Review by C.J. Bunce
If you’re a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Comics, and animation, and if you’ve read any of the books in the library of art books from Marvel in the Disney+ streaming era, you might find the latest book in the series to be the most fun. Like the previously released Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse–The Art of the Movie (reviewed here), The Art of Marvel Studios’ What If…? (now available here at Amazon) provides a very different examination of moviemaking from the live-action books in the series. No reader of Marvel Comics hasn’t imagined taking their favorite superheroes and villains and looking at them in a new way. The “What If…” comics series that originated in the 1970s was the very source of Natalie Portman’s alternate Thor, courtesy of Donald Glut and Rick Hoberg. So it makes sense Marvel showrunner Kevin Feige would push the comic title further as a springboard for the then-new Disney+ streaming service.
Taking characters from the big screen fans grew to love, then finding the actors inhabiting the characters supplying the voices in unique new stories is one of the best uses of comics adapted for the screen. You’ll find how it was done in this book. Borrowing the style for the series from illustrator J.C. Leyendecker, the challenge was bridging what fans saw and knew from live-action into something they hadn’t seen before in animation.
Ultimately the series would be about experimenting with mash-ups and crossovers, beginning with the look of Peggy Carter transitioned into Captain Carter, complete with a Union Jack on her shield instead of the star and circle. When you think of Jack Kirby and space fantasy, what better a centerpiece for the series than The Watcher, and who better to provide his voice than Jeffrey Wright?
All the original concept artwork from the development team looks like finished posters from pin-up artist Ant Lucia–it’s surprising these images haven’t already been released in some form. Fans of concept art will be happy to see most of the book includes double-page spreads of art. The rest of the book features production and story development strategy and decision-making.
Contributors include character artists Ryan Magno, Amelia Vidal, and Joshua Shaw, production designers Paul Lasaine, Cynthia Halley, and Kristina Vardazaryan, director and executive producer Bryan Andrews, and head writer A.C. Bradley, along with visual head Ryan Meinerding.
Readers will find pages of storyboards in thumbnail form, along with environmental layouts and final screen shots. Brad Winderbaum provides a foreword and Bryan Andrews an afterword. The book is an oversized hardcover with an attractive dust jacket design.
It’s a fun addition to the library of Marvel behind-the-scenes books from Titan Books. The Art of Marvel Studios’ What If…? is now available here at Amazon.
