Marvels: The Novelization – Book Review

A huge thank you to Abrams ComicArts for the advanced copy of Marvels: The Novelization for review.

Marvels: The Novelization is available everywhere on May 19th, 2026 and can be preordered at the link above

Where were you when you learned about “The Marvels”? Is a two-pronged question. If you’re a real life comic book fan, I’m probably referring to when you learned about the 1994 comic limited series from Marvel Comics. If you’re Phil Sheldon, you’re probably telling us through your own narrative. In 1994, Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross released The Marvels to the world.

The series, set between 1939 and 1974, puts us in the shoes of everyman news photographer Phil Sheldon. We get a glimpse of what life is like at the street level for everyday citizens of New York as they learn about superheroes that Phil dubs “Marvels”. From the original Human Torch to the X-Men, we see several major events of the Marvel comics universe through Phil’s eyes.

Enter Steve Darnall. Steve Darnall was Alex Ross’s original writing partner when the idea that would become The Marvels was concocted. Now, 32 years later, Darnall takes that seminal, award-winning series and turns it into a novel.

The Story

Marvels: The Novelization takes us through the oh so familiar events that happen in the original comics, but in a “Director’s Cut” style of prose. The novelization adheres much closer to what it feels like the original tone and vision of the Marvels limited series was. While the comic itself was only 180 or so pages across four issues, Marvels: The Novelization covers 368 pages of expanse. This novelization gives us significantly more context of the world, Phil Sheldon, and even Phil’s personal history and struggles that didn’t make the cut in the original comic series.

Unique to the novelization is a specific focus on Phil’s job as a photographer and his relationships. The novel dedicates time to Phil’s struggles with his equipment and what it is like trying to be a freelance photographer trying to capture these “gods” on film in the mid-century with mid-century equipment. Darnall gives us a much larger glimpse into the life of Phil and his relationship with his wife and kids. We also get new art, a new cover, and an afterword from Alex Ross reflecting on the legacy of the story

Review

Steve Darnall wrote a gem of a book with Marvels: The Novelization. As both a comic fan and a book lover, this was the perfect story for me. I really love the depth Darnall gives to Phil. The original series let us meet Phil, but Darnall lets us get to KNOW Phil. Seeing familiar characters with added context and story is so meaningful.

Darnall gives us some rare glimpses into Phil’s life that just didn’t make the cut for the comic series. I loved that this story started with the interview format. We meet Phil, having published his book “Marvels,” sitting down with an interviewer trying to milk more out of him. The interviewer and her boss, who sent her, feel like Phil has more to tell than just what he told us in Marvels. What follows is a trip through Phil’s life, his family, serving in a war, and the emergence of superheroes.

While issue #2 of the series showed us Phil’s own struggles with prejudice regarding the X-Men, I love that Darnell flushed out that story and that part of Phil more. Darnall takes everything we loved as comic fans about Marvel’s and gives it more depth, dimension, and story.

Final Thoughts

Marvel is really knocking it out of the park when it comes to adapting their comics and characters to novels right now. Marvels: The Novelization comes on the heels of amazing stories like Breaking the Dark and Enemy of My Enemy, featuring Jessica Jones and Daredevil, respectively. These stories are not simply cash grabs, but well-written works of art and Marvels: The Novelization is no exception. This story deserves a spot on the shelf of any comic book fan. Steve Darnell took everything I loved about the Marvels limited series and managed to give me more.

Overall Grade: 5/5

Once you get a chance to check out Marvels: The Novelization, stop back by and let me know what you thought in the comments.