Greetings, True Believers! Venture into the world of Marvel Comics and meet the women behind the world outside your window. From the courtrooms of Daredevil’s Hell’s Kitchen, to the streets of Ms. Marvel’s Jersey City, and the X-Men’s Island Nation of Krakoa, Stohl, Schaefer, and Stephens give readers a look into the trailer-blazing network of women that made a name for themselves and held the door open to others at iconic House of Ideas. With no hero left unmasked, long-time fans will delight in reading interviews with female creatives from across the ever-expanding Marvel universe as they detail how their professional networks have evolved. While those with less experience in comics may be overwhelmed by a flurry of name drops and assumed character knowledge, this real-life story of resilience, persistence, and sisterhood is universally inspiring. Super Visible will have readers hurrying to their local comic shop with a new appreciation for the women who champion and prove that “Comics are for everyone.”

Super Visible by Margaret Stohl is a fascinating firsthand look at the invaluable role women played in the popularity and growth of Marvel Comics, from the comic books to TV and film.

This is a great mix of history and personal anecdotes, helping the reader to both appreciate the importance of these women as well as the humanity of everyone involved. The pictures and images are a lot of fun as well, so you are entertained while learning a great deal. Even those of us who know a few of the names likely didn't fully grasp the degree to which they informed the direction of Marvel.

Highly recommended not just for those interested in the Marvel universe but also those interested in women's history and social history more generally.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

My thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advance copy of this book that looks at the role of women in Marvel Comics, from behind the scenes, to writers, illustrators, inkers and letterers, their long history and how much of their heroic works have not been told, until now.

My grandmother started me early on comics, always leaving a brand new issue of whatever was at the candy shop around the corner in a special drawer that was just for me. My father had also been a comic reader, and a big fan of pulp magazines, something that came in handy when at the end of Star Wars, my Dad said, wow that was like Flash Gordon, which set me up as a science fiction nerd early. What surprised me was that my Mom was a comic book reader. I don't know why, my Mom had a love of reading that she passed to her children. Mom had two older brothers who shared their reading material with her. Mom liked Shazam, wasn't a fan of Batman, read Millie the Model, enjoyed a comic series about a nurse, and of course Little Lulu. Growing up I didn't know any women who read comics, even my cool cousin who I played Gi Joe and Barbie with. However like with all things, I wasn't really paying attention. Women have always been present, maybe not celebrated, maybe not even acknowledged, but without them, the comic landscape, the entire media system based on comics would be different. This book is teir origin story. Super Visible; The Story of the Women of Marvel Comics by author, podcaster Margaret Stohl with Judith Stephens tells the story of women in the House of Ideas, from the beginning with Stan Lee, to the numerous creators working today.

The book is a look at Marvel, with some mentions of Warren, DC and other companies. Based on the The Women of Marvel podcast, the book features, comic panels, many photos, transcripts and much more detailing the lives of people who were there for so many important events in Marvel, but that history has omitted. Flo Steinberg, who was Stan Lee's assistant, a woman who opened the door for many women at Marvel, mentoring and teaching how to work in a creative industry that might not be kind to women. Virginia Romita, the wife and mother of two of Marvel's greatest artists,a women who made sure that books were coming together, and woe be to the editor who was running late. There are editors, writers, colorists and inkers, all with stories to share, some good, a lot bad. The importance of the woman's restroom is stated, a place to hide, to bond, and to share things good and bad. How a woman executive gave rise to one of the great X-Men animated cartoons. The rise of fandom, and of course the rise of Marvel on the big screen.

Reading this book reminded me of the fact that I knew many of these women from my reading of their works, but I never gave thought to the fact that they were women. Jo Chase, Ann Nocenti, Louise Simonson, they were writers and creators, and people I envied for their jobs. I loved the stories they shared about creating, and disliked much of the stuff they had to put up with. As politics turned ugly, so has the vision that men have of women in their sacred space of comics. Which are really power fantasies for children, but I won't go there. These stories are the ones that really got to me. The everyday misogyny. People meaning well and still belittling the talent these women have. There are a lot of good stories too, and I loved the traipsing through my childhood these creators had so much a part in.

A book for comic fans, comic historians, and something for women to read before entering any business. I owe my love of comics to my Grandmother, and much of my love of reading to my mother. Now I know how much I owe the women of Marvel for the long love I have had for so many characters. Highly recommended.

I am a huge Marvel fan! This is a fantastic read for people who want to learn more about the women who helped to build and to expand Marvel publications. There is a plethora of resources, such as interviews, magazine articles, personal letters, personal sketches, and the list continues on. Super Visible reads like a genre-blend of memoir and reference book. The tone is casual, but the depth is immense. This is not a quick read; it is the type of read that you want to let it soak in, then place it on the coffee table to pick up and read from daily.

Thank you #NetGalley, #MargaretStohl, and #GalleryBooks for my eARC. This review is my honest opinion.

(Got this as an ARC from net gallery, all opinions are my own.)

I think this book might be a full circle moment for me.
many years ago, as a child my parents bought me a black widow prose novel eBook, (forever red) I'd seen a few of the avenger's movies but it didn't really click with me. The combination of that novel and the captain marvel movie is what got me into comics, now I've finished a book by the same author. This book has changed my perspective again.

The novel book starts off being a basic history of the few women in the white male dominated world of comic books, being a great filler for the hole that is women in the history of marvel comics. Later the book talks about more about The MCU and women's part within the franchise (fictional and real)

The book also in addition to women it also talks about nonbinary people, people of color, disabled people and many others and how everyone needs to be represented in comics, created by people who actually understand these things through experience. As a non-binary person, it was really great to see this.

I never liked classic comics or even some of the early marvel movies, I know why now. I grew up with strong women characters in comics, Kate bishop, Ms. marvel, America Chavez, storm, and so many more. I could see parts of myself in there more than the average white guy superhero They felt like someone I could be/try to be.

This book isn't just a story about people who helped pave the way for women in comics
It's a love song about people needing to find themselves in comics and characters to be able to inspire the next generation. I think we're in good hands if these are what's being used to inspire them.

This book is an astounding feat of the women who have brought to life stories from a storied company. Each anecdote shows the fortitude and gratitude of the creativity and art and to be a part of its growth from comics to conventions to film and television and more. Photographs showcase the archive and add to the longevity of the work.

Super Visible is about the women behind Marvel and their powerful stories.

I thought this book was very informative. The book's tone is casual and reads more like a memoir than a nonfiction title. I learned a lot from this book. I hope the printed version format is easier to read than the digital. Having quotes, facts, and personal antidotes al in the same paragraph is hard to follow.