Product Description: The Marvel Vault brings the Universe to you, sharing the insider's story of Marvel Comics from 1939 to the present. Chock-full of historic and never-before-seen memorabilia (think: early sketches of Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch, Bullpen birthday cards, and a membership certificate for the Merry Marvel Marching Society), this vibrant chronicle contains over 30 plastic-encased archival gems that you can hold in your hand while reading about the artists, writers, and heroes who make up the Marvel Universe.
Organized by decade, The Marvel Vault leads readers through every era by letting them hold such rare items as holiday cards, the welcome kit from the original Merry Marvel Marching Society, the program for the first comics convention, and even the first sketches for characters who went on to become beloved Marvel icons.
Whether you've been collecting Sub-Mariner dime-books since the 1940s, or have just started to crack the pages of current Spidey sagas, you'll want to gear up for Marvel-ous adventures with this dynamic collection!
Amazon.com Review:
Look Inside The Marvel Vault
Click each image below to see a full-size version of your favorite heroes from the hallowed halls of Marvel Comics.
Marvelous Fun Just got this book and spent an hour of fun looking it over. It's a nice addition to my Marvel history books. Warning.... it's a big size and you'll need to use a desk or table to read. The "museum" items are fun and interesting. All and all it's a good way to spend an afternoon reading about the marvel bullpen and the great talents that graced their halls.
Very Informative This book is pretty cool for the people that love comic books. It has some cool memorabilia and quite a bit of information. Very good quality!!!
Diana R. Fine "ladydi" Great item - my son loves it and I received it right on his Birthday.
A MARVELous Book! If you are a hard-core Marvel Comics fan, and know your Super Heroes from way back when, then this marvel (excuse the pun!) of a book - which is truly a vault of treasures - will certainly enthrall you! That said: if, however, you are a fairly recent fan and only know the latest Heroes, or if you are only interested in heroes like Spidey or the Fantastic Four, then this book might not be so fantastic for you. Nevertheless, it is a great addition to any bibliophile's library, and the price is sweet too!
The "Vault" holds some excellent items of memorabilia, and some of the treasures in it are signed pencil illustrations, a few collectors' cards, and a Stan Lee Book of Marvel Goofs. Paging through the book definitely creates a joyous sense of nostalgia, and also displays how Marvel has matured, developed and come into its present reign.
The MARVEL Vault makes for a perfect gift to yourself, or a close friend who is a die hard Marvel fan!
The presence of the ephemera overshadows the superficial and error-riddled text The Marvel Vault is billed as a "museum in-a-box", and that's pretty much what it is. It's illustrated not only with covers and interior art from pricey comics and photos of their creators, but also with reproductions of ephemera such as character and cover sketches and unedited artwork. Also, several clear vinyl sleeves hold reproductions of Marvel ephemera such as the Marvel Value Stamps and the program book from the 1973 Marvel Comic Art Convention.
There are better choices if you're looking for a history of Marvel Comics (Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics by Les Daniels is probably the best known, but also worth reading are Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and the American Comic Book Revolution by Ronin Ro and Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book by Gerard Jones, though the last doesn't focus exclusively on Marvel) but the real attraction here is the rare art, preproduction sketches and other stuff out of the reach of the average comics fan. It's fun to see ephemera from the original Marvel fan club and hand-drawn greeting cards autographed by the entire Marvel staff. The presence of the ephemera overshadows the superficial and error-riddled text.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
