Marvels

Marvels
by
Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross

Book one of Marvels is narrated by Phil, a newspaper photographer in New York City. He's on the scene when the first of the super heroes appears - the Human Torch and the subsequent arrivals of the Submariner and Captain America.
Phil can make a living photographing these new "Marvels" as he thinks of them, but he would rather photograph the war in Europe (WWII). The war feels more real to him because he identifies with the soldiers on a personal level, whereas photographing, even thinking about the Marvels leaves him feeling emasculated, so much so that he calls of his engagement to Doris.
Book two is some time later, when more Marvels are on the scene as well as rise of the mutants.
Book three comes even later. I know big surprise.
Book four is in Phil's golden years and starts right after the death of George Stacy, supposedly at the hands of Spider-man.
This book has an interesting premise. I really liked it at the beginning, when there was more internal conflict in Phil. Once he makes up his mind about the Marvels, well, it's just not as interesting because he doesn't really do anything about it which makes him kind of boring and just a barrier between the reader and the real story.
I know that this book was a big deal. But, if you just go by the story, that can't be it. It must be the artwork that adds that extra something that makes this worth reading. And the artwork is very extraordinary, not much like the typical comic book at all, but more like a book of paintings. It really is good enough that I recommend reading this book for the art more than makes up for the times when the sotry is lacking.