DVR Alert: "Marvel: 75 Years, From Pulp to Pop!" to air 11/4/14

TheOriginalGMan

Tuesday, November 4th at 9pm on ABC (1 hour)

Experience an exciting journey through the 75 year history of the Marvel Universe, from its humble beginnings as Timely Comics in 1939 to the birth of The Marvel Age in the 1960s, and finally the cinematic blockbusters of today, in the original special, Marvel: 75 Years, From Pulp to Pop!, hosted by Emily VanCamp, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 (9:02-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Marvel has pioneered and broken box-office records around the world, creating a universe unlike any other in pop culture history through its comic books, television shows, video games, animation and blockbuster films. Marvel made its foray into the film world with Iron Man in 2008 and continues its entertainment domination today with Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC and the upcoming Marvel’s Agent Carter, and the recent theatrical releases of Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as the highly anticipated upcoming film, Marvel’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron. The Marvel Cinematic Universe translates the excitement of the comic books to a whole new audience with some of the most groundbreaking and dynamic storytelling that brings an unprecedented vision to the world of entertainment.

But how was the Marvel Universe formed?

The special takes a look at Marvel’s roots, beginning in 1939 as Timely Comics with Martin Goodman and Stan Lee emerging as key figures in Marvel’s history in the 1940s along with the creation of Captain America, the impact of World War II and the decline of super hero stories and the subsequent downfall of the comic book industry in the 1950s. After a decade of decline, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created the modern super hero team in 1961 with the Fantastic Four, helping to bring back superhero stories and ushering in “The Marvel Age,” which saw the creation of the Hulk, Iron Man, The X-Men and Spider-Man. A shift in the character paradigm in the 1970s also brought culturally relevant characters such as the Black Panther, Falcon, Black Widow, Luke Cage and Ms. Marvel to the forefront . But the mid-1990s were not so kind to Marvel as the company fell into bankruptcy. However, a new batch of creative visionaries brought about a modern day renaissance, revitalizing publishing. Soon after Marvel saw its characters and stories take over the silver screen, and Marvel Studios was born, leading into today’s successes on the big screen and television.

TheOriginalGMan

BUMP!

Greg

Not bad. Watched with the kids and the amount of questions from them... well, you ever read that study saying that 4 year old kids ask roughly 400 questions a day? It was like that.

Hex

fairly lacklustre.
Nothing new... aside from the Agent Carter preview. For those who enjoyed this fast track through Marvel's history, do yourself a favour and read "Marvel Comics: The Untold Story".

bamfbamf

that vankamp lady had to try really hard to care about what she was reading

CaptShazam

Security let Jim Shooter back in the building. Did not see that coming.

jaydee74

I have it on my DVR. Is it worth watching?

random73

jaydee74 said:

I have it on my DVR. Is it worth watching?

it is fun but only surface level.

phansford

Hex said:

fairly lacklustre.
Nothing new... aside from the Agent Carter preview.

+1

This is a show for the masses. Comic fan boys need not apply. HaHa.

Hex

phansford said:

Hex said:

fairly lacklustre.
Nothing new... aside from the Agent Carter preview.

+1

This is a show for the masses. Comic fan boys need not apply. HaHa.

At least it was nice to see Kirby and Ditko get lots of props. Even if it just gets their names in front of the masses.

AxelBrass

phansford said:

Hex said:

fairly lacklustre.
Nothing new... aside from the Agent Carter preview.

+1

This is a show for the masses. Comic fan boys need not apply. HaHa.

Agreed. If you didn't already know everything they talked about, you haven't read one of the dozens of books on Marvel History.

fredzilla

I think the purpose of the show was just to inform those people not already in the know about what Marvel is all about. Hence the surface level content. We're well versed in the "basic" history because it's our hobby. Think of all the "new fans" of all the movies maybe wanting to know a little bit more without having to read a Wikipedia entry .

Besides, as familiar as the story is to me, I love hearing Stan Lee and other creators talk comics.