Making the dream comics list is a difficult prospect, especially for a publisher like Marvel. Not to mention the breadth of characters, and the 85-year history to consider. Marvel: Unforgettable Stories manages to pull off what should have been an impossible feat, thanks to the labor of love from Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum. The two are not experts in the world of comics. They served as showrunners on Hulu’s excellent but short-lived MODOK series and most recently created Dark Horse’s Minor Threat series.
Oswalt and Blum recently sat down with AIPT to discuss the recently released Marvel: Unforgettable Stories and tackle the biggest questions first. How on earth did they narrow it down to just 10 episodes?
“It wasn’t like killing a loved one,” Oswalt said of the selection process. “We chose stories that meant a lot to us.” Blum also said that their favorite characters influenced their selection: “I’m an X-Men guy and Patton’s a Spider-Man/Daredevil guy.” added.
True to form, this collection features these characters. The list of published stories includes Amazing Spider-Man #33 (featuring the infamous “If This Be My Destiny” sequence in which Peter Parker lifts a mountain of machinery); X-Factor #87 (gives insight into Quicksilver’s mind); and Daredevil #191 (the darkest “roulette” story, a gem of Frank Miller’s outstanding work on Man Without Fear). There are also some more modern recommendations, such as the first issue of Runaways (of which I am a humble fan). . But another feature Marvel: Unforgettable Stories boasts is that each story has been scanned from its original format, preserving the feeling of actually holding the issue in your hands. This is a format that Blum loves.
“I’m not a fan of reprints. They tend to lose their color,” he said. “But this… it’s like holding the original newspaper in your hand.”
Courtesy of the Folio Society.
Marvel: Unforgettable Stories is brought to you courtesy of Folio Society, which has previously published similar collections about Marvel heroes such as Spider-Man and the Avengers. For Oswalt, curating Unforgettable Stories was actually quite easy.
“They contacted us,” he said. “I’ve been to the Folio Society, visited their archives, looked at their books…this was easy!” Help curate Folio Society’s other collections When asked if he had, Oswalt didn’t hesitate and added, “I’ll do it right away.”
Oswalt and Blum were also kind enough to talk about how they got their start in comics, which inevitably ties into their work on Marvel: Unforgettable Stories.
“They were just a part of my life,” Oswalt said. “I love color and I love larger-than-life elements.”
For Blum, he says his love of comics began with reading them with his father.
“That’s how I learned to speak English,” Blum said.
It’s not hard to see how both men went from reading manga to writing manga. Blum has one project in mind.
“I want to write big crossover events. I know they tend to break people,” he said with a laugh. “But if I could get this done, I’d be happy,” Oswalt quipped on the topic, adding, “I’ve pretty much gotten everything done at this point.”
Special praise was also given to the cover of Marvel: Unforgettable Stories, which features stunning artwork by Marcos Martin (Doctor Strange: The Oath, Batgirl: Year One). In a way, this is part of what makes Unforgettable Stories the “perfect package” so to speak, the iconic imagery that surrounds stories that cover a wide range of the Marvel Universe. Oswalt and Blum are not only great creators, but also great curators. The content and presentation of Unforgettable Stories makes it the perfect gift for lifelong Marvel readers or anyone looking for an entryway into the world of comics.
Courtesy of the Folio Society.
Marvel: Unforgettable Stories is available now through Folio Society.
