The complex narrative structure at the center of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in all its intersectional glory, can be a bit daunting for both newcomers and seasoned Marvel aficionados alike. As a subtle nod to its own classic Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe series, Marvel has just announced the official Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in an effort to further educate future Marvel scholars in the most academically immersive way possible.
Each entry in this sleek handbook series features a smorgasbord of fast facts, movie-to-comic comparisons, and production stills from instaclassic Marvel films. The series kicks off in October with the release of Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel's Iron Man (see above), detailing the rise of Tony Stark within the blockbuster context of the 2008 film starring Robert Downey Jr. Marvel's Iron Man is followed quickly by the release of the stacked flipbook Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel's Incredible Hulk / Marvel's Iron Man 2 in November, just in time for that relative you only see once a year to pick it up for you as some sort of holiday amends:
With cover art from Mike Del Mundo and Pascal Campion pairing brilliantly with a scholarly breakdown from Mike O'Sullivan and the Ohotmu Team, these MCU guidebooks are clearly necessary additions to one's personal library.
