Drawing on more than 100 original interviews with Marvel insiders then and now, MARVEL COMICS is a story of fertile imaginations, lifelong friendships, action-packed fistfights, reformed criminals, unlikely alliances, and third-act betrayals --- a narrative of one of the most extraordinary, beloved and beleaguered pop cultural entities in America's history.

Drawing on more than 100 original interviews with Marvel insiders then and now, MARVEL COMICS is a story of fertile imaginations, lifelong friendships, action-packed fistfights, reformed criminals, unlikely alliances, and third-act betrayals --- a narrative of one of the most extraordinary, beloved and beleaguered pop cultural entities in America's history.

An unvarnished, unauthorized, behind-the-scenes account of one of the most dominant pop cultural forces in contemporary America.

Operating out of a tiny office on Madison Avenue in the early 1960s, a struggling company called Marvel Comics presented a cast of brightly costumed characters distinguished by smart banter and compellingly human flaws. Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Captain America, the Incredible Hulk, the Avengers, Iron Man, Thor, the X-Men, Daredevil --- these superheroes quickly won children's hearts and sparked the imaginations of pop artists, public intellectuals, and campus radicals. Over the course of a half century, Marvel's epic universe would become the most elaborate fictional narrative in history and serve as a modern American mythology for millions of readers.

Throughout this decades-long journey to becoming a multibillion-dollar enterprise, Marvel's identity has continually shifted, careening between scrappy underdog and corporate behemoth. As the company has weathered Wall Street machinations, Hollywood failures, and the collapse of the comic book market, its characters have been passed along among generations of editors, artists, and writers --- also known as the celebrated Marvel "Bullpen." Entrusted to carry on tradition, Marvel's contributors --- impoverished child prodigies, hallucinating peaceniks, and mercenary careerists among them --- struggled with commercial mandates, a fickle audience, and, over matters of credit and control, one another.

For the first time, MARVEL COMICS reveals the outsized personalities behind the scenes, including Martin Goodman, the self-made publisher who forayed into comics after a get-rich-quick tip in 1939; Stan Lee, the energetic editor who would shepherd the company through thick and thin for decades; and Jack Kirby, the World War II veteran who'd co-created Captain America in 1940 and, twenty years later, developed with Lee the bulk of the company's marquee characters in a three-year frenzy of creativity that would be the grounds for future legal battles and endless debates.

Drawing on more than one hundred original interviews with Marvel insiders then and now, MARVEL COMICS is a story of fertile imaginations, lifelong friendships, action-packed fistfights, reformed criminals, unlikely alliances, and third-act betrayals --- a narrative of one of the most extraordinary, beloved, and beleaguered pop cultural entities in America's history.

Jill Anthony finds her husband in bed with another woman; Lisa Carlucci is sick and tired of having meaningless sex; and 10-year-old Cassie Jones no longer believes in anything anymore after losing her mother to cancer. The lives of these three people, who are at the crossroads of heartbreak and healing, will be changed one winter in Sparkle.

Jill Anthony finds her husband in bed with another woman; Lisa Carlucci is sick and tired of having meaningless sex; and 10-year-old Cassie Jones no longer believes in anything anymore after losing her mother to cancer. The lives of these three people, who are at the crossroads of heartbreak and healing, will be changed one winter in Sparkle.

Set in a Colorado ski town, Kaya McLaren's HOW I CAME TO SPARKLE AGAIN is a remarkable breakout novel that chronicles three people and their journey from loss to love; heartbreak to hope

Jill Anthony spent her young adulthood in the ski town of Sparkle, Colorado. But more than a decade has passed since she left when, only weeks after a very late miscarriage, she finds her husband in bed with another woman, she flees Austin, Texas for the town she knows: Sparkle. 

Seventeen-year-old Dodger may be a street urchin, but he gleans a living from London's sewers, and he knows a jewel when he sees one. He's not about to let anything happen to the unknown girl --- not even if her fate impacts some of the most powerful people in England.

Seventeen-year-old Dodger may be a street urchin, but he gleans a living from London's sewers, and he knows a jewel when he sees one. He's not about to let anything happen to the unknown girl --- not even if her fate impacts some of the most powerful people in England.

