Marvels: The Novelization by Steve Darnall and Alex Ross (Illustrator)

 

Book Name: Marvels: The Novelization

Author: Steve Darnall, Alex Ross (Illustrator)

Comic Series: Marvels

Original Story, Adaptation, or Something Else: Adaptation

Published Date: Expected publication May 19, 2026

Official Synopsis: For the first time, a novelization of Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross’ bestselling and now classic miniseries from 1994—Marvels, offering an thrilling all-new interpretation of one of the most famous stories in Marvel Comics history.

Welcome to New York. Here, burning figures roam the streets, men in brightly colored costumes scale the glass and concrete walls, creatures from space threaten to devour our world . . . and everyone else is going about their lives. This is the Marvel Universe, where the ordinary and fantastic interact daily. This is the world of Marvels—one of the most important and bestselling stories in Marvel Comics history, which Stan Lee described in his introduction to the first collected edition as “innovative, brilliantly conceived, and skillfully executed." Over 30 years later, Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross’ groundbreaking comic book series Marvels gets a long-awaited novelization by Steve Darnall, author of Uncle Sam and Ross’s writing partner on the original proposal. Marvels was a landmark series when it was first published—peeling back the curtain on Marvel’s history. It’s a story told from the perspective of an everyman character—news photographer Phil Sheldon—who chronicles a world full of costumed superhumans, providing an on-the-ground view of events in the Marvel Universe as they unfold. Darnall’s prose perfectly captures the magic of Busiek and Ross’ original story, offering insights and background previously untold in the comic book. Tying the story together in a stunning package is an all-new painted cover, four all-new color illustrations, and four all-new black-and-white illustrations by Alex Ross, as well as an all-new afterword by Ross.

Review: Over the years, I have read quite a few superhero prose novels, and Marvels: The Novelization by Steve Darnall with illustrations by Alex Ross is without a doubt my favorite and the best written one I have read. Simply put, this book is great! This is no surprise, given the strength of the source material, but Marvels doesn't just copy the well-loved comic series but uses it as a platform to grow from.

The premise of the book is simple: it chronicles four decades of the life of Phil Sheldon, a freelance photographer in New York, as he witnesses the actions of superheroes beginning with Namor and the original Human Torch, to the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men, with appearances by a host of other notable Marvel characters along the way. Plenty of time is also spent with Sheldon's family, co-workers, and general life in New York City during the time period covered. 

The writing in Marvels is straightforward, simple, but for a smart audience. It helps to have a knowledge of the characters and prominent stories from Marvel's Golden and Silver Ages as they are referenced continually throughout. Sometimes they are casual references, but other times they are pages long and integral to the story and the plot. 

Given the presence of these superheroes, the book is not about them but rather about the lives of ordinary New York citizens whose lives intersect with those of people with powers at random. Some are fascinated, others scared; the same individual who adores the Fantastic Four can get caught up in anti-mutant hysteria while a college student named Gwen Stacy can have mixed feelings about Spider-Man. This book shows the lives of humans themselves, and Darnall is excellent at capturing this. There are also several new illustrations by Alex Ross which are as great as to be expected.

What Works: Great writing with an engrossing story, strong character work, and several amazing illustrations.

What Doesn’t: No complaints!

Final Thoughts: The best superhero prose novel I have ever read!

Rating: 10 out of 10 photographers

MISC

Version Read: Electronic

How Acquired: Advance copy via NetGalley and Abrams Comic Arts

Special Notes: An advance copy was provided, but my opinions are my own.