COMICS HISTORY | 13th Dimension, Comics, Creators, Culture

Sep17

THE COLOR OF MARVEL: Gorgeous New Book Explores Underappreciated Art of Comics Coloring

Posted by Dan Greenfield on Sep 17, 2026

THE COLOR OF MARVEL: Gorgeous New Book Explores Underappreciated Art of Comics Coloring

PLUS, A SNEAK PEEK: Highlighting the work of some of the industry’s top colorists — then and now… Chronicle Books in October will be publishing The Color of Marvel, a hardcover exploration of the role color plays in comics and the artistry that goes into it. I’ve seen a gajillion books about comics that focus on a gajillion different things, but I think this is the first one I’ve seen of its kind. Dig the official description, followed by 13 spreads from the book: THE COLOR OF MARVEL: MORE THAN 60 YEARS OF ICONIC COMICS ART Introduction by Douglas Wolk A beautifully curated visual journey through Marvel Comics, this gorgeous book explores the essential role of color in graphic storytelling, from subtle mood shifts to bold, iconic moments. Experience Marvel’s dynamic storytelling in an eye-opening spectrum of color with this gallery of comics covers, pages, and panels. Featuring more than 300 images from across Marvel Comics’ history, this book carefully and boldly assembles moments in which color accentuates a story beat, conveys emotion, draws the viewer into a moment, guides the eye, and more. Sequenced from white through the full rainbow spectrum to black, the collection offers a unique visual celebration of how Marvel colorists use color—both individually and in combination—to shape meaning and mood. Whether it’s the play of a costume hue, a subtle or sudden shift in environment, a burst of power, or a hint of menace, each selection makes clear the power of color in every Marvel Comics story. Fans, artists, and graphic novel enthusiasts will gain a fresh perspective on comics through this insightful exploration of color as a fundamental element of storytelling. KEY MOMENTS AND CHARACTERS: Showcasing the work of colorists who contribute to key series and unforgettable issues and runs of Amazing Spider-Man, Daredevil, The Uncanny X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Fantastic Four, The Avengers, Captain America, Black Panther, Hawkeye, Doctor Strange, Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, and more. A CELEBRATION OF THE ART OF COLORISTS: Featuring the work of Laura Allred, Jordie Bellaire, Tamra Bonvillain, Ian Herring, Matt Hollingsworth, Richmond Lewis, Glynis Oliver, Javier Rodriguez, Alex Ross, George Roussos, Christie Scheele, Marie Severin, Lynn Varley, Matt Wilson, and many other color artists. INTRODUCTION BY DOUGLAS WOLK: The two-time Eisner-winning author of All of the Marvels (for which he read all 27,000 Marvel comics...

Sep17

The TOP 13 ROGER STERN AVENGERS Stories — RANKED

Posted by Dan Greenfield on Sep 17, 2026

The TOP 13 ROGER STERN AVENGERS Stories — RANKED

A BIRTHDAY SALUTE by Fred Van Lente. Good times… — UPDATED 9/17/26: Roger Stern turns 76! Perfect time to re-present this piece, which ran on the writer’s birthday in 2020 in slightly different form. Dig it. — Dan — Whether you love him from Spider-Man, the Avengers, Superman, Doctor Strange or any of the other major characters he’s chronicled over the decades, Roger Stern remains one of comics’ most popular writers. Stern — born Sept. 17, 1950 — is turning 76, so as a birthday salute, comics writer-cum-13th Dimension contributor Fred Van Lente has pulled together the TOP 13 ROGER STERN AVENGERS STORIES — RANKED. Dig it. By FRED VAN LENTE Hi, my name is Fred Van Lente, and I read old comics so you don’t have to. Or, more accurately, I read a metric crap-ton of old comics, and then I come and tell you which 13 of those you should read, somewhat arbitrarily ranked in order of preference, because the human brain has developed a Pavlovian attraction to listicles. *** Happy birthday to one of the best writers The Avengers ever had, Roger Stern. In the 1980s this was the Marvel Universe’s Book of Record, in a way it wouldn’t be again until Brian Michael Bendis took over the title in 2005. Except Bendis set the agenda, while too often the Stern Avengers were reacting to it: when the Casket of Ancient Winters opened in Thor, when Galactus ate the Skrull homeworld in FF, when Jean Grey came back to life in X-Factor, the Avengers were dragooned to comment on it like they were CNN talking-heads and not policy-makers in their own right. Stern’s Avengers was the Village Bicycle of Marvel continuity; every other title (Spider-Woman, for Christ’s sake) got to take a ride, long before whining about endless crossovers got trendy. But somehow Stern never let that get in the way of his fine sense of character and ability to dream up a spectacular action sequence. The Avengers has always been my favorite Marvel book, and the Stern era lasted much of the 1980s, producing some of the title’s best moments. Here’s my TOP 13 picks, beginning with what to me is a very special one. 13. The Avengers #286: The Fix Is On! This is something of an Honorable Mention, but a deeply felt personal...

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