"A Time of Marvels" In 1939,
Jim Hammond, the original Human Torch is created by scientist
Phineas Horton, and the project is considered a success until the android is discovered to ignite when exposed to air. Horton shows his creation to the public, which is met with demands to destroy it. A dejected Horton begins to bury the android, but the chamber cracks, allowing in air and enabling the Human Torch to escape. The android describes his appearance as the beginning of a "golden age". Meanwhile, Phil Sheldon, an aspiring photographer, and a young
J. Jonah Jameson are shocked by the sudden emergence of multiple super-powered individuals, whom Sheldon dubs "Marvels". Sheldon is more confused than Jameson by the spectacle and, worried, seeks the support of his fiancée, Doris Jacquet. More unusual beings begin to appear, notably
Namor the Sub-Mariner, and fights erupt between him and the Human Torch. Sheldon, feeling it would be irresponsible for him to raise children in a world where these Marvels run rampant, breaks off his engagement with Doris. It is only when
Captain America is unveiled to the world that Sheldon becomes less apprehensive about the Marvels. When
World War II begins, Sheldon, Doris, and many others see the Marvels in
newsreels joining forces with
the Allies, providing public reassurance. After rekindling his romance with Doris, Sheldon hears that the Human Torch and Namor are fighting again, and the battle this time damages several
New York City landmarks. During the fight, the duo come near but do not directly encounter Sheldon; he is knocked out by a small chunk of masonry and blinded in his left eye. Still, he has lost all fears of the Marvels and goes on to marry Doris. Sheldon becomes a
war correspondent in
Europe, reporting on the Allied Forces and the Marvels as they combat the
Nazis and
Axis forces.
"Monsters" In the early 1960s, Sheldon is now the father of two girls, Beth and Jennie, and he is preparing to write a book called
Marvels. New York now has two superhero teams, the
Fantastic Four and the
Avengers. Sheