Marvel StudiosMarvel Cinematic Universe is arguably the most far-reaching and intricate fictional plane ever created for the big screen. So it makes sense, then, that the story behind this successful media empire would be just as far-reaching, intricate and vast as its universe. The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe chronicles the journey of what is now one of the most powerful Hollywood studios, with authors Tara Bennett and Paul Terry detailing Marvel Studios' history from the '90s -- when Marvel entered the movie industry -- through 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home and beyond.

This two-volume, 512-page deluxe book set is made up mostly of interviews with executives, cast and crew from all corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Kevin Feige, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Pratt, Scarlett Johansson, Hayley Atwell, Ryan Coogler and James Gunn are just a few of the dozens of individuals who pop up to tell their part of the story. Along the way, MCU fans are bound to come across new info about some of their favorite superhero tales.

Bennett and Terry do an excellent job of weaving together all the interviews to provide a coherent and detailed narrative. However, with so much going in the studio all the time, the two are forced to jump from movie to movie, which can make it hard to keep track of who left what where. The latest developments of Thor: The Dark World get a bit hazy after spending several pages on Iron Man 3Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Age of Ultron.

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Still, the book works best when read with a wider lens. Everyone and everything has an arc. Robert Downey Jr. goes from a B-list actor who struggled with sobriety to an international sensation who cares deeply for the fans and the character of Tony Stark. Marvel Studio's heavyweights Victoria Alonso, Louis D'esposito and Nate Moore work their way up from low-level producers to Hollywood powerhouses. A Black Panther script that started receiving treatment in 2010 becomes a billion-dollar box office hit in 2018. Everything builds upon everything else that came before.

Not everything made the cut for Bennett and Terry’s retelling, though. Details regarding why Terrence Howard and Edward Norton did not return as James Rhodes and Bruce Banner, respectively, after their initial outings are scarce. While the book touches upon Edgar Wright and Patty Jenkins' failed efforts to direct MCU films, they -- along with Howard and Norton -- are unfortunately never given a chance to voice their side of the story. The Marvel Creative Committee's decision to remove Rebecca Hall as the main villain of Iron Man 3 is also given little treatment, and the firing (and rehiring) of James Gunn from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is never mentioned.

However, what the written narrative lacks is made up for by the dozens of previously unpublished behind-the-scenes photography, archival production material and personal photos from the cast and crew. Marvel Studios artists Ryan Meinerding, Charlie Wen and Andy Park's provide plenty of concept art that gives fans a look at how Feige and company were picturing the films before they made it to the silver screen.

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Reading Bennett and Terry's words makes one realize just how much the MCU has changed Hollywood itself, for better and for worse. It helped launch the careers of Hemsworth, Holland and Chadwick Boseman in front of the camera and solidified the work of Coogler, Gunn and the Russo brothers behind it. It brought film technology to new heights, setting the groundwork for Jon Favreau's work on The Jungle Book and The Mandalorian. It gave comic books a level of exposure never seen before, boosting their public respect while exacerbating Hollywood's reliance on IP, sequels and reboots.

The Story of Marvel Studios focuses less on the IP that grossed $23.3 billion in box office revenue and more on the cast and crew. But that is exactly Bennett and Terry's point. A film's success does not come from its IP alone. It's about the people who are assembled to bring the vision to life. That is the true story of Marvel Studios, a story that the rest of Hollywood would be wise to take note of.

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