Super Graphics Visual Guide has just released Marvel Super Graphics: A Visual Guide to the Marvel Comics Universe. The latest in a series of visual compilations of infographics, this latest book from a talented editorial director and author, Liang Tiantian Visual guidelines that follow Star Wars and comic book themes.
This 175-page Marvel Super Graphic is perfect as a coffee table book, filled with interesting statistics and graphics. It uses events, charts, and random snippets of Marvel history as a beginner’s guide, presenting easily accessible data in a visual realm.
The original Super Graphics Visual Guide to Comics has some fun tidbits, like a guide to comics’ various multiverses or ranking and listing the wealth of the richest comic book characters. This Marvel book is more focused on being a beginner’s guide for anyone interested in learning about the history of Marvel Comics, perfect for fans of the Marvel Universe getting into comics.
exist Marvel Super Graphics: A Visual Guideyou’ll learn random infographic facts like Drax’s magical ability to play the saxophone, and check out a visual guide to Marvel’s Grimoire. Personal favorites include Marvel’s map of Manhattan, a comparison of the Infinity Stones and the Mandarin’s rings in terms of abilities and colors, and a detailed analysis of the Quiet Council of Krakoa. There’s even some great stuff I didn’t know existed, like a list of the indestructible Mjolnir being actually destroyed every time.
If you want to know more, check out Tim Leong’s interview.
Christian Angel: You’ve been making super picture books for over a decade. You won many awards for your first work, and you have a great eye for presentation. What do you think is the appeal of these books to everyday readers?
Tim Liang: At its core, Marvel Super Graphic is here to help you. The Marvel Universe is so big—decades of great stories and characters. This book is a guide that gives you conversation-worthy information you didn’t know before and introduces you to characters and stories you may not have known existed.
Angeles: You have an impressive resume, from your roots at Comic Foundry to your role at Entertainment Weekly. Can you walk us through how your journey began and where it ends today?
Liang: certainly. I have a journalism degree from the University of Missouri, with a concentration in magazine design. After college, I went straight to New York to work in the art department at Men’s Health magazine. Around that time, I got the idea for Comic Foundry, which started out as a resource site for aspiring comics artists and writers—at a time when Friendster was still the number one social networking site. As a way to get people to the site, we do a lot of creator interviews that really have a focus on process and education.
The content took off and we ended up focusing solely on articles and interviews, eventually turning it into a print magazine. That magazine had run its course, and I refocused my attention on other magazines, working at Complex, Wired, Fortune, and then as entertainment creative director and associate editor at Entertainment Weekly. But even when I’m not covering comics directly, I always try to incorporate comic books into every magazine I work for. I frequently hire comics artists to illustrate articles in magazines and continually promote stories and coverage of important comics and creators.
Angeles: Can you talk about your graphic design background in making these books? Do you do it yourself? Is there a team? Who picks the themes?
Liang: certainly. The first book and the latest book are 100% my creation. I did all the research, writing, and design.
How did I choose my topic? That’s what interests me. Writing a book is a difficult task and you have to be 100% interested in it. If I’m interested, I bet others are too.
For Star Wars Super Graphics, the timeline was shorter, so I had some help creating some background design templates with the Imperial Corridor pattern, and help creating some character icons.
Angel: Why choose Marvel compared to the history of DC or Image?
Liang: I do like DC, but Marvel is my first love. It was my first introduction to comics—Spider-Man, then X-Men—so Marvel has always had a special place in my heart.
Angelis: How does Marvel Super Graphics: A Visual Guide to the Marvel Comics Universe differ from the original?
Liang: I definitely try to make some changes to the design of each book. This latest book leans more towards gradients and textures to give the look a slightly different feel. Marvel Super Graphic also has a new recurring feature called Story Spotlight. They are a chart of some important books and storylines that I think people should read. Classics such as “Days of Future Past” and “Daredevil: Rebirth”.
Angeles: I love a lot of the fun information and icons in your book, but if you had to pick some of your favorite parts from this Marvel book, what would it be? It can be for any reason.
Liang: I strive to make every page interesting—a blend of insight, beautiful design, and interesting text. I want it to be candy. So I always try to work with jokes – both visually and textually. My favorite intro is a chart about the character’s eye color, which also happens to be one of my favorite designs. It reads: “Some people think comic book characters are too dark. In fact, they’re colorful – just look at their eyes. See? Alice is my case. Even for me, pun rate per page Also very high.
ANGELES: Based on your knowledge of comics, what are your thoughts on comics today? Especially considering how big it is and how difficult it is to get people’s attention.
Liang: There are many good books now. FML by Kelly Sue DeConnick and David Lopez, NEW by Gail Simone and David Marquez The Uncanny X-Men series, Ice Cream Man by W. Maxwell Prince and Martin Morazzo. I just received a rare flavor deal from Ram V and Felipe Andrade and can’t wait to read it.
That said, I think you’re 100% right – while there are a lot of great books out there, it’s getting harder and harder to get proper attention. The world of comics journalism is more fragmented than ever. Whoever solves the discoverability problem wins.
Angel: Finally, I ask everyone this question, what advice would you give to someone who wants to get into the comics journalism industry today?
Liang: My advice is to be specific about what you want to do. Especially if you are launching a new product. With so many websites and channels out there, expressing your opinion has never been easier. So whatever you can do to make your point of view concrete will only help – not only to stand out, but to help you develop your own voice and perspective in the content you want to cover.
