Marvel Boy: The Uranian #1

Uranus: the mysterious 7th planet in the solar system, also universally acknowledged as the planet with the funniest name EVER. I mean, we all know nothing good ever comes from Uranus. Uranus is dark and scary. Oh, and gassy. Uranus is definitely gassy. Aliens from Uranus? I certainly can't imagine anything worse. So, I think we can all agree that it would be best if we just avoid the topic of Uranus entirely. Unfortunately for the hero known as Marvel Boy (AKA The Uranian), it is impossible to discuss his origins without occasionally mentioning Uranus. Let's just hope we can all be mature enough to get through this.

Marvel Boy: The Uranian #1 is actually a pretty excellent spin-off from the amazing, and under-rated, Agents of Atlas. Written by Jeff Parker, with art by Felix Ruiz, this series takes a look at how the Golden Age hero Marvel Boy first came to our world. Bob Grayson was a human boy whose super-genius father, desperate to escape Earth after witnessing the atrocities of Nazi Germany, built a rocket that allowed them to escape to the 7th planet. The Uranians there were humans colonists who, for thousands of years, had taken a different path. They developed a very different society, and amazing technology that allowed them to achieve miraculous feats.

Bob has returned to Earth to know more about his people, and to try to set an example of a better way for them to live. He wants to be a hero, but finds out that humans aren't quite ready to accept his help. Going around telling people that he's from Uranus certainly doesn't help. Luckily, Bob Grayson meets a comic book creator looking for a new hero, a man who can give Bob some help in becoming the hero he wants to be. First order of business? A catchy name that people can remember! In short order The Uranian becomes Marvel Boy, and a hero is born!

Of course, things are more complicated than they seem. The Uranian Council may have goals in mind beyond simply helping the human race. His isolated upbringing on Uranus has made Bob awfully naive and open to manipulation from those who would use him for their own purposes...

The first issue of this series is loaded with extra value, too! Not only do you get the all-new story of Marvel Boy's first adventures on Earth, you also get two nifty Golden Age reprints of Marvel Boy stories from the early 1950s with art from Russ Heath and Bill Everett. So, no more juvenile Uranus jokes from me. Just head over to Four Color Fantasies and try out our guaranteed Book of the Week-Marvel Boy: The Uranian #1. It's a great book, and you'll develop a new respect for the oft-maligned 7th planet!