75 Years of Marvel Comics: From the Golden Age to the Silver Screen - Hardcover

Thomas, Roy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3836548453 ISBN 13: 9783836548458

Publisher: Taschen America Llc, 2014

Synopsis

A mighty history
Building the House of Ideas
From the very first issue of pulp impresario Martin Goodman s Marvel Comics in 1939, the comic book creators of Marvel s Golden Age flipped the traditional fantasy script by placing the inhuman and the invincible into the real world. With the likes of the fiery android Human Torch, vengeful sea prince Sub-Mariner, and pip-squeak-turned-paragon Captain America, Marvel created a mythological universe grounded in a world that readers recognize as close to their own, brimming with humor and heartache.
In the early 1960s, this audacious approach launched the creation of heroes who have since become household names Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, the Avengers, Thor, the X-Men the list goes on. Fans still celebrate it as the Marvel Age of comics, an era populated by a pantheon of bickering heroes, misunderstood monsters, and noble villains.
In celebration of Marvel s 75th anniversary, TASCHEN presents a magnum opus of the most influential comic book publisher today, with an inside look not only at its celebrated characters, but also at the "bullpen" of architects whose names are almost as familiar as the protagonists they brought to life Stan the Man Lee, Jack King Kirby, along with a roster of greats like Steve Ditko, John Romita, John Buscema, Marie Severin, and countless others. With essays by comics historian and former Marvel editor-in-chief Roy Thomas, this book delves into the heart of thousands of costumed characters who continue to fight the good fight in comics, movies, and toy aisles of the world.
The XL-format book includes:
More than 700 pages of near 2,000 images including vintage comic books, one-of-a-kind original art, behind-the-scenes photographs and film stills, as well as rare toys and collectibles
A four-foot accordion-fold timeline, suitable for framing!
Biographies of more than 300 artists, writers, editors, and famous fans who helped shape Marvel's history

About this title

Review

"...there is stacks upon stacks of rare comic covers, interiors and the odd original art. Seen at this massive scale, it's no exaggeration (sic) that your jaw drops... It took me nearly a month to read this book and was one of the best experiences I've had and relived a lot of old memories and learnt a lot more about the pre-60s. Just make sure no one uses this book as a doorstop." "The book is truly a thing of beauty. To paraphrase Richard Dreyfus in Jaws, `You're gonna need a bigger coffee table'...A collectors dream, only something like this could truly reflect the impact of Marvel Comics upon the zeitgeist. Stan Lee - the real Captain America, we salute you..." "There are already dozens of books that cover pretty much the same ground but there are a few factors that make this the only one you'll need to own. As you would expect from TASCHEN, the book is bloody enormous - `Hulk size'. Because of this, the photos and artwork reproduced in the original size, can be experienced and enjoyed like never before. The work on show is incredible: obscure advertising and in-house material, beautiful covers, rarely seen snaps of the creators. The book succeeds in capturing the impact that the original comics had, while showing us the peculiar and peculiarly talented men (they were almost exclusively male) who laboured in this strange, somewhat denigrated corner of the entertainment industry, making masterworks that continue to fuel the business today. If you're looking for a joyous celebration of the greatest (IMHO) comics company in the world, you won't find a better or more lavish read. As the fan club members used to holler in the 1960s, `Make mine Marvel!'" "TASCHEN' s 75 Years of Marvel is one fantastic book, jam packed with some of the greatest comics produced by Marvel. This enormous book is by far the greatest representation of the History of Marvel Comics!" "...what an amazing book this is! I consider this book the definitive chronicle of Marvel and a `must have' addition to the collection of any hard-core Marvel fan..." "...a fun and undeniably cultured addition to any man's coffee table."

About the Author

Since 1965, Roy Thomas has been writing for movies, television, and especially comic books. With notable runs on Avengers, X-Men, Conan the Barbarian, Incredible Hulk, and Star Wars; he served as a Marvel editor from 1965-80 and editor-in-chief from 1972-74. He currently edits Alter Ego and writes two online Tarzan strips as well as the occasional comic book. He and his wife Dann live in South Carolina. Art director and editor Josh Baker has been making books for TASCHEN since 2005. His one hundred-plus book collaborations include signed limited editions by Dennis Hopper, Bert Stern, and Ellen von Unwerth, and best-selling pop culture titles such as 75 Years of DC Comics and Norman Mailer's Moonfire. He lives in Oakland, California.

About this edition

• Publisher: Taschen America Llc
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 3836548453
• ISBN 13: 9783836548458
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 711
• Editor: Baker Josh