Reprints 1985 #1-6. Toby Goodman's love of superheroes comes to life in 1985 when the Marvel Universe invades Earth. The concept of 1985 is interesting and there are parts that are good, but the story really gets bogged down in the second half. It took too long to get to the super-heroes and villains in comparison to how long a "fan" got to interact with his heroes. I would have like to see more of Toby's Marvel Universe portion at least to balance out the story. I heard so many rave reviews about this mini-series since last year. I finally bought the hardcover edition, read it, and realized why it was getting the rave reviews. 1985 is a love letter to comic book fans and to the creators of the Marvel Universe, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, et. al. I loved the concept of Toby, a 13 year old boy who is an avid comic book fan who has to get the Marvel super-heroes he knows and loves to save his town from carnage and havoc of super-villains who have landed in "our world." I also loved the "bad-guys" in Toby's world - his mom who thinks reading comics will rot his mind (she even rips up his comics like my mom did as a punishment, and his yuppie scum of a step-father who is only concerned with his Cadillac. Yet, Toby's dad, a lovable, bearded loser, understands his son and believes him when Toby tells him that he has seen Marvel super-villains at an old house in town. What transpires is a horrifying look at what would happen if super-villains were part of our world (killing without scruples and reasoning). Needless to say, the ending was too quick. I was actually sorely disappointed when I reached the sixth chapter (issue, whatever) and realized the story was about to end. I wish Mark Millar and Tommy Lee Edwards would have given more depth to the characters and that we saw more of the back-story behind who sends these villains to our world (I'm not telling, just read it!). The other thing is the art - it was a little sloppy and I think it would have been more appropriate to have one artist draw the real world that Toby is experiencing and have someone like John Byrne or George Perez (two of the top artists to draw books during 1985) to draw the Marvel Universe scenes. There is, however, some difference, where the colors of the real world are darker while the colors of the MU are bright and almost vividly blinding. I would've also like to see more of the MU through Toby's eyes instead of the two scenes that are in place (which are funny nonetheless).
What do You think about 1985 (2009)?
Fantastic! Seriously, one of the absolute best graphic novels I've read this year.
—Pooja
unapolagetic comic book geek Mark Millar, with another homage to the genre!
—MARU205
Cute concept, very nostalgic. Probably won't remember this book in a year.
—Mills41403
