‘Mighty Marvel Calendar Book: A Visual History’ (review)

Written by Chris Ryall
Introduction by Roy Thomas
Published by Marvel/Abrams Books

I have exactly ONE of the seven Marvel calendars that began coming out in the mid-1970s. I had six at one time but sold four about a decade back. I would’ve sold this one with them except I couldn’t find it then! There was one I never had, having opted to go with a Star Trek calendar that year, instead.

I get to see it now, though, as well as to revisit the other ultra-fun ones in the new Abrams collection entitled The Mighty Marvel Calendar Book-A Visual History.

Former IDW chief Chris Ryall is listed as the book’s author and he does, in fact, offer some informative history and perspective throughout but mainly the beautifully reproduced monthly calendar art and pages are allowed to speak for themselves.

Let’s face it, True Believer, if you were there at the time, this book is nostalgia personified. From Roy Thomas’s detailed but succinct history of the project up front to the history of Bronze Age Marvel told between the lines of every page, one can practically drown in the memories.

But what if you weren’t there? What if you weren’t even born in the seventies and have just discovered Marvel from the MCU movies? Good news! The Mighty Marvel Calendar Book highlights some of the best full-color single illustrations you will ever find of the classic Marvel superheroes, and often by the artists most associated with them, most never before reprinted anywhere.

Just a few examples: Spider-Man by John Romita, Conan the Barbarian by Barry Windsor-Smith, The Invaders by Frank Robbins, Captain America by Jack Kirby, Dr. Strange by Frank Brunner, Dracula by Gene Colan, Hulk by Herb Trimpe, X-Men by John Byrne and Terry Austin, and Daredevil by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson.

Along with those names, you also have art from Michael Golden, Rudy Nebres, Keith Pollard, Gil Kane, Jim Mooney John Buscema, Bob Layton, Joe Sinnott, Tom Palmer, George Perez, Bill Sienkiewicz, Ross Andru, Mike Zeck, and numerous other names well-known to Bronze-Age Marvel aficionados.

And after you’ve stared at each impressive page (and almost all of them really are impressive) long enough, the real fun begins as you can actually “read” the 365 days per year (366 on Leap Year) and enjoy highlights of Marvel history, characters, and creators. You’ll find a ton of humorous gags, too, as well as artist and writer photos. In fact, this was the only place I ever saw photos of quite a few of these folks!

There were specialty calendars for Marvel’s TV stars of the era, The Hulk and Spidey, as well as one for Dr. Strange, just in case his TV movie had resulted in a third Marvel series. It did not, of course, but at least his calendar is a real treat!

My personal favorite, though, was always the Bicentennial calendar, from 1976. It depicts many of our Marvel favorites in fanciful images connected in one way or another with American history or patriotism. We were all so patriotic that year. It’s bittersweet as I write this just after the 2024 election. Sigh…

Anyway, the Mighty Marvel Calendar Book is a book to treasure.

As someone once said, it’s hard to recognize the good old days when you’re in them. Much has been written about the tumultuous behind-the-scenes goings on at Marvel in the 1970s but despite everything that happened, many first-class comics runs were produced, and many an enjoyable project like the Mighty Marvel Calendars came out of it.

I mean, outside of Marilyn Monroe’s famous calendar, who even gives another thought to them once the year changes? Here’s your chance!

Booksteve recommends.