Featuring New Illustrations by Alex Ross, Darnall Presents a Bold New Interpretation of the Classic Miniseries
One of the most famous stories in Marvel Comics history, Alex Ross and Kurt Busiek’s 1994 miniseries Marvels is a groundbreaking, street-level take on the Marvel Universe that changed the way readers saw their favorite heroes, earned multiple Eisner Awards, and established Ross and Busiek as generational talents. Now, writer Steve Darnall, who collaborated with Ross on the DC’s 1997 Uncle Sam and helped craft the original proposal for the series, is reimagining the iconic story as a novel in Marvels: The Novelization. Published by Abrams ComicArts and featuring brand-new illustrations from Alex Ross, this 368-page novel will once again redefine the Marvel Universe with a thoughtful and thrilling book that celebrates and expands the original.
The series, which Stan Lee described as “innovative, brilliantly conceived, and skillfully executed,” welcomes readers to New York City, where everyday people go about their lives while burning figures roam the streets, men in brightly colored costumes scale the walls, and creatures from space threaten to devour the planet. This is the Marvel Universe, where the ordinary and fantastic interact daily. Spanning from 1939 through 1974, Marvels explores the history of superheroes and America from the perspective of newspaper photographer Phil Sheldon. As Sheldon pursues a career as a journalist and builds a family, he chronicles the adventures of the Original Human Torch, Captain America, The Avengers, Spider-Man, and countless others, giving fans a grounded, human look at a pantheon of larger-than-life characters.
Over 30 years after the series’ debut, Steve Darnall will translate Ross’ lush paintings and Busiek’s bold dialogue into a daring work of literature, bringing Sheldon’s stunning Marvel adventures to a new generation of readers. The long-awaited novelization of Marvels will feature four full-color paintings and four black and white illustrations by Alex Ross.
The 368-page hardcover Marvels: The Novelization is due out on May 19, 2026 from Abrams ComicArts.
About the Book
Marvels: The Novelization
By Steve Darnall
Art by Alex Ross
Abrams ComicArts | May 19, 2026
U.S. $26.99
Hardcover | 368 Pages
6 x 9 Inches | Four full-color and four black & white illustrations
Hardcover ISBN: 9781419766411
Steve Darnall first worked with Alex Ross when the two collaborated on a Human Torch story that served as the inspiration for the award–winning 1993 series Marvels. The two later worked together as writer and artist on the graphic novel Uncle Sam and the 2020 anthology Marvel. Darnall also served as a consultant on the movie Being the Ricardos and Ken Burns’s documentary Country Music. He is the editor of Nostalgia Digest magazine and the host of two weekly radio shows dedicated to the golden age of radio.
Alex Ross studied illustration at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, then honed his craft as a storyboard artist before entering the field of comics. His groundbreaking miniseries Marvels created a wider acceptance for painted comics. In 1996, he moved on to produce the equally successful Kingdom Come for DC Comics. At Abrams ComicArts, Ross is also the writer and artist of Fantastic Four: Full Circle (the award-winning national bestseller),The Alex Ross Marvel Comics Poster Book, The Alex Ross Marvel Comics Super Villains Poster Book, and Uncle Sam: Special Election Edition.