When news reports start appearing of a zombie outbreak in Ireland, B's racist father thinks it's a joke --- but even if it isn't, he figures, it's ok to lose a few Irish. B decides it's easier to take out his father's hateful tendencies on his fellow classmates, until zombies attack the school. B is forced on a mad dash through the serpentine corridors of high school, making allegiances with anyone with enough gall to fight off their pursuers

When news reports start appearing of a zombie outbreak in Ireland, B's racist father thinks it's a joke --- but even if it isn't, he figures, it's ok to lose a few Irish. B decides it's easier to take out his father's hateful tendencies on his fellow classmates, until zombies attack the school. B is forced on a mad dash through the serpentine corridors of high school, making allegiances with anyone with enough gall to fight off their pursuers

When news reports start appearing of a zombie outbreak in Ireland, B's racist father thinks it's a joke --- but even if it isn't, he figures, it's ok to lose a few Irish.

No one willingly walks through the Suicide Gates, into a place smothered in darkness and infested with depraved creatures. But Lela isn’t just anyone – she’s determined to save her best friend’s soul, even if it means sacrificing her eternal afterlife.

No one willingly walks through the Suicide Gates, into a place smothered in darkness and infested with depraved creatures. But Lela isn’t just anyone – she’s determined to save her best friend’s soul, even if it means sacrificing her eternal afterlife.

With the defeat of the evil Douglas behind him, Sam LaCroix is getting used to his new life as a powerful necromancer. Still, he’s not exactly sure how to use all the power he possesses. But when everything starts falling apart, he decides it’s time to step up and take control. His attempts to do so just bring up more questions, though, the most important of which is more than a little alarming: Is Douglas really dead?

With the defeat of the evil Douglas behind him, Sam LaCroix is getting used to his new life as a powerful necromancer. Still, he’s not exactly sure how to use all the power he possesses. But when everything starts falling apart, he decides it’s time to step up and take control. His attempts to do so just bring up more questions, though, the most important of which is more than a little alarming: Is Douglas really dead?

Just because Mel lives in a city founded by vampires doesn't mean she knows any personally. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school and Mel's best friend, Cathy, starts falling for him. On top of trying to help Cathy, Mel is investigating the disappearance of another friend. Soon, she finds herself hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.

Just because Mel lives in a city founded by vampires doesn't mean she knows any personally. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school and Mel's best friend, Cathy, starts falling for him. On top of trying to help Cathy, Mel is investigating the disappearance of another friend. Soon, she finds herself hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.

To regain the power and wealth her family has lost, Sarah makess a bargain with Azrael, Lord of Darkwater Hall. He gives her 100 years and the means to accomplish her objective --- in exchange for her soul. One-hundred years later, Tom dreams of attending Darkwater Hall School and meets a professor named Azrael, who offers him a bargain. Will Sarah be able to stop Tom from making the same mistake she did a century ago?

To regain the power and wealth her family has lost, Sarah makess a bargain with Azrael, Lord of Darkwater Hall. He gives her 100 years and the means to accomplish her objective --- in exchange for her soul. One-hundred years later, Tom dreams of attending Darkwater Hall School and meets a professor named Azrael, who offers him a bargain. Will Sarah be able to stop Tom from making the same mistake she did a century ago?

What would you sell your soul for?

Sixteen-year-old Sarah Trevelyan would give anything to regain the power and wealth her family has lost, so she makes a bargain with Azrael, Lord of Darkwater Hall. He gives her one hundred years and the means to accomplish her objective --- in exchange for her soul. Fast-forward a hundred years to Tom, a 15-year-old boy who dreams of attending Darkwater Hall School but doesn't believe he has the talent. Until he meets a professor named Azrael, who offers him a bargain. Will Sarah be able to stop Tom from making the same mistake she did a century ago?

This is smart fantasy mixed with elements of horror from master storyteller Catherine Fisher. She says, "Darkwater Hall is an image of the power and knowledge we all desire. But what will we pay for them, and are they worth the price?"