Marvel Super-Hero Fact Book

 Posted: 2007
 Staff: The Editor (E-Mail)

Background

The cover of this hardback book features the Fantastic Four, Spidey, Wolverine, and The Hulk. There are five fact files in this book, one for each of those characters, plus another for Storm (who doesn't grace the cover). Also features on the cover is Daredevil, Captain America, and Cyclops, none of whom feature inside.

The lack of accuracy on the cover gives you a pretty good taste of what you might expect inside. The back cover promises that you will discover facts such as the Incredible Hulk's real name and the secret of how Spider-Man gained his super powers on the super-surprise 16" x 16" foldout pages contained inside. Wow.

Story Details

The book is 8.25" x 8.25". Inside are five card pages, each of which can be unfolded into a four-panel super-page of the advertised 16" square. It turns out that you get a full 16" x 16" glossy poster shot - which despite being attached to the book and having the page folds in the middle is still an impressive enough sight.

In addition there are two pages of "facts". For Spider-Man we learn that he gained his powers from a Spidey, that he has speed, strength, agility, stickiness and his spider-sense - plus his mechanical web-shooters. He lost his Uncle Ben (his guilt in this act carefully omitted) and learned that with power, responsibility, yadda yadda.

Repeat four times for the other stars.

General Comments

The interest in this book hinges entirely on the fold-out page gimmick. Otherwise the accuracy and detail of the book is laughable, the art is the same repeated art that we've seen on countless coloring books recently, and the price is pretty hefty for the handful of dubious "facts". This book sells for US $10, and you can buy the Marvel Encyclopedia (Vol. 4) Spider-Man for only double that. So if it's facts you really want, then look elsewhere.

Overall Rating

The foldout pages are glossy and will amuse kids, but even with that in its favor, I can't give this book more than a couple of webs. Content is skimpy and accuracy is poor. Let's be generous and call it two webs.

 Posted: 2007
 Staff: The Editor (E-Mail)