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Marvels #1

Jan 1994
Kurt Busiek, Alex Ross

Marvels #1 cover

Story Name:

Marvels Book One: A Time of Marvels


Synopsis

Marvels #1 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 5 stars

New York City, 1939: photographer Phil Sheldon and his pals (including a young J. Jonah Jameson) are eager to cover the war in Europe; Phil attends a demonstrate where Professor Philip Horton shows off a synthetic man that bursts into flames. The Human Torch then escapes, terrifying the city. Soon after, the Sub-Mariner comes ashore to threaten the populace. With these superhuman marvels, Phil is reluctant to marry his girlfriend Doris because of the uncertainty of the times. But he is also drawn to them, turning down an assignment in Europe so he can continue to observe them. Then the Human Torch battles the Sub-Mariner and the city is again transfixed. Soon, Police Officer Betty Dean, a defender of Prince Namor, brokers a truce between Namor and Torch but nothing really changes. Because of his uncertainly, Doris breaks up with Phil….

Then Captain America appears on the scene and is hailed as a hero, another marvel but a non-threatening one. Shortly thereafter, Human Torch and Sub-Mariner are seen to battle the Axis powers and they too are called heroes. Phil and Doris reconcile but soon word comes that Namor is leading a force against the USA and people are thrown into confusion and panic. From the roof of a tall building Phil sees and photographs the massive wave crashing into New York as well as the midair fight between Namor and the Torch. A chunk of masonry hits him in the face and he ends up losing an eye. When he recovers he marries Doris and ships out to Europe as a war correspondent, and as he witnesses a team of heroes parachuting into enemy territory, he concludes that the Marvels are here to stay….


 

Review / Commentaries


Marvels #1 Review by (September 28, 2020)

Review: Don’t know what to say about this comics event that others haven’t said before and better than I could. Phil’s character arc matches and also critiques the reactions of the other normal people on encountering the Marvels: Surprise, fear, admiration, uncertainty, enthusiasm, acceptance. Soon Phil will be questioning the people’s reactions as these Marvels become more common but for now he’s on the same page with them.

Comments: Story set during the Golden Age of comics i.e. the early 1940s. Far too many references to list here; please consult MARVELS ANNOTATED.



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Alex Ross
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Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Captain America
Captain America

(Steven Rogers)
Human Torch
Human Torch

(Jim Hammond)
J. Jonah Jameson
J. Jonah Jameson

(JJ Jameson)
Sub-Mariner
Sub-Mariner

(Namor McKenzie)

Plus: Betty Dean.

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