Customer Reviews

Origins of Marvel Comics

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Origins of Marvel Comics" presents the origins and history of its most famous creations with introductions from Stan (the Man) Lee that are interesting if not insightful. I am certain that to some degree Lee is mythologizing these actions of comic creation, but I really have no idea where to draw the line on how much credit he gets in all this and am not ashamed that my copy of this book is autographed. The main thing about this volume is that at a time where reprints were few and far between, "Origins of Marvel Comics" gives you the first appearance of classic super heroes along with what in 1974 were more recent stories as well. For "The Fantastic Four" we get issue #1 where they take on the Moleman and #55 "Where Strikes the Silver Surfer," both of which are drawn by Jack Kirby. "The Incredible Hulk" offers more Kirby art with issue #1 (with the Hulk still grey on the cover) and #118 where he fights the Sub-Mariner drawn by Herb Trimpe. "Amazing Fantasy" #15 provides the first story with Steve Ditko's Spider-Man while #72 of "The Amazing Spider-Man" features "Rocked by...The Shocker!" drawn by John Romita. Kirby again draws both stories when "Journey Into Mystery" #83 introduces "The Mighty Thor" while issue #143 has Thor, Balder and Sif taking on the Evil Enchanters. Finally, there are a trio of stories with Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts, drawn by Ditko and Marie Severin. Of course the origin issues are of more interest than the others and do not really add anything significant. There are other volumes in this "series," providing more of the same.

I originally owned this book when I was 11 years old, and actually bought it by mistake, thinking it was the sequel - SON OF ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS - which my cousins owned and which I had read years before. I even remember the trip we took to the local comics shop, specifically so I could get this volume. Far from being dissappointed, I was entrhalled at the chance to become acquainted with the background of characters I already knew and adored.

Stan Lee's imagination was the Big Bang from which the Marvel Universe sprung. While other more detailed and thoughtful volumes have since been published which detail the evolutions of The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spider-Man (that's "Spider-HYPHEN-Man"!!!) and company, there's something to be said for reading the history as described by the man who was there. Yes, the descriptions are relatively brief and full of hyperbole and superlatives -- but honestly, what else would one expect from Lee?

I realize now that the text pieces reflect the style and humor of the author as much as the reprinted stories they are interspersed between. ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS demonstrates perfectly how Stan Lee's personality above all else shaped Marvel Comics for decades to come. Indeed, the authors who followed in Lee's footsteps on most of the titles represented directly copied his style (admittedly, this might have been an editorial mandate -- but I have yet to read many complaints about it), and even now the original stories retain much of the power and charm they had then.

What's also now interesting about ORIGINS is the stories originally included to give a more "contemporary" feeling for the characters. These stories, which were first published less than a decade after their respective origin tales, are now equally as dated and serve in hindsight to represent a broader overview of MARVEL at the height of its inventiveness. A time when every other story was a CLASSIC -- and the vast majority of them were written by the same person.

An immeasurable debt is certainly owed the artists who also brought Dr. Strange, Thor, et al. to life (and Lee pays tribute to them all in his adverb-filled manner), and even a casual read demonstrates the diversity brought to the Marvel Bullpen by Kirby, Ditko, Romita Sr. (who illustrated the original printing's cover), Trimpe, and others. But the flip side of diversity is cohesion, and that magical element was supplied in abundance by the Editor Emeritus.

ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS is as much about Stan Lee as it is about his creations. It's a fun book, as well it should be. And it's the tip of the iceberg...so don't stop here. Go pick up SON OF ORIGINS and BRING ON THE BAD GUYS and THE SUPERHERO WOMEN OF MARVEL COMICS and the ESSENTIALS collections.

But start somewhere...start HERE. 'Nuff said!

ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS is a trade collection that's almost four decades old, having first come out way, way back in 1974, right around the time the wheel was invented. If you didn't know - and how come you don't? - Marvel Comics, back in the early '60s, introduced a hipper, grittier form of comic book storytelling, mostly by portraying its protagonists as these flawed (and, therefore, more interesting) characters. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (maybe comic books' most dynamic artist ever) did most of the heavy lifting. But let's also not forget Steve Ditko.

