Comics legend Kurt Busiek will oversee a new series of eight double-sized one-shots called Marvels Snapshots, bringing together various creative teams to tell stories spanning the titular publisher's 80-year history.
The press release compares Marvels Snapshots (a title used interchangeably with Marvel Snapshots) to Marvels. Released in 1994, Marvels focuses on how ordinary people see the publisher's biggest heroes and received much critical acclaim upon its release. Alex Ross, who illustrated Marvels, is currently working on an anthology series called Marvel and will provide covers for the Marvels Snapshots one-shots.
Of the series, executive editor Tom Brevoort said, “The Marvels Snapshots books will provide a different perspective on moments throughout Marvel history while also giving a wide range of talent, many of whom are new to Marvel, to play in our sandbox under the expert watch of Kurt Busiek."
The first of the books to release will be Sub-Mariner: Marvels Snapshot #1, by writer Alan Brennert (Twilight Zone) and Jerry Ordway (Crisis on Infinite Earths). Sub-Mariner will be set in World War II and feature Namor in addition to Betty Dean and the All-Winners Squad. You can see the art for the issue below.
In the press release, Brennert said of his upcoming one-shot, “I can honestly say that I enjoyed working on this story more than any comics story I've done in years. I grew up reading (and loving) Marvel's Golden Age heroes in the 1960s, in reprints in Fantasy Masterpieces. But I never thought I'd have a shot at writing them--especially the All-Winners Squad!--and I'm grateful to Kurt Busiek and Tom Brevoort for providing me the opportunity, and to Jerry Ordway for bringing it all to glorious life. I'm enormously proud of ‘Reunion’ and honored to be the first story published in Marvels Snapshots.”
Ordway added, "When I was offered this project, I jumped at it, being a big fan of the original Marvels book by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross. Getting to draw a Sub-Mariner story set in the 1940s, with appearances by the All-Winners Squad, lets me connect with Marvel’s World War II era history, and the work of Subby’s creator, Bill Everett. I’ve been a Marvel maniac from the age of 10, so this is pretty cool! Alan Brennert wrote a great script which fits neatly into the bigger tapestry that is the Marvel Universe. I’m thrilled to get to play in this sandbox after so many years as an artist."
It was not announced what other creatives will work on the Marvels Snapshots books or the characters on whom they'll focus.
Marvels Snapshots will launch in March with Sub-Marner: Marvels Snapshot #1.