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  • All of the Marvels

  • An Amazing Voyage into Marvel's Universe and 27,000 Superhero Comics
  • By: Douglas Wolk
  • Narrated by: Douglas Wolk
  • Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (47 ratings)
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All of the Marvels cover art

All of the Marvels

By: Douglas Wolk
Narrated by: Douglas Wolk
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Summary

Over the last 60 years, the Marvel superhero comic books have grown into a gigantic mountain in the middle of contemporary culture. They are the longest continuous, self-contained work of fiction ever created: over half a million pages to date - and growing. Thousands of writers and artists have contributed to it. Every schoolchild recognises its protagonists: Spider-Man, the Avengers, the X-Men. And not even the people telling the story have read the whole thing - nobody's supposed to. So, of course, that's what Douglas Wolk did: he read all 27,000 comics that make up the Marvel universe thus far, from Alpha Flight to Omega the Unknown.

All of the Marvels is a landmark, but ludicrously fun, piece of cultural criticism. Trying to make sense of the ever-expanding mythology, Wolk shows how it reflects a funhouse-mirror history of the past 60 years, from the atomic night-terrors of the Cold War to the technocracy and political divisions of the present day. He observes the Marvel story's progressive visions and its painful stereotypes, its patches of woeful hackwork and stretches of luminous creativity. This is a huge treat for Marvel fans, but it's also a revelation for listeners who don't know Doctor Strange from Doctor Doom.

Here, truly, are all of the marvels.

©2021 Douglas Wolk (P)2021 Hachette Audio UK

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What listeners say about All of the Marvels

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interesting and fun

worth a listen, but not if you aren't into your comics or don't want to be.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

ok but a bit unexciting

you have to be really into comics to get something from this. I also think it's better read that heard. too many references to specific issues etc so it sounds like a shopping list at times.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Bogged Down by the Present

Lots to admire here, but seems too caught up in the moral obsessions of the present and lacks a wider viewpoint to say anything really interesting or unique about the comics socio-politically and philosophically. The best parts focus on story and inter-personal dynamics between creators. At its worse it can sound like a grandstanding Twitter thread.

Author does a great job reading, and enjoyed the very personal last chapter.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Truly wonderful

My bank balance after this is going to be bad… great dissection on Marvel comics and helps guide the way the confusing comics in a enlightening and wonderful way. Douglas makes Marvel very engaging.
I would say, I would recommend reading a few comics before hand as otherwise the grasp of this may be too much! But it’s great way for you to enter the marvel comics. Loved every minute of this

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