Honestly, this trade is worth it alone for Stan Lee's ever loquacious introductions as he waxes on and on about the inspirations behind this first wave of modern Marvel superheroes. Maybe my favorite bit is Stan's musings about his creative process regarding Dr. Strange. He comments on how this Sorcerer Supreme absolutely required that extra oomph. Regarding the theatrics of Strange casting a spell - like, maybe he needs to transport a villain to another dimension - Stan writes: "You can have him mutter, 'Split to another dimension, man,' but that may leave a little to be desired in the department of melodrama." Instead, Stan came up with awesome phrases such as "By the all-seeing eye of Agamotto!" and "In the name of the eternal Vishanti" and "By the hoary hosts of Hoggoth!" I actually use that last one as my very own personal expletive, never mind the weird looks I get.

ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS reacquaints us with the origins of the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor, and Dr. Strange. As a bonus, there is also a later issue included per title of which intent is to demonstrate how the characters have evolved.

Stan Lee makes no bones of the Justice League of America being the inspiration for the Fantastic Four. Except that Stan took the old and dusty superhero team dynamics and upended that by presenting his group as this quartet that spends as much time bickering with each other as fighting crime. The Thing, surly and bitter and self-loathing, was easily the breakout character of the bunch. Stan Lee's writing in the FF, with its more grounded, more realistic approach, quickly turned heads and generated tons of fan mail. It became Marvel's cornerstone title and quickly lived up to its braggy billing as "The World's Greatest Comic Magazine!" Marvel took note of the Thing's popularity and repeatedly returned to the mold. More heroes with feet of clay, please. Anywho, FANTASTIC FOUR #1 chronicles how the FF came to be. FF #55 features a battle royale between the Thing and the Silver Surfer, whom the Thing believes to be making time with his girl Alicia Masters.

"Don't make me angry, Mr. McGee. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry." Before the TV show, the Hulk rampaged thru his own comic book which dates back to 1962. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde... pretty much distills the essence of the Hulk. But Frankenstein's monster was also pivotal in Stan's fleshing out of the ill-tempered green giant. How's this for a hook? An intelligent, sensitive scientist trapped in an unending cycle of horror, rendered helpless as his primal, brutish side emerges time and again to smash all puny things in sight (like humans). This wrenching dichotomy made the Hulk a big hit; the Hulk's childlike innocence made him appealing. THE INCREDIBLE HULK #1 details Dr. Banner's exposure to gamma rays and the cr@pfest that unfolds from it. Issue #118 (with art by Herb Trimpe) features the Hulk's underwater rumble with the Sub-Mariner. They probably could've picked a better issue to show the Hulk's development as a character.

Next is my favorite superduper of all time, and that's Spidey, brother! AMAZING FANTASY #15 was meant to be the final issue of the sci-fi/fantasy anthology series, and so for shucks and giggles Stan experimented with a little somethin' somethin' called the Amazing Spider-Man. Stan wished to pen a story in which the teenager isn't the sidekick but the actual lead hero. For extra pathos, he'd make this kid endure some serious teen angst, be the perennial lovable loser, someone who may beat up on super-villains now and then and yet his personal life would remain as messed up as yours and mine. So, of course, we can't help but relate to the poor sap. AMAZING FANTASY #15 chronicles the web-slinger's origin and gives us that immortal maxim: "With great power there must also come great responsibility." Steve Ditko's art perfectly captures the lonely awkwardness of Peter Parker and the macabre grace of his friendly neighborhood alter ego. In a less seminal moment, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #72 re-introduces the villainy of the Shocker. It also reinforces that old Parker bad luck. More importantly, it showcases the sleek artwork of John Romita, who draws the best ever version of Gwen Stacy.

Time to brush up now on your thees and thous and verilys. JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #83 features a crippled doctor holidaying in Norway. There, he sniffs out an alien invasion and stumbles onto a gnarled wooden stick which transforms him into Thor, the indomitable God of Thunder with the archaic diction. Next is THE MIGHTY THOR #143, which expands the canvas of Thor's universe and amps up the pageantry. It's neat, though, to see this story start off with Thor chillin' in a packed malt shop, sipping his soda, whilst schoolgirls moon over him in droves.

