Marvels by Kurt BusiekMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I read about this series in 1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die: The Ultimate Guide to Comic Books, Graphic Novels, and Manga and was glad when I eventually found it.
We follow the story of Phil Sheldon, a keen news photographer with an eye on the 'Marvels' - the superpowered heroes who emerge in America during the second World War. We watch the young, impressionable shutterbug capture the magic of the superbeings, and witness the ever see-sawing ideal of these people through the eyes of the little guy.
Depending on the circumstances, the Avengers, Iron Man, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man and everyone else are either the heroes saving the city, or vigilantes wreaking havoc and destruction with every battle. This fickle outlook begins to take its toll on Phil, who, as a photographer, has limited capacity to alter the media's viewpoint.
While we have now got used to the reporters at the mercy of Civil War between Captain America and Iron Man, this story is certainly a novelty - and must have been extra special when it was published in 1994.
The four issues recount several known instances from the comics of yore, and this brand new angle gives them a whole new feel.
The art is stunning, giving the entire Marvel universe an unearthly feel. While it made for atmospheric panels, I don't feel it always worked with people. Most of the people looked either shocked or scared, or as if they belonged in a Caravaggio painting, but somehow lost their way. It made for a distracting read.
Given that this is 1994, we don't see much in the way of diversity, something that's hard to get past when you're reading it in 2017. But, even in '94, we could have done with many more women in the story, and not just as nubile, young, innocent teenagers looking amazed at their surroundings (read: the Gwen Stacy and Atlantean ships bit, I wanted to gouge my eyes out at her MPDG-ness).
The main problem with this series was its protagonist. I didn't like Phil all that much. He's a great photographer and probably thinks he has a good heart, but his focus on his job and his work means he never has time for his family. He's a news photographer in New York - it's not like he's saving the world. He's never at home, and even when he is, his mind is elsewhere. Because this book in from the '90s and not written by a woman, we never investigate what life for Phil's wife, Doris, is like.
As it is he dumped her for no reason in the first issue. You'd think after winning her back he'd give this relationship a chance. He doesn't. Doris isn't allowed a personality. I think every issue had at least one instance of Phil saying 'she doesn't understand' whenever she asked him to be involved with the family and participate in the life he had with her. It was frustrating to read.
At every given moment, whenever an incident occurs while he's with his family, he runs off with his camera - yet, he preaches to Doris that he feels impotent and unable to protect his family because of the superbeings. I think if he stuck to being with his family during crises, he may be able to protect them a lot better.
There's a moment in one of the issues, when he's out at the zoo with his family - and not paying them any attention, of course - when they get trapped by rising waters. What's his plan? Leave his wife with his two terrified, young daughters, and go and take pictures. I mean, come on! What was the author thinking? How disconnected from this family is Phil, that he can't feel fear or worry for his own children? How can he not want to support his wife in protecting their kids? What's worse is that once they're all safe, he bemoans the lost photo opportunities of the day because he was with his family. Even unlikable protagonists need to have limits.
Many of the pivotal moments of the book felt rushed. Phil's decision to be a bigger part of his family is sudden as is the retirement decision. Panels upon panels rake over the same thoughts, but big decisions are made on the spot. That's not good writing.
Finally, the X-Men, my favourite Marvel characters, are painted as evil and frightening, and despite Phil's brief change of heart regarding a rescued child mutant, he never tries to champion the X-Men after that. They're not even mentioned. I found that really disappointing, because, if there's one thing we know for sure, it's that Marvel has always treated the X-Men poorly, so you'd think a protagonist so biased towards Marvels, would give them a shot. He doesn't. {SPOILER: I did love that, when Phil is on duty at Alicia's exhibition, he overhears people belittling mutants, and the artist sneaked in an uncredited appearance by Charles Xavier, Scott Summers and Jean Grey in the background, looking disgusted by the patrons' sentiments. Nice work. END SPOILER}
The entire series is an allegory of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The story begins with a proverbial monster created and shunned by society, and society's continued fear and awe of the monsters and Marvels that come after. In times of peace, humanity is happy to have the Marvels keep them safe. But those who don't fit the bill of Captain America, Thor and the like, are accused of heinous crimes and vilified for doing the right thing.
It's an amazing series that deserves a read. I wish we'd had a compassionate and likeable protagonist, but the view from the ground up has never been more visually appealing. We could do with a reboot/re-tread of a series like this every so often.
View all my reviews
Comments