On the cover of this wonderful piece of comic goodness, you’ll see a quote from Jonathan Ross. He sums it up quite nicely when he says: “A blockbuster popcorn movie in comic form!”. Oh, how right you are, good sir. Mark Millar and Tommy Lee Edward’s 6 issue series, 1985 is one of those titles that just grips you, from start to finish. Here, we’re posed with the ultimate “What If?” What if, the villains of the Marvel Universe just showed up in your town one day, in real life. What would happen? How would you react? What could you do? All this, and so much more is tackled in the pages of this trade. It’s more than that, though. Sure, the heroes and villains are here, and epicness happens on an awesome scale, but it’s also about growing up, divorce, trust, and relationship. Ah, I’m getting way ahead of myself here. Let’s take it from page one, where it all starts. Let’s take a look at, and totally enjoy, Mark Millar and Tommy Lee Edward’s Marvel: 1985.
The opening of this epic really does say it all. “In 1961, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created the Marvel Comics Universe. Or so they thought…” It starts
off with a bang! Doctor Doom has just defeated the Beyonder. Standing there, soaking in cosmic rays that would kill any mere mortal, Doom just stands there and takes it. A massive battle is raging on, as the heroes of the Marvel Universe are trying to rescue their enemies, trapped here with them as the Beyonder saw fit. As they round up the last of the evil-doers, the heroes are greated with a Doctor Doom unlike anything ever imaged before. Doom has now killed the Beyonder, is more powerful than ever, and our heroes don’t stand a chance. That’s where Toby comes in.
Toby Goodman is 13 years old, and collects comics. He’s in a comic shop at this moment, talking shop, getting hyped on the latest from Marvel, the Secret Wars. His parents had just gotten divorced a short time before, and Toby is still feeling the effects. Depression, becoming withdrawn, grades beginning to slip… Toby did they only thing he really could do, slip into a world where problems could be solved in 24 pages or less. Toby’s mom was with someone else now, and his dad, well… his dad was as smart as he was ill-motivated. As bright as he was lazy. Toby’s dad was a great guy, he just wasn’t that great at bettering himself. Ah, that didn’t matter so much. Toby loved him, and that’s all that matters, right? Anyway, Toby and his dad take off for a walk, and before they know it, they’re at a place his dad used to hang out at all the time, trading comics with his best friend. The Wyncham House is where his best friend Clyde, and his mother stayed, but after some things took place, the house fell into a state of neglect. Now, some out-of-towners had shown up, ready to take on the house. Toby and his dad are offered a box of comics, and as they’re going through it, Toby’s dad talking to someone that looks an awful lot like the Mole-Man, Toby sees.. is that… the Red Skull? Nah, couldn’t be, right? With no luck, Toby tries to convince his dad of what he saw. Nobody believes him. That’s just the start, though. Things are about to get a whole lot stranger, and more deadly, in 1985.
Mark Millar’s story is nothing short of spectacular. Throughout the six issue series, we’re taken on a journey that all of us comic readers have fantasized about countless times. First, the villains come in, one by one. Weird things start happening in town. A man dressed like a bird is spotted flying around, and someone is able to catch a picture of him. Next, what seems like a random act of violence and nature, all rolled into one happens, as someone is murdered, and another is struck by lightning, on a cloudless night. It’s creepy, it’s got you a little on edge, and as Toby goes to investigate, not only does he see more villains, but when they see him, and he runs, he runs smack dab into the Hulk. What a way to start a night! Millar’s story is movie form on comic page. Toby’s story is just so natural, so form fitting, that any of us could put ourselves in Toby’s place. It’s face paced where it needs to be, keeping you on the edge of your seat as the likes of the Lizard or MODOK attack and do the unthinkable. It’s cheer worthy when Toby brings in the heroes, as Spidey cracks his jokes, and Captain America gives the orders. We learn about the relationship between a father and son, and just how strong that can be, and we learn about friendship, and what it takes to break a bond, and heal it. Mark Millar is able to accomplish all this and more as he weaves this enchanting tale. No one character takes center stage, save for Toby, as he leads us from one page to the next. It’s all seen though his young eyes, from everything that takes place in his small town, to his entering the Marvel Universe itself. Millar holds us in our seats until the end, treating this masterpiece as if it were made for the big screen.
Tommy Lee Edward’s artwork is the perfect companion to Millar’s script. From his quick sketches to almost picturesque realism, Tommy gives us visuals any artist would be proud of. A good script is only as good as it’s visuals, I say, and here, it breaks the mold. Tommy’s pencils show us everything we need to see. Fear, angst, horror, love, it’s all in sharp contrast, ready to be savored. When Toby sees the Hulk for the first time, I gasped in awe with him. When he sees Hulk fight Juggernaut, right in front of him, I think I might have been just as anxious as he was. When Galactus shows up, and the entire town just stands there in awe at his might, I felt those goose bumps begin to form. Tommy’s work captivates you as these events unfold. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s easy to overlook what else this trade has to offer when you’re so immersed in this story. Don’t forget about the Introduction, by Damon Lindolf, which really does a great job of setting the tone for the story you’re about to embark on. Scattered throughout, you get a great glimpse all the different covers for 1985, from regular ol’ newsstand to the sweetness that is the variants. Last, but not least, is something called “A look back at 1985” brought to you by the artist himself, Tommy Lee Edwards. For 20 pages, you’re given a rather sweet glimpse into his world as an artist, and the process he went through to bring us these awesome visuals.
I got this trade in a $5 box at my local comic shop. It was the only one in the box, and though I’d never heard of it, I grabbed it. The quote on the cover caught my eye, and through reading the back, it had peeked my interest. Picking it up, along with the other books I got that day, I brought it home, and set it aside, saving it for any day that I had to sit in line and wait to pick up my son and daughter from school. With babies in the back, snoring away, I opened up the pages and began to read. When I was finished, I knew I had to read it again. I was pumped! I don’t think I’d ever read a trade quite like this. From beginning to end, I was hooked, drawn in to this world where Marvel’s best and worst where in a small town, tearing it apart. It was amazing, and I just had to get more. Counting for this review, I’ve now read the trade 3 times. I can’t wait to read it again.
From script to artwork, 1985 will go down as one of the greatest original series in comics history. Mark Millar’s story, along with Tommy Lee Edward’s unique visuals, captivate you and give you an edge of your seat thrill ride unlike any other comic has done before. If you haven’t read this, find it. You will not be disappointed. It’s classy, savvy, fun, exciting, heart-pounding, sad, and joyous, all wrapped into one, very awesome collection. Just the way we like it.
Excelsior.
Script: 10/10
Artwork: 10/10
Parental Concern: Slight. Nothing terrible, but Millar’s script does let our imagination go to work. Take that how you may.