And, finally, Dr. Strange. To be honest, Dr. Strange, nowadays (or, really, ever), doesn't quite fall in the same league as the other famous cats in this collection. Still, no one can master the mystic arts quite like the aloof Dr. Stephen Strange, a once insufferably haughty surgeon humbled by fate and forced to assume a new calling. STRANGE TALES #110 has Dr. Strange's first appearance, #115 his origin story, and #155 his sorcerous duel with the unspeakable Umar, sister to the Dread Dormammu. Back in the '60s, Steve Ditko's artwork was so trippy that it probably served as ample substitute for them college students what ran out of their stash, if you know what I mean. Note, however, that issue #155 exhibits artwork by Marie Severin, whose illustraty stuff was never of the hallucinatory persuasion.

I found this book to be very interesting. I enjoy comic books. I don't know a lot about the history of them. I have never been that interested in knowing the history of who wrote them and what the background is. I just enjoy the fantasy of it. This book kept my interest. I did enjoy reading about where these characters came from and how they evolved. I also enjoyed seeing the comics at the beginning of the book and how they get better by the end. I would recommend this book.

At the time, this was a pretty revolutionary publication. In a small country town, and never having seen anything like this before it was great to stumble across it in the library.

An actual collected edition of a bunch of starting points of some famous Marvel characters, with an introduction by Stan the Man, to boot. Way ahead of its time.

"Origins of Marvel Comics" is one of those books you pick up and simply cannot put down! Great commentaries by the Excelsior himself, Stan Lee, the reader discovers what inspired the creations of such heroes as The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spiderman and The Fantastic Four, to name a few. Not just for Baby Boomers, "Origins of Marvel Comics" is recommended reading to anyone who loves comics books or to those whoever wondered where popular culture came from. Read on!

an absolute classic that any comix reader must read

I marvel at the origins of marvel comics. This man is such a liar!Does Stan Lee have no shame? If you really want to know how Marvel Comics came to be,read some background on one Mr.Jack Kirby.For Stan Lee to say that he would come up with an idea then pass it along to Jack Kirby is not only ludicrous but also peposterous.Stan Lee also fails to mention many artists who where also working at the Marvel bullpen at the time.Many artist who where working at Marvel at the time have gone on to state that Stan Lee never wrote a single story!! The way the artist of the day would go about writing a story would be by writing it along the borders and making it up as they went along.If this is true,then Jack Kirby created the entire line of characters for Marvel Comics.Many of the more important ones any ways.The Incredible Hulk,Captain America,The Fantastic Four,Thor,The X-Men,And The Avengers to name a few.And also not to mention the cover to Amazing Fantasy #15.When Stan Lee states very proudly that the idea for The Fantastic Four was all his ,it upsets me.If you are really a true comic book fan then you would know that the Fantastic Four are just recycled characters from Simon and Kirby's Challengers Of The Unknown.Which , I might add was published for D.C.Comics and not for Marvel.Jack Kirby was an artist and an idea man when he and Joe Simon collaborated together.These two men came up with many characters and many ideas together.At least Mr. Simon had the decency to admit it.But the same cannot be said for Stan Lee,he and he alone wants to take credit for the creation of Marvel Comics most memorable heroes.This book is filled with nothing but self glorification and staight out lies put to paper by Stan Lee.Excelsior my foot,how about expell yourself?Very little is said about Simon & Kirby's creation of Captain America for Marvel comics in the forty's. Stan Lee didn't even work for Marvel Comics at the time that Captain America made his comic book debut!! Origins of Marvel Comics also speaks very little about Steve Ditko,Don heck,and John Romita Sr. some of comicdoms most famous artists.This book fails to aknowledge the contributions they also made for Marvel Comics.But then again I guess that's the way Stan Lee wanted it when he wrote this book.I belieive this book did very much damadge to Jack Kirby's carreer.To this day he is not given the proper credit he so rightly deserves.The way Marvel Comics treated Jack Kirby can be compared to the exile of Moses from Egypt in wich his name must forever be stricken from it's books and never be spoken again! I wouldn't recommend purchasing this book but if you do,go right out and buy some material to compare notes and then make your decision about the Origins Of Marvel Comics . Pick up The art of Jack Kirby for refference because there was never really a "Marvel Age Of Comics,"there was only a "Jack Kirby Age Of Comics." If you wish to send me your comments or opinions send them to 3019 s. Poplar Ave. Chicago Illinois 60608.KIRBY POWER!! and STAY ROMITALIZED!!