Marvel Comics has published some unforgettable stories since its origins as Timely Comics in 1939, giving rise to beloved modern superheroes like Captain America, Spider-Man, and The Fantastic Four. Yet, one of the greatest series ever to come from the company doesn’t even center on a super-powered individual. Debuting in 1994, Marvels reflected on the history of the iconic protectors of Earth through the emotional lens of an ordinary man named Phil Sheldon across four decades. It’s often placed among the Mount Rushmore of Marvel Comics greats for how it completely reframes the impactful moments from past stories, from the triumphant to the tragic. Now, it’s finally being reimagined in a novelization by Abrams ComicArts, and Collider is thrilled to offer an exclusive preview.

Marvels: The Novelization reworks and expands upon the original comic series in a 368-page book penned by Steve Darnall, who previously worked with Marvels artist Alex Ross on the acclaimed DC graphic novel Uncle Sam. The goal has been to make something faithful to Sheldon’s journey, as penned by Kurt Busiek, that also feels like an entirely new literary experience that will introduce other readers to this story. Tucked within and on the cover is also **a series of entirely new illustrations — four in color and four black-and-white — courtesy of Ross **that demonstrate his lush painting style. We can exclusively share a look at the cover, as well as three of the other pieces, two of which illustrate memorable scenes from within Marvels.

The cover beautifully captures the perspective of Marvels, with Sheldon looking up with his camera as generations of heroes loom over him. In the actual pages, though, there’s more focus on the “Marvels” in action. One illustration finds The Fantastic Four fighting the Silver Surfer right as Ben Grimm punches the herald of Galactus off the side of a building. Accompanying it is a brief statement from Sheldon that describes the experience of watching the fight unfold. The other two pieces, meanwhile, highlight one of the most harrowing moments from Sheldon’s career as a news photographer covering superheroes — the death of Gwen Stacy. In Marvels, the journalist forms a surprising friendship with Peter’s ill-fated love interest while digging into the death of her father, which makes it all the more heartbreaking when Spider-Man fails to save her. A black-and-white sketch highlights that relationship with a mournful Sheldon alongside Spidey and Gwen while a painting shows the web-slinger carrying her lifeless body while the Green Goblin continues to attack and Sheldon reacts in horror.

Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.

You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.

You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.

Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.

You’ve been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What’s left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.

Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.

You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.

More street-level stories from throughout Sheldon’s life will get the spotlight through Ross’s art in the Marvels novelization. It spans from 1939 to 1974 in New York City, beginning from his early days as an up-and-coming reporter with J. Jonah Jameson seeing the emergence of “The Marvels.” He witnesses burning men and figures in costumes roam the streets for the first time, watches terrifying battles, and experiences the fear of seeing Earth threatened by planet-devouring or destroying creatures, all while trying to build a family and accomplish his life’s work. The real focus is on his emotional arc as he reacts to it all, from the initial air of hopelessness of living in a world with beings who could wipe away anything in an instant to his acceptance of superhero teams, his defense of the X-Men and all mutants from a public turned against them, and the loss of faith that strikes him when the heroes don’t live up to his expectations.

By the end of his journey, Sheldon sums up his encounters with the “Marvels” of his world in a way that could sum up Marvel Comics stories themselves — “It’s scary. It’s exciting. It’s thrilling. All of it at once.” Busiek and Ross’s original series was showered with praise upon release, winning three Eisner Awards for Best Finite/Limited Series, Best Painter, and Best Publication Design. The legendary Stan Lee called it “innovative, brilliantly conceived, and skillfully executed,” further defining it as a standout publication. The novelization now presents an opportunity to relive a story that, even with Marvel bigger than ever and the MCU ever-present on-screen, is still unique today, all in a 6x9-inch package.

Marvels: The Novelization is available as a hardcover from Abrams ComicArts for $26.99 starting today. Check out our exclusive preview images above.