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The Avengers: The Ultimate Guide to Earth's Mightiest Heroes!
The Avengers: The Ultimate Guide to Earth's Mightiest Heroes! [ THE AVENGERS: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES! ] By Beatty, Scott ( Author )Apr-16-2012 Hardcover
Unknown Binding
First published April 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 19, 2012
I didn't sit down and read this cover to cover, but it's fascinating to dip in and out of. I only know the movie continuity, and scraps of stuff about the comics, but this was still fascinating. It's full-colour, with information about all the different decades of comic-verse.
I think my favourite thing was the bit about most bizarre things to happen in the Avengers, with Captain America's shield growing legs and attacking him being the #1 choice. I immediately texted that info to all the Marvel movie fans I know. I got a record number of texts all saying "..." within five minutes...
I think my favourite thing was the bit about most bizarre things to happen in the Avengers, with Captain America's shield growing legs and attacking him being the #1 choice. I immediately texted that info to all the Marvel movie fans I know. I got a record number of texts all saying "..." within five minutes...
April 18, 2021
This is a nice guide book, but I was disappointed at the layout and the lack of more original art. In many places contemporary art replaced the original art, which I found to be disheartening. Also, I would have like the key issues and storyline features to have been more chronologically placed. They were not. Instead they’re just lumped together by published decades. This is a great resource for fans, but it could have been, and in fact should have been, so much more.
To be honest, I find this book Avengers: Official Index to the Marvel Universe to be far more informative and helpful, even though to have a lot less art (and is in desperate need of being updated).
To be honest, I find this book Avengers: Official Index to the Marvel Universe to be far more informative and helpful, even though to have a lot less art (and is in desperate need of being updated).
January 25, 2019
Wie ich es einfach liebe. Ich bin großer Marvel Fan und als ich das Buch von meinem Freund geschenkt bekommen habe war ich hin und weg. Habe viele gelernt, neue Charaktere beschrieben bekommen und die Story noch besser verstanden. Definitiv ein Muß für jeden Marvel fan!
November 2, 2012
Why did I read it?
Because I am so super excited to watch Marvel's The Avengers this weekend! I know that the movie has been out since May 4th, but I was waiting for my Dad to get back from a trip to watch it. But, in the meantime, this book came up on one of the lists that I watch, and I couldn't resist getting it for the library.
What happened?
This book happens to be non-fiction, so it doesn't exactly have a story line. But it does contain a ton of summaries of Avengers' comics story lines :) It brings you through the first Avengers comic in 1963, all the way through the modern story lines of the Civil War and the start of the Heroic Age.
In-between, it has hero profiles, details on super villains, the agencies that The Avengers run into, and a look at The Avengers through each decade since their inception.
Another cool feature is the Key Issues. These are the really groundbreaking comics that made The Avengers what they are today.
What did I like or not like?
While I thought the book was awesome, I read it more as a reference work instead of reading it cover to cover. Sometimes I read the text and background, and other times I just looked at the pictures lol. The pages are visually interesting, filled with comic panels and pictures of the heroes, and the authors are very knowledgeable about their source material.
I've read a couple other hero encyclopedias and guides from Scott Beatty. They were interesting and very informational, and this one is no different :)
Because I am so super excited to watch Marvel's The Avengers this weekend! I know that the movie has been out since May 4th, but I was waiting for my Dad to get back from a trip to watch it. But, in the meantime, this book came up on one of the lists that I watch, and I couldn't resist getting it for the library.
What happened?
This book happens to be non-fiction, so it doesn't exactly have a story line. But it does contain a ton of summaries of Avengers' comics story lines :) It brings you through the first Avengers comic in 1963, all the way through the modern story lines of the Civil War and the start of the Heroic Age.
In-between, it has hero profiles, details on super villains, the agencies that The Avengers run into, and a look at The Avengers through each decade since their inception.
Another cool feature is the Key Issues. These are the really groundbreaking comics that made The Avengers what they are today.
What did I like or not like?
While I thought the book was awesome, I read it more as a reference work instead of reading it cover to cover. Sometimes I read the text and background, and other times I just looked at the pictures lol. The pages are visually interesting, filled with comic panels and pictures of the heroes, and the authors are very knowledgeable about their source material.
I've read a couple other hero encyclopedias and guides from Scott Beatty. They were interesting and very informational, and this one is no different :)
October 22, 2022
Originally assembled in 1963 by the brilliant team of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the Avengers group of superheroes has undergone dramatic changes in the last fifty years. Their first foe was the Norse God of Evil Loki and the original members were the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp. From this beginning many members have joined, left, switched sides, gone mad and re-joined. They have battled foes with origins on Earth to the farthest reaches of our universe, other universes and even across time. One would be hard-pressed to find a Marvel superhero that was not at one time an Avenger.
This book is an atlas that tracks many of the changes that have taken place in the group, including the West Coast Avengers and the occasional appearance of the Great Lakes Avengers. The range of superpowers of the members of the Avengers is great, providing for a very large range of creative options and at times increasing the number of potential opponents for the Avengers.
As even the author of this book concedes, the number of heroes and storylines in the Avenger saga are so large, one needs some form of scorecard to keep track of it all. This book is one with beautiful pictures of the powerful heroes. It also allows you to see how the depictions of the heroes have changed over time.
This book is an atlas that tracks many of the changes that have taken place in the group, including the West Coast Avengers and the occasional appearance of the Great Lakes Avengers. The range of superpowers of the members of the Avengers is great, providing for a very large range of creative options and at times increasing the number of potential opponents for the Avengers.
As even the author of this book concedes, the number of heroes and storylines in the Avenger saga are so large, one needs some form of scorecard to keep track of it all. This book is one with beautiful pictures of the powerful heroes. It also allows you to see how the depictions of the heroes have changed over time.
April 27, 2020
Great summary of long and rich Avengers history. Needless to say that it doesn't replace the comics, but it actually does a great job in showing all of the major plots through the decades and the characters that were involved. Recommendable book for fans who got to know The Avengers through the movies and want to learn a little more about their origins.
Gran resumen de la larga y rica historia de los Vengadores. No hace falta decir que no reemplaza a los cómics, pero hace un gran trabajo al mostrar todas las tramas principales a través de las décadas y los personajes que estuvieron involucrados. Libro recomendable para los fanáticos que conocieron a Los Vengadores a través de las películas y quieren aprender un poco más sobre sus orígenes.
Gran resumen de la larga y rica historia de los Vengadores. No hace falta decir que no reemplaza a los cómics, pero hace un gran trabajo al mostrar todas las tramas principales a través de las décadas y los personajes que estuvieron involucrados. Libro recomendable para los fanáticos que conocieron a Los Vengadores a través de las películas y quieren aprender un poco más sobre sus orígenes.
August 18, 2017
Loses steam toward the end of the book, almost in the same way comic book story arcs / reboots / alternate universes lose steam after 50 years. This book is a great primer, though, on all the major happenings and people in the Avengers universe.
March 3, 2014
This is a reference book. But a reference book that I found extremely helpful as I delve back into the world of the Avengers. The 194-page volume chronicles the exploits of the Avengers from the beginning in 1963 through the halcyon days in the 1980s and 90s to the cosmic tales being told in the past five years. The major stories are summarized, members of the Avengers are detailed, and even singular issues are described. Classic artwork is reproduced along with some of the best drawings of the gang that I have seen in a while. I knew all of the past information (up until about 2005, when my local comic shop ticked me off; but there is a new mom-and-pop shop just up the road from my house that I will support via my purchases of Avengers comics, so it is back in the fray for me), and being updated on the newer tales just stoked my curiosity. If you are a big comic nerd and Avengers fan, this book is for you. If not, you won't appreciate it, anyway...
July 8, 2014
Both useful and entertaining. I'm reading the whole Runaways, Vol. 1: Pride and Joyseries alongside Natasha, but one digest back. And I didn't grow up as a Marvel fan, so I really don't know any of the backstory, or where this fits in, or who those established characters are. (Except what I've learned from the most recent films.)
So, there's a timeline, an overview of the storylines and characters of each decade, lots of art reproduced, including a hundred or more covers. Really, all kinds of good reference material. It might be a bit dull to those who've been immersed in the Marvel world for long, and I wouldn't recommend anyone, established fan or not, trying to sit down and read it straight through. But a useful book to have around, my yes.
Library copy
So, there's a timeline, an overview of the storylines and characters of each decade, lots of art reproduced, including a hundred or more covers. Really, all kinds of good reference material. It might be a bit dull to those who've been immersed in the Marvel world for long, and I wouldn't recommend anyone, established fan or not, trying to sit down and read it straight through. But a useful book to have around, my yes.
Library copy
June 28, 2012
This guide to The Avengers was quite interesting and informative. I am new to comics, and so it was great to get to read about old Avengers missions and lineups over its nearly 50 year run. The pictures were vivid and colorful.
One slight problem is (and perhaps its just because the storylines are so crazy and confusing anyway), but the book's organization didn't always make sense to me. A lot of it is organized in a decade-by-decade approach, but there were numerous times when the information seemed to jump around or repeat things. Again, maybe that's just a meta-comment on the comics, but still confusing.
Not great literature, no, but these comics and characters sure are exciting, and there's nothing wrong with that.
One slight problem is (and perhaps its just because the storylines are so crazy and confusing anyway), but the book's organization didn't always make sense to me. A lot of it is organized in a decade-by-decade approach, but there were numerous times when the information seemed to jump around or repeat things. Again, maybe that's just a meta-comment on the comics, but still confusing.
Not great literature, no, but these comics and characters sure are exciting, and there's nothing wrong with that.
May 21, 2012
Good Stuff Here.
There is lots of information on a lot of different characters and major plots. This is probably as well as you can do this in a book this size.
After reading this book, I understand now why this mythology has always confused me...because it is confusing. But this book goes a long way into sorting out the different iterations of the super-group and why they were formed.
The graphics are great, the summaries concise. What more do you want from a book like this?
There is lots of information on a lot of different characters and major plots. This is probably as well as you can do this in a book this size.
After reading this book, I understand now why this mythology has always confused me...because it is confusing. But this book goes a long way into sorting out the different iterations of the super-group and why they were formed.
The graphics are great, the summaries concise. What more do you want from a book like this?
April 3, 2015
Having been a very big fan of the Marvel movies that have come out in the past decade, as well as the animated X-Men series when I was growing up, this was a great read! I have never actually read a Marvel comic (insert gasp here) so this anthology was very informative and interesting. Lets fan those Marvel flames!
June 24, 2012
Very informative & great pictures (like all DK books) but I've never seen so many typos in one book before! Still packed a ton of information & now I now where I'd like to start if I ever decide to read some of the comic books.
June 25, 2012
A fascinating and incredibly helpful overview of characters and arcs. It's a hard balance to strike between too much and not enough info. But now I feel much better equipped to jump into any of the Avengers storylines with a decent idea of who's who and what's going on.
January 1, 2018
This book told me everything I needed to know about the marvel universe (revolving around the avengers, of course.) and I enjoyed it a lot. It is a pretty beefy book but you don’t have to sit down and bookmark what you were on.
(Unless you want to.) Strongly encourage this book.
(Unless you want to.) Strongly encourage this book.
May 9, 2012
A decent overview of the comic book's almost 50 years of storylines. I couldn't help but notice several typos throughout the text.
May 19, 2012
nice little encyclopedia of past Avengers stories.
July 21, 2012
A lot of information and a lot of the storylines are crazy weird. weirder than any soap opera. But interesting to see how the series has evolved.
July 11, 2013
The title is true.
This is the Ultimate Avengers Guide.
This is the Ultimate Avengers Guide.
January 7, 2016
Zaujímavá kniha. Skvelé grafické spracovanie a ešte som sa aj všeličo zaujímavé dozvedela. A konečne som pochopila asi všetky spojenia medzi X-menmi a Avengermi. :D (teda, dúfam)
December 16, 2016
Not enough about Spidey and Thor for me. But still a fun read. I'm a little bit biased for those 2 guys though. And a little more Steve wouldn't have gone amiss either. 4⭐️
May 14, 2017
I Recommend this for Any Marvel/Avengers Fans.
September 18, 2021
Not bad.
June 4, 2015
Super cool in detail info on tons of super heros and villains I liked it a lot :)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews