Marvels: Eye of the Camera #1

Marvels: Eye of the Camera
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art by Jay Anacleto
Colors by Brian Haberlin
Lettering by Richard Starkings and ComicCraft
Published by Marvel

Fourteen years ago, Marvel Comic published Marvels, the four-issue mini series that launched the careers of both Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross. It retold important stories from the Marvel mythos, but not through the eyes of the heroes, but through the everyman: photographer, Phil Sheldon. From the unveiling of the original Human Torch to the debut of the X-Men, Avengers and Fantastic Four and sadly the death of Gwen Stacy. It was groundbreaking at the time, and after 4 years of being announced, Marvels: Eye of the Camera finally hits the shelves this week.

This is not really a direct sequel, more like an in between story. It shows the birth of the Marvel Age, beginning with the origin of the Fantastic Four, but in more detail. The first issue of "Eye" takes place in between issues #1 and #2 of Marvels, but the series will end sometime around the "Fall of the Mutants". Though, this first issue is not just about super powers or classic Marvel characters, the story is still about Sheldon.

He has become complacent in his work and tires of the freelance work, so he turns to a tabloid paper and feels as if he's lowering his standards. Sheldon photographed some incredible moments in history, and here he is, selling himself short for a few extra bucks. Then, he receives a call that would change his life. He gets a call from J. Jonah Jameson to photograph to debut of the (then un-named) Fantastic Four. Soon everything changes. Thor, the Avengers, Spider-Man make themselves known to the world, all the while Sheldon capturing each uncanny moment.

Though, like I previously mentioned, it's not just Sheldon photographing heroes and battles between good and evil, it's a more personal story. It's the story of his adaptation to the changes of the world, with these marvelous debuts and creatures surfacing, as well as little things such as discovering one of his daughters needs glasses. Though the end of the issue is something Sheldon doesn't see coming and it's just as deadly as anything Loki or Galactus could do.

The art by newcomer Jay Anacleto is indeed stunning. His city scapes and panel structure is very reminiscent of Alex Ross and Brian Haberlin's colors are incredible. I am a huge fan of Kurt Busiek and everything he touches. I've been waiting for this book for quite sometime now, and it was more than worth the wait.