That's right, the myth was a cover story
Uber-writer Ed Brubaker and artist Steve Epting’s work on Marvel Comics’ underrated 8-issue limited series THE MARVELS PROJECT is absolutely amazing. I finally got my hands on all 8 issues from a friend, and have to say that Ed Brubaker once again proved why he is an A-List modern writer. Brubaker’s style in THE MARVELS PROJECT reminded me of James Robinson’s THE GOLDEN AGE, mixed in with some Kurt Busiek’s MARVELS. Steve Epting’s artistic style reminds me of a bold and versatile Tom Mandrake.
THE MARVELS PROJECT is in continuity, and it’s Brubaker’s goal to incorporate Marvel’s (Atlas/Timely) Golden Age along with the mainstream history we all know. Brubaker accomplishes what few writers have ever been able to do: instead of just retelling iconic moments in Marvel’s old history, like the birth of the Original Human Torch, Sub-Mariner’s first appearance, the origin of Captain America and Bucky, and the formation of the Invaders, Brubaker keeps the story personal, emotional, serious, and with some minor non-offensive retcons, writes the definitive history of Marvel’s Golden Age.
Ever wonder how Sub-Mariner turned good? Or why the heroes couldn’t stop Pearl Harbor? Or who really came first- the Red Skull or Captain America? How about Steve Rogers as a skinny kid in New York? How is Nick Fury involved in all of this? Union Jack? FDR? Hitler?
Told from the perspective of a Golden Age costumed crime fighter called The Angel, all of this is tied up in a smooth narrative that puts most of the comic books of today to shame. When you read THE MARVELS PROJECT, you have to appreciate how great Brubaker is, and how when everything is said and done, he will be ranked along with the best writers of all time.
Each issue in THE MARVELS PROJECT runs seamlessly from 1938 to 1942, and uncovers the inside information about the Super Solider Program, which was an arms race between the Axis Powers and Allies. Pre-war USA is captured perfectly by Brubaker and Epting, and the story mixes such themes as war, politics, spying, fear, and change.
Whereas such excellent homage writers as Roy Thomas and Kurk Busiek sometimes pay too much respect to previous continuity and someone like John Byrne is totally unencumbered by previous continuity, Brubaker wraps Marvel’s early years like how Jim Krueger did it in Earth-X, but much less obvious. In fact, THE MARVELS PROJECT just flows so easily that you don’t realize the purpose of it is to retell/reinterpret the Golden Age.
If there is one flaw, it’s the fact that the reader must know that the Two-Gun Kid was a time-traveler in Avengers comic books. I also had to re-read the last page three times, and go back to the first few pages of issue one to “get it”, but it was a rewarding experience.
Also, I guess a criticism from the super-geeks is I’m sure there were other Golden Age Timely/Atlas androids and government funded projects from terra-obscura that Brubaker did not include. Yet, if he did, the story would be totally diluted. Brubaker = quality, and there was no reason to make this 8-issue dramatic series an obscure continuity-geek circle jerk.
With the popularity of public domain Golden Age super-heroes these past few years, I’m glad Brubaker used pre-Marvel copyrighted characters and incorporated them in the mainstream Marvel Universe. However, all of that is just a footnote: THE MARVELS PROJECT is one great series. Since it’s new and I only read it once, I can’t rank it with the best yet just out of fairness, but I have a feeling in a few years, I will be.
THE MARVELS PROJECT should have gotten all the hype THE SIEGE had received. THE MARVELS PROJECT deserves all the previews, reviews, and thousands of message board comments and debates. It’s marketing decisions such as this that make me frustrated with Joe Quesada and the bigwigs at Marvel that like to push “event” crap, and it gets me angry at the fanboys who buy the “event” crap, while THE MARVELS PROJECT was the best Marvel story of the year. However, it also gives me hope that there are writers like Brubaker that are still in their prime and able to deliver.
If you want a great story about the early origins of the Marvel Universe (and a tidal wave created by Namor that floods New York!), read THE MARVELS PROJECT.
’nuff said, true believers!
Don: My other claim to fame is my definitive history of the Marvin Rotblatt Memorial Softball League, a Carleton institution back in the day. I wrote it as a senior there and I believe copies can still be found in the college library.
Shivy, now they only need to show more trailers. I’d love for Red Skull and Loki to team up in the Avengers, maybe even bringing down Thanos upon the Avengers.
few things =). try to rhyme more than 2 lines at a time. expectations, creations. ashes, mustaches. goes on through whole rap. Next =). heard many of these raps from other rap songs. example starting a fire in a snow storm. “When aqua man drowns and the human torch starts swimming” – Eminem.
I know about my corny metaphors. “Excuse my corny metaphors” – Eminem.
Lyrics are good… but keep the rhymes going instead of switching every line =)
Best Digital Comic
• Abominable Charles Christopher, by Karl Kerschl, http://www.abominable.cc
• Bayou, by Jeremy Love, http://www.gunsofshadowvalley.com
• Power Out, by Nathan Schreiber, http://www.act-i-vate.com/67.comic
• Sin Titulo, by Cameron Stewart, http://www.sintitulocomic.com/
I got this feeling that there’s gonna be a Avengers Crisis….Gottna need someone to stop them before they screw up the tales of Avenger…..(=.=)
ur girlfriends funeral would make more sense
Johnny Depp reveals his favorite comic book character… (any guesses?)
recovering from the best day ever yesterday. my brain feels like it exploded in my skull and i'm fiending for a red icee.
Wow! he has good evidence and she sucked up the money and then turned ugly on him!! What a WITCH!! She should have given back the money!! Instead she makes someone else the FALL guy!! Politics!!
Amazon.com: Mafia: Definitive History of Mob in America [VHS]: Mafia-History of the Mob in Am: Video –