Books: Marvel 1985

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Marvel 1985
Written by Mark Millar
Art by Tommy Lee Edwards
2009




Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

This feels like even-more of a Spielberg pastiche/homage than Super 8. But - hey - you know what? That's a good thing. Sleepy all American town? Check. Daddy Issues? Check. Teenage boy on the cusp of adulthood about to be thrust into a world where he's the only one who can save the day? Check. Check. And Check. And the added bonus: there's the whole of the Marvel Universe thrown into the mix as well. What's the Stan Lee catchphrase? (clue: it apparently means "Upward and onward to greater glory"!).

For once a story from Mark Millar that doesn't have horrific violent bits (electric shocks to the genitals or whatever) but actually maintains it's innocent (relatively speaking). That doesn't mean that it doesn't have scary bits - and it's pretty cool how much scary mileage he manages to get out of the B-list villains.

The artwork - by Tommy Lee Edwards - is very very nice - hitting that tasty little place between making things realistic - but also stylised (plus: he draws a mean Hulk - pun intended). If you know all your Marvel characters good guys and bad - then there's loads of treats and little jokes to enjoy. For any novices out there - there's probably some stuff that you're gonna miss out on if you don't know your stuff: so it might be wise to brush up a little beforehand if only to sort out your Doctor Reeds from your Doctor Dooms. But - all in all - this is a sweet treat for kids of all ages - with a story that trades on those that came before - but still manages to feel brand new.

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Links: Comic Book Resources Article, Popmatters Review, Read/RANT Review.

Further reading: Marvel 1602, Marvel Zombies, Chosen, Wolverine: Old Man Logan, Turf. 

Profiles: Mark Millar.

All comments welcome.