Marvels

I just went to Midtown Comics and bought Marvels HC- and I must say I was suprised by this delightful book. It was wonderfully bound, and had a great picture of Spider-Man on the front cover.
The story is about this journalist/photographer who is trying to fullfill what he thinks his destiny is- photographing a collection of pictures all with a common theme- Marvels, which is his name for the local superheroes. It covers many classic issues, like the coming of Galactus, and the death of Gwen Stacy.
For me, the main superhero in this book is Spider-Man. In the final part, Busiek weaves a tale of the journalist's own personal quest to prove that Spider-Man was not responsible for the death of Captain Stacy, and it all boils up to the shocking climax with a battle between the Green Goblin and Spider-Man, with Gwen Stacy caught in the middle!
I highly reccommend this book- it is a delight to read!

Venom: Dark Origin Mini-Series

Has anyone read the Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Year One book? I'm sure that if you have, you will have placed Zeb Wells as one of your favorite authors. Year One presents the origin of Doctor Octopus from his own point of view. Well, now Zeb Wells is returning with another Year One-themed book named Venom: Dark Origin.
The story tells you about Eddie Brock and his life before and after his attachment to the symbiotic being that Spider-Man himself once wore. It is supposed to reveal much more about Eddie Brock's own life than anyone has previously known. I hope that they keep the origin close to ASM #300, unlike the animated series and the movie which deviated. And he better not turn into a soppy character like he is today. The original idea was that he actually liked the costume, and he was on a personal vendetta against Spider-Man because he had ruined his life when he revealed the real Sin-Eater. Today, in the comics, it's all 'Why did you do this to me?' because of the costume.
I'll pick up the premiere HC when it comes out, and it better be good. I think that the Venom will be like the modern one, mainly because that's the one everybody is most familiar with.