A fantastic look behind the scenes of the biggest film franchise of the last twenty years. A great read for anyone interested in movies and production, even if your interest in Marvel isn’t very strong.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I love the MCU and Marvel Comics, and it was fun to see some of the background of the story. It was fun to see some of the behind the scenes gossip without it being too dishy. I was pleasantly surprised at the willingness of the authors to be critical of some of the decision making, as the book started off like it was going to be a hagiography of Kevin Feige and the MCU. In some ways, it still was, but the willingness to engage with the lack of quality of some of the MCU output was nice. I would have liked to see more of an in-depth discussion of the artistic merit of the MCU and not just a look at their ability to get butts into movie theater seats. It was briefly addressed in the sections about Black Panther and a couple other movies, but considering the monolithic nature of the studio, a little discussion on how they've affected Hollywood would have gone a long way. Mostly straight reportage, which is still enjoyable.

My family is BIG on MCU and all things Marvel, and my husband and I both really enjoyed this behind-the-scenes book. So many interesting tidbits! A fun non-fiction read that even a casual fan of Marvel would enjoy.

The depth and breadth of exclusive uncensored details in this book will make it a vital archive for years to come. While still incomplete and imperfect, this is undoubtedly the ultimate unbiased resource for studying the rise of the MCU. There are quotes here that are authentic, raw, and negative, and there are quotes that are genuinely joyful. Distinct from a Disney publication, this is a real book made by real people about real history. Not a polished corporate product just for fans. If you’re interested in the true production history of Marvel Studios, this is the book for you.

(full review at link) https://thecosmiccircus.com/book-review-mcu-the-reign-of-marvel-studios/

No one has done more research into the Marvel Universe than these three authors. This book will appeal to business students and fans of the movie franchise alike. It covers the fascinating cast of characters, including businesspeople, writers, actors, directors, and, of course, the superheroes themselves. Not a short book, but worth it!

As a fan of the MCU movies, I wasn't sure if this book would just reiterate a lot of the history and stories I already knew. This was not the case! This is a really in depth history of the history of the MCU, with an "inside baseball" level of detail into the Hollywood mechanics of this franchise. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any Marvel/MCU fan.

DNF @ Page 100

This book relies heavily on quotes, but that did help me learn why my teachers in school always told me not to overuse quotes in my essays.

This book was tedious to get through, I wasn't having fun and it sucked all the joy out of learning about the MCU.

I've been a fan of the MCU for a long long time. I vividly remember being amazed when I saw the first Iron Man and it's been a wild ride from there. Lately, I've been underwhelmed by most of the Disney+ shows and just haven't felt that need to go see every MCU movie in theaters like I used to. All that aside, I found this book super interesting and a well thought out anthology of the beginnings to so many new offerings in 2023.

If you are a Marvel fan, I highly recommend listening to Joanna Robinson on her podcast, House of R and ringerverse. She also has a podcast with co author Dave Gonzalez. Those podcasts are how I heard about this book. I was very excited to read and it did not disappoint. It was very informative which is not a surprise from Joanna.

Thanks to NetGalley and Liveright for providing me with an e-arc of this book.

In short, this is probably a must read for MCU fans. It is easy and engaging if unexceptional. As a work of nonfiction, it doesn't really stand out. That is, I think you have to have an existing passion for the topic to really get into it, as opposed to a book that can present a topic in such a way that would appeal to a larger audience.

Marvel, as an institution, mirrors the multifaceted nature of our society, adapting alongside societal changes and reflecting prevailing cultural themes. Simultaneously, it embodies the complexities and challenges inherent in our capitalistic framework, underscoring the economic aspects of societal evolution. I don't think you should need to be a fan of Marvel to find that conversation interesting. Unfortunately, I don't think this work really provides unique insight into those ideas. It limits itself to a raw history of events. This is its fatal flaw--a failure to reach its full potential.

Instead, we are left with a sadly more shallow accounting of events. It is still a fascinating read, at least to me as Marvel fan, but I cannot recommend this to other readers who aren't a fan of the property because it is unlikely to have much of substance for you to care about. Even in its review, that becomes more tenious as we reach closer to the present. As we get closer to now the information feels increasingly shallow with only the faintest of details about recent projects due to the roadblocks that likely exist around current events.

Ultimately, I think you'll know whether this is a book for you.

I really liked this (and think fans of the MCU will as well). The book does a good job of telling the factual story about Marvel, while making it an easy to follow narrative and providing fun facts (my favorite was that Michael Jackson wanted to be in the 2000 X-Men movie and play Professor X, and when he was told Professor X was white, said he could wear makeup). It has lots of details and insights, and isn't afraid of criticizing Marvel (this is truly an accounting and not a hagiography), and I especially liked how they handled Joss Whedon (acknowledging right away the later reveal of his abuse, while also addressing how he was viewed at the time). This is definitely a good read for fans of the MCU - not so much for people who aren't fans or interested in the topic.

I love the nitty gritty inner workings of how movies and television get made. It’s the reason why I listen to so many pop culture and Hollywood history podcasts. Podcasts are another reason I knew I was going to enjoy MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios. Two of its authors are podcasters that I have been listening to for the better part of a decade (Joanna Robinson and Dave Gonzales) and I trust them to be able to put together a narrative in a way that keeps me engaged and to do the work to bring a well-researched and nuanced take as they do in their various shows and articles.

MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios delivers on that trust. The four years of research, interviews, writing, and addition of a third author in Gavin Edwards created a narrative that brings into focus all of the unlikely things that had to happen for Marvel Studios to exist in the first place and the strategies, luck, and good timing that led to the truly impressive track record and cultural phenomenon that it has become. I’m not a big comic book fan, but I watched almost all of the MCU content that has been put out since 2008 (well, with a significant drop off in Phase 4 which as the book chronicles is not necessarily uncommon). This book goes a long way to explaining the whys and how's of fans like me and for fans like me. It even has its own version of a mid-credits' scene, which while silly is also indicative of the way in which this book was crafted.

This is an excellent behind-the-scenes peek into the world of the MCU. Lots of great stuff about the making of some of my favorite movies. Many of the anecdotes and bits of information have already been covered in other books, most notably the Marvel First Ten Years book; however, THAT book was clearly sanitized by Marvel and left out all the juicy bits, while THIS book has some information that you won't find anywhere else. If you like the MCU and want to know how the sausage is made, this is the book for you.

Thanks to W. W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for the advance copy.

A very in-depth look into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The book is broken up into phases just like the MCU. It was a lot more technical than I was expecting but still interesting. I think movie buffs and those who like the behind the scenes will enjoy this a lot!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t get really into the Marvel Universe movies until watching Captain America: Civil War and realized how massive and interconnected it all was. This book has some great behind-the-scenes snapshots and interviews. If you don’t like the whole Marvel Universe, you probably won’t get into this void, but for fans it is great. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

An incredible deep dive into the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this book started well before the creation of the first Iron Man film and brings the history about as current as possible given publishing lead times. I learned so much about this series of films and know now that it wasn't always super smooth sailing to create them. There have been plenty of bumps along the road, but it is a franchise that is always iterating and growing with every project. A must read for any MCU fan.

It’s impossible to talk about the ever-changing Hollywood landscape of the past 23 years without talking about comic book movies, specifically the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There used to be a time when the average moviegoer didn’t know who the CEO of Disney was, which company had the rights to which superhero, or what went into an actor’s contract for a series of films. Marvel changed all of that.

MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, out now, is a 528-page tome that recounts the history of the MCU, from Toy Biz and bankruptcy to Kevin Feige and Disney+. Entertainment journalists Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzalez and Gavin Edwards leave no infinity stone unturned. This book is a comprehensive portrait of how a small comic book company made an indie film and then grew to the global behemoth it is today.

However, those looking for analysis on whether or not the MCU is good for the film industry, or any insights as to what comes next for Marvel, will be sorely disappointed. This is a book of reporting, combining original interviews with nearly two decade’s worth of source material. Disney, Marvel’s parent company, told people not to give interviews for this book, although many did (or previously did) anyway.

There are tidbits and juicy gossip about behind-the-scenes clashes and boardroom conflicts that will be new to even the most ardent MCU fan. Basically, if you love the MCU, this book is for you. If you fall on the Martin Scorsese side of the fence, there might be enough gossip to entice you, but this is a book by and for clear MCU fans.

All of the “almosts” detailed in the book are fascinating, and conjure up a multiverse’s worth of alternative films: James Cameron’s Spider-Man. Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man. Guillermo del Toro’s Thor. Tom Cruise as Iron Man. Matthew McConaughey as Ego.

The most interesting information comes from earlier phases of the MCU, specifically the independent film attitude on the Iron Man set, the screenwriting dispute with Edward Norton on The Incredible Hulk, and Joss Whedon’s clashes with Marvel czar Kevin Feige on Age of Ultron. And while nobody says it outright, the book heavily implies that several deaths in Avengers: Endgame (most notably Tony Stark’s) occurred partly for thematic reasons, and partly because the actors’ contracts got too expensive.

Every time I thought “I wonder if they’ll bring that up,” the authors delivered. It mentions almost every issue the MCU has faced: Workout routines and accusations of doping; #MeToo and #OscarsSoWhite; corporate mergers; Chinese censorship and box office numbers; James Gunn’s “cancellation”; Disney+’s pandemic “premium access” tier; the labor conditions and churn that led to the unionization of Marvel’s VFX workers; Scarlett Johannson’s salary lawsuit over Black Widow; and the lack of payment to comic-book writers.

The only thing it doesn’t mention is Jonathan Majors’ assault charges, which happened after they sent the book to the printers, it seems. Maybe that will be another chapter of the paperback.

Once the book gets to current events, it rushes a bit and the pacing peters out toward the end (kind of like the actual MCU). Not all of the films get equal chapter length — The MCU does contain 32 films and 21 shows, after all.

Robinson, Gonzalez and Edwards are clearly MCU fans, and write with enthusiasm about their chosen subject matter. (Midway through the “Notes” index at the end of the book, there is another chapter, just like a post-credits scene.) The trio posits that there are no bad Marvel films. But the very fact that a book is being written now implies that the MCU’s reign is almost up.

If the MCU’s reign is coming to a close, and the superhero film does go the way of the Western, this book is an interesting historical document.

The theatrical landscape used to be a mix of indies, adult dramas, comedies, genre fare and tentpoles. Now, thanks to Marvel, that real estate belongs almost exclusively to tentpoles, bolstered by fans trained to be loyal to brands and corporations instead of individual artists.

Everything must be scaleable and exponentially profitable — until it isn’t. It’s not enough to have a multimillion-dollar independent film like Iron Man. No, there must be an interconnected multiverse. And toys and action figures and comics and TV shows. But public interest in Secret Invasion, Marvel’s latest Disney+ show, was basically non-existent, and there has been significantly less hype for each new Marvel installment that comes out.

Marvel’s history mimics the stories it tells: A wild origin story. A few stumbling blocks out of the gate as it learns its powers. A lot of success amid insurmountable odds. A fall from grace before the big third-act turnaround.

Right now, it seems Marvel is in its fall-from-grace period. Perhaps it can use its powers for a third act (and Phase 5 and 6) comeback.

If not, it had a great reign. And MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios is a worthy, if sometimes stenographic, record of its time on the throne.

For more reviews and bookish posts please visit https://www.ManofLaBook.com

MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards is an unauthorized history of the franchise. The MCU, Marvel Cinematic Universe, as iconic as it is now, is one of the most unlikely success story ever told.

I really enjoyed this book, it’s a fast read and weaves a coherent narrative. The authors relied on hundreds of interviews with the stars, writers, producers, and other professionals who were a small part of this huge success story.

The history of the MCU is fraught, even though the revolutionize Hollywood not only with CGI, but bringing back the studio system. The studio system is more a business plan where studios control every aspect of a movie’s production, distribution, actors’ salaries for multiple projects, and more.

Unsurprisingly, the idea of movies was to sell more toys, as Avi Arad, a genius toy designer wanted. However, they became monsters of their own making not due to the executives, but due to the talented people making. John Favreau who slyly created an internet rumor for Robert Downey Jr. to be Iron Man, the grunts working day and night to finish CGI effects in record time, and more.

Especially enjoyable, to me, were the small trivia nuggets buried in the book for those who know where to look. Which actress was originally slated to play Black Widow, why is The Hulk not getting his own movie, why was The Winter Soldier got so little screen time in a movie he was pivotal in, why did it take so long to get a Marvel movie fronted by a woman, and many more.

The authors don’t shy away from criticizing Marvel and Disney, especially when it comes to creator rights. This is not a new issue as creators such as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Bob Kane, Siegel and Schuster, and Stan Lee among many others deserved better for their creations.

I find the behind-the-scenes information fascinating, it amazes me what it takes for a movie to come together. The narrative is entertaining as well as informative, a difficult book to put down especially if you’re a fan or familiar with the movies.

As a lifelong comic book collector and huge fan of the movies, this was a must read for me. I never take the time to watch extras on dvds. but this felt like it made up for that a bit. So much chaos and confusion over who gets to use which characters and a lot of behind the scenes with directors and producers are cleared up for me. I've already started rewatching some of the movies with new insight provided here.
Thanks to the authors for providing an early copy!

I loved this way more than I expected. It was quite a page turner. My takeaway from this book is just how hard it was to actually make something like the MCU and how Kevin Feige really deserves a lot of the credit for it. This book in general is pretty pro-Feige; for good reason - a large portion of the book sets up a conflict between the scrappy, entertainment-minded underdog Kevin Feige and billionaire toy-minded, petty Marvel CEO Ike Perlmutter who is basically a real life cartoon character.

The difference in philosophy between these two makes the behind the scenes drama really compelling, and made me really respect Feige as a conciliator with great patience and his eyes on the goal. Ike Perlmutter is the worst.

Beyond that, though, there was also just a lot of cool information about the various MCU projects; and the book offers a pretty compelling reason why Post-Endgame has not been working out very well for them. In fact, Robinson et al made me cautiously optimistic for upcoming MCU content for the first time in a little while due to how recent changes have affected Marvel. We'll see how it goes.

Overall, highly recommended for MCU fans, film fans, or just people who want to know about how Hollywood/the film industry etc works.