Book - Hidden Universe Travel Guide: The Complete Marvel Cosmos

Steve Taylor-Bryant discovers there are some places that you could maybe visit other than a bar and, if you did visit these places, you might want to know a little about them. Titan Books obliges…

Apparently people do things that aren’t work or gin related (no, I don’t know why either) and on these ‘holidays’ they travel to other places and look around, perhaps take a selfie or something. I don’t understand the concept of driving for hours to go and visit something that isn’t a distillery but apparently it’s quite a popular pastime with some of you, so I thought I’d check out what a guidebook is and what I’m likely to discover on these days away from gin. Step forward Titan Books with a great little coffee (gin) table book written about the Marvel Universe.

The ultimate guidebook to Earth, the Nine Realms and other dimensions from Marvel Comics, as told by Peter Quill, Rocket, Groot and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Ever since Super Heroes like Thor started stomping around planet Earth, we’ve had to open our horizons a little and embrace the wider cosmos. If you’re thinking of journeying to one of the many new realms for a little R’n’R, then don’t leave Earth without Hidden Universe’s guide to the cosmos, heavily annotated by Peter Quill, Gamora, Rocket and the other members of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Whether you’re looking to spend some quality time enjoying the divine splendour of Asgard or to soak up the multicultural atmosphere of floating intergalactic waypoint Knowhere, this is the book for you. It’ll even provide some tips on surviving an excursion to the Skrull Empire, if you like your vacations to be on the extreme side. Along with breaking down the hotspots to visit at every major location in the known universe, this guide also has reams of information on the various beings that can be found throughout the cosmos, as well as their varying cultures; this can come in real handy because you sure don't want to upset an Ice Giant or get on the wrong side of an angry Kree. Filled with helpful maps, star charts, and phrase guides (if you’re visiting Groot’s home of Planet X, you’ll be surprised how many different ways there are to say “I am Groot”), the Hidden Universe’s guide to the cosmos is the best way to get the most out of your intergalactic vacation.

This is Marvel-lous (not even sorry in the slightest), a brilliant little book that delves into the entire Marvel created worlds but in a funny and unique way. The comments from Peter Quill et al are as entertaining as the information contained within the pages and, just like the films, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s not a heavy going novel but nor is it a comic related tie-in like lots of other tie-ins. It is deserving of a place on your table, for discussion at parties with friends (if you have any; I tend to find they want to share the gin) and is a font of knowledge should you be so inclined as to want to delve deeper into what Marvel have done. I’m not even a fan of Marvel that much, so if a book like this can entertain the heck out of me then you’ll love it.

Image - Titan Books.