Adam Bray on Marvel Absolutely Everything You Need to Know
The Adventures of the Everyday Fangirl welcomes author Adam Bray to talk about his latest project for DK Books, Marvel Absolutely Everything You Need to Know.
Adam Bray at Motor City Comic Con
What was you first introduction to the Marvel Universe?
My earliest memories of Marvel are from watching the Incredible Hulk TV show with Lou Ferrigno, and the Spider-Man cartoons in the 1980’s. I loved the cartoons, but it always seemed like the same two episodes were playing every time I turned it on!
Who is your favorite Marvel character and why?
Spider-Man! I think it’s probably because of the life-long connection I have with the character since my early childhood, and of all the Marvel characters he’s arguably had the most spotlight, so he is the most familiar. Peter Parker as a characters is so relatable. He deals with real-world problems in addition to his more fanciful superhero challenges.
What is the story of how you were approached to work on Marvel Absolutely Everything You Need to Know?
This is my first Marvel book. I’d been wanting to branch out to Marvel for a long time, so I was thrilled when DK asked me to join the team of authors. I’d already co-authored a Star Wars book with the same format, so DK was happy to have someone on the team who already had experience as we figured out what works best for the “Absolutely Everything You Need to Know” books.
What areas of this book did you work on?
I really worked on a dream line-up! My parts included Spider-Man, Doc Oc and Norman Osborn, Captain America, Red Skull, Daredevil, the Avengers, the Civil War, Hank Pym, The Wasp and Ultron, among others…
What kind of research did you have to do for this?
Lots! Months of it! I was surrounded by DK reference books, Marvel comics and the internet, reading all day long about each of the characters, teams, objects and events that I wrote about. One of the things I enjoy about writing any book is the opportunity to learn. And I learned SO MUCH while researching and writing this book!
What is your favorite character or section to work on and why?
All things Spider-man, for the reasons mentioned previously. Captain America was probably a close second. His sort of pseudo-historical background tie-ins (as it relates to world war history) is fascinating, and it’s nice to have an old-fashioned patriotic American good-guy. Those are becoming less common in entertainment media these days—so oddly, it’s actually very refreshing! Ultron was also really fascinating as I learned more and more about him. He’s a complicated character!
Who inspires and encourages you to continue to work as a writer?
Ultimately it’s my own internal drive to keep working with this great material, be creative and make my own contributions, and develop my career as a writer. But I look to the other authors and artists making Marvel comics, as well as the teams making great Marvel movies. Their creativity, art and achievements inspire me to keep going, and give me lots of great material to work with. The same is of course true for Star Wars too!
Is there anything else you would like to share about Marvel Absolutely Everything You Need to Know?
It’s a very fun book, and it will appeal to any fan, regardless of their age, and whether they are new to Marvel, a casual fan or a life-long expert. Marvel content is so vast that nobody can know everything, so there’s lots for anyone to learn within the pages of our book! It’s full of countless fun facts, trivia, and all the essentials to get a well-rounded foundation regarding Marvel’s characters, teams, artifacts and events.
Where can fans find you?
I’ll be signing Marvel: AEYNTK at Wizard World Chicago, August 18-21, Capital City Comic-Con in East Lansing, MI on August 27, and of course in one of the cities as part of the Marvel Absolutely Everything You Need to Know Book Tour, http://www.dk.com/us/explore/events/marvel-absolutely-everything-you-need-to-know-book-tour/
and of course people can find me on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/authoradambray
Marvel Absolutely Everything You Need To Know is packed with fun facts, bizarre-but-true tales, and quirky insights into everyone’s favorite Marvel comic characters, including The Avengers, Spider-Man, and Daredevil.
Discover why the Hulk comes in three different varieties—green, gray, and red—and how a frog once gained Thor’s powers! This unique guide sheds light on the most fascinating corner of the Marvel Comics Universe, from secrets of the Super Heroes to the making of Marvel’s finest and strangest comic moments.
From behind-the-scenes revelations to strange and interesting facts, Marvel Absolutely Everything You Need to Know will surprise and delight new and die-hard Marvel fans.
Available now via Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books A Million, Indiebound, Walmart and other retailers.
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