And You Thought It Would Fail: A model used for the book told Alex Ross that there was no future for sequential painted storytelling. Imagine his surprise as Marvels has been critically acclaimed, won two Eisner Awards, and launched Ross's career as a comic book painter as well as setting him up as a standard for other painters in the medium.
Genius Bonus: In the first issue, there's a shot of someone dressed in light blue, in a red cape and criss-cross anklets, jumping across roofs. However, the figure's face is never shown, and they do not speak one line or appear later. But fans who have studied Marvel's early years as Timely Comics or read the Marvels Project will know that person as The Angel.
The first appearance of the Human Torch outright scared Phineas Horton's audience, and much later, Namor's sudden Face–Heel Turn and subsequent global attack on humanity is presented as this.
Galactus' invasion of Earth. Even though a reader knows the Fantastic Four will save the day, from the perspective of the average person it truly feels like The End of the World as We Know It is about to happen.
The high levels of extreme prejudice in the story. When the portion of the "Anti-Mutant" arc rolls around the corner. It really hits home hard on how far the populace reacts (with Phil for a brief time included) on those that they deem as 'not human'.
Ugly Cute: Maggie, the little mutant girl whom Phil's daughters befriend, whose head looks like a skull.
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