. The authors of this collectible outdid themselves by creating an historical look into the world of Marvel comics and characters.

By having THE MARVEL VAULT in your collection not only adds to the enjoyment of learning about the entire Marvel community but also has one of the most creative touches the publisher has given the public to date. What ever age you are, Marvel's Vault is sure to be a pleaser. It's fun, informative and gives the reader more than one could imagine. Kids of all ages will love this masterpiece. Don't take my word for it. Open a copy at your favorite bookstore and explore the vault for yourself. iT It is like going into a cave and finding all sorts of different bits of creativity. Congratulations to every person that decides to purchase this bit of history! Plain and simple...It is just fun! If you are or know someone that loves Marvel Characters and also has a playful side to explore different types of reading materials...DO NOT PASS MARVEL'S VAULT UP. The price also makes this a great gift for comic book fans and historians.

Thit book has a lot of long lost memories for older comic readers but it seems to focus too much on marvel "cash cows" spiderman and wolverine same story different cover.

I've been a comicbook fan since the 70's and I am a sucker for anything dealing with Jack Kirby and the Silver Age of comics. I developed a love of that era after reading reprints and collecting back issues. There is also a certain fascination I have about the behind the scenes aspects of the industry as well. Although I have some qualms with the manner in which this book whitewashes what happened to Jack Kirby, I still love it. It is a treasure trove of geek-out moments. People complaining that the badges aren't actual badges should have their head examined.

a good product, good information and an excelent collection item, more focused in the company events that the marvel universe...