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Marvels: Eye of the Camera
It must be said that I have serious thing for Outsider POV. I love seeing people that I know, through the eyes of someone who doesn't know them as well. The different conclusions fascinate me to no end and it reminds me that everything is not necessarily what I think it is, just because I think it is.
Therefore, I've been reading Marvels: Eye of the Camera, which is basically a canon outsider POV on the whole Marvel Universe. The story is a sequel to Marvels, which was published in 1994. Like the prequel, Eye of the Camera is told from the point of view of Phil Sheldon, a freelance journalism photographer.
I haven't read the original series, yet, although I did purchase it yesterday and intend to read it ASAP, but my enjoyment of Eye of the Camera is very high regardless! I love seeing the Marvel-verse as it would be from the eyes of the non-powered. There is also a great deal of enjoyment gained from the fact that Sheldon clearly admires Spiderman, and yet despises Peter Parker for "selling out" and earning his fame by making Spiderman appear negative.
Thus far, in the three series, Sheldon has focused on Spiderman, the Fantastic Four and the X-men. The main story appears not to be about any of the heroes, though, but about a man who wonders if his life is worth anything, as he faces down lung cancer. That arc of the story is emotional and believable, in my opinion, and I'm anxiously awaiting it's conclusion.
It's interesting, though, as Sheldon grapples with what he's learned over the years. The art is rich and filled with visual references to major Marvel events (the Fantastic Four divorce, the use of Sentinnels to chase down mutants, even Bobby and Scott when their powers awakened!, as well as the emergence of Iron Man, the question of whether or not the Archdiosese considers Thor a god, the destruction caused by the Hulk and Wolverine, Aquaman and The Human Torch). Even more interestingly, it asks how these characters should be viewed. Why is Spiderman not trustworthy when Iron Man is? Why does the public turn on Captain America so quickly? Why are mutants feared and supers not?
By far, my favorite story involves a little mutant girl, with an alien appearance, that the Sheldon girls found in a playground. They snuck her into the basement of the house and fed her until their parents discovered it. The story isn't specified, but it appears as though the neighborhood was attacked by anti-mutant rioters, and Sentinnels, and the little girl ran into the crowd and was lost. It broke my heart.
Sheldon's reaction, years later, broke my heart, when he demanded to know why he and his wife felt so comfortable saying, "We did everything they could," and then letting an 8 year old fend for herself against those who would do her harm.
There are three more issues to go of Eye of the Camera, and I plan to read the original series as well. So I will have more to discuss once that happens. If anyone else is reading it, though, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Therefore, I've been reading Marvels: Eye of the Camera, which is basically a canon outsider POV on the whole Marvel Universe. The story is a sequel to Marvels, which was published in 1994. Like the prequel, Eye of the Camera is told from the point of view of Phil Sheldon, a freelance journalism photographer.
I haven't read the original series, yet, although I did purchase it yesterday and intend to read it ASAP, but my enjoyment of Eye of the Camera is very high regardless! I love seeing the Marvel-verse as it would be from the eyes of the non-powered. There is also a great deal of enjoyment gained from the fact that Sheldon clearly admires Spiderman, and yet despises Peter Parker for "selling out" and earning his fame by making Spiderman appear negative.
Thus far, in the three series, Sheldon has focused on Spiderman, the Fantastic Four and the X-men. The main story appears not to be about any of the heroes, though, but about a man who wonders if his life is worth anything, as he faces down lung cancer. That arc of the story is emotional and believable, in my opinion, and I'm anxiously awaiting it's conclusion.
It's interesting, though, as Sheldon grapples with what he's learned over the years. The art is rich and filled with visual references to major Marvel events (the Fantastic Four divorce, the use of Sentinnels to chase down mutants, even Bobby and Scott when their powers awakened!, as well as the emergence of Iron Man, the question of whether or not the Archdiosese considers Thor a god, the destruction caused by the Hulk and Wolverine, Aquaman and The Human Torch). Even more interestingly, it asks how these characters should be viewed. Why is Spiderman not trustworthy when Iron Man is? Why does the public turn on Captain America so quickly? Why are mutants feared and supers not?
By far, my favorite story involves a little mutant girl, with an alien appearance, that the Sheldon girls found in a playground. They snuck her into the basement of the house and fed her until their parents discovered it. The story isn't specified, but it appears as though the neighborhood was attacked by anti-mutant rioters, and Sentinnels, and the little girl ran into the crowd and was lost. It broke my heart.
Sheldon's reaction, years later, broke my heart, when he demanded to know why he and his wife felt so comfortable saying, "We did everything they could," and then letting an 8 year old fend for herself against those who would do her harm.
There are three more issues to go of Eye of the Camera, and I plan to read the original series as well. So I will have more to discuss once that happens. If anyone else is reading it, though, I'd love to hear your thoughts.