The Marvel Vault, another way of celebrate Marvel Comics 70Th Anniversary.

Back in February I posted a Blog about Marvel Chronicle. It being a year by year history of Marvel Comics which this year they are celebrating their 70Th Anniversary.

But last year to get the celebration rolling Marvel put out The Marvel Vault: A Museum-In-A-Book with rare collectibles from the world of Marvel by Roy Thomas and Peter Sanderson.

Unlike Chronicle, Marvel Vault covers the history of Marvel Comics decade by decade with one important distinction. Marvel Vault carries with it rare replica collectibles from the 70 year history of the company.

This includes sketches of the Human Torch and Sub Mariner(1941-42), postcards, a farewell party poster, Fantastic Four #1 synopsis(1961) Christmas cards, Merry Marvel Marching Society Welcome Kit(fan club), Convention Programs, trading cards, stamps and more.

This is the perfect companion to the Marvel Chronicle. If your a fan of Marvel Comics or just comics in general then you will love this book.

It is filled with not only collectibles but full with tons of color photos of characters and the comics(some of which are very rare and hard to find) that made Marvel Famous. Also with in you will find photos of the artist and writers that created this universe full of characters that have survived to become not only embedded into pop culture but many of which have become culture icons.

Marvel has done every kind of story in their 70 year history, western, romance, funny ones, war, horror, science fiction, crime, superheroes and more. And Marvel Vault gives a great view of that history.

And you couldn't ask for any better guides than Roy Thomas and Peter Sanderson.

Roy Thomas has been writer and editor on such titles as The Amazing Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, The Avengers, X-Men, Conan The Barbarian and so much more. Roy also would be the first person to replace Stan Lee as Editor-in-Chief from 1972-74. He also known for his work at DC Comics working on such titles as Justice Society of America, All Star Squadron and more. He has such a rich knowledge of Marvel history not only because he was such a huge part of it but because of his love if the characters, the comics and those who created them.

As for Peter Sanderson he is a well known comic book critic and historian. He has for both Marvel and DC helped to catalog various characters, places and events that compromise their respective continuities. Peter also is an instructor and lecturer on comics and graphic novels in the New York area.

Between the first and last page this book is full of treasures(I love the Howard the Duck campaign button) for any fan of Marvel Comics. It gives a wonderful behind the scene look at the characters and their creators that gives all new insight to how these characters were created and to why even after 70 years most of them are still being read today. Though Marvel Chronicle year by year history does go into more detail than Marvel Vault, Vault is still a fascinating read and though they both cover roughly the same ground, Vault gives a different view than Chronicle's. But both are a worthy addition to any comic fans bookshelf.

Marvel Chronicles celebrate 70 years of Marvel Comics year by year.

As I mentioned in my first Blog I will be reviewing not just books but either books related to comics or comics themselves.

So for my first review of all things comic related it seems right to review Marvel Chronicles: A Year by Year History by Tom Brevoort, Tom DeFalco, Matthew Manning, Dorling Kindersley Publishing Staff, Joe Quesada (Afterword).

Originally known as Timely Comics(1939-1950) then Atlas Comics(1951-1961) and of course finally Marvel Comics(1962 to Present) Chronicles tells the story of how Publisher Martin Goodwin saw the how popular comics, in particular superheroes, were becoming especially with the with the introduction of Superman in Action Comics #1 in 1938 by Detective Comics(who later be known simply as DC Comics).

Already known as a publisher of pulp magazines(pulp magazines were so named for the cheap paper they were printed on. The were pulps were monthly magazine that would serialize stories in several parts. Many of famous characters got there beginnings in the pulps such as The Shadow, Tarzan, Zorro and many more) Goodwin knew when he saw a good thing. So he started to publish his own superheroes stories. It was in 1939 that we saw Timely's introduce it's first two characters, The Human Torch and Namor the Sub-Mariner(who was both hero and villain. He would often attack the surface world and during WWII would then defend it) and in 1940 the introduction of Captain America.

From there Marvel would produce comics of all kinds comics including westerns(there would be three versions of the Two-Gun Kid), romance, science fiction, horror and humor(do to Disney and Warner Brother funny animals were popular). If Goodman saw something catch at another publishers or in the movies and later TV it wouldn't be long before he would publish something similar.

Of course it wasn't until Stan Lee and Jack Kirby changed the comic industry in 1961 with the introduction of the Fantastic Four that Marvel Comics really became at the time to the forefront of the industry. With the FF Lee and Kirby changed the landscape of superhero comics forever by introducing heroes that were flawed. Up till then heroes were good looking, had a secret identity, never fought among themselves, always saved the day, were loved and trusted by the public and authorities and never had problems. But here were heroes that fought among themselves, had problems(not just money problems but with girlfriends and wives, how the public perceived them and more). Though there most famous of these flawed heroes was to come in 1962 with the introduction of The Amazing Spider-Man.

Chronicles does a year by year highlights major events in the 70 year history of the company(1939-2008). Along with showcasing art work from comics of the period. Some of which hasn't been seen in years. Along with each years events within the company there is a highlight of actual historical events of each year(for example did you know that in 1978 Charlie Chaplin's coffin containing his remains were stolen and was held for ransom only to found 11 weeks later in a field not far from his family home in Switzerland).

This 352 page book is a must for any fan of comics especially of Marvel Comics. Now I consider myself quite the knowledgeable person concerning the history of comics and in particular Marvel Comics but there facts upon fact in Chronicles that I did not know. For Example that before Marvel made it big with the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, The Hulk and others it lost it's distributor and for a few years DC Comics actual distributed their comics. It facts like these that fill this book that any comic fan will enjoy.

DK Publisher has out done themselves with the design of the book. The book's cover it self is "M" shaped with a black and white version of the color cover. The book nestles in a beautiful box that either would look great on a coffee table or on a book shelf. There is a red ribbon which lies under the book to use for easy removal. Also inside the box are two small lithos of the cover penciled and inked by Jim Cheung and colored by Jason Ponsor. One litho is in color and the other just the penciled and ink one. Both signed by artists.

This is has to be one of my favorite books about the history of Marvel. Between the first and last page this books showcases the history of one the most important contributors of the comic industry and American Pop Culture. Marvels impact in the industry can not be denied as much as DC's impact can not be denied. And with Chronicles that impact is clearly shown. Here is looking forward to a DC Chronicles some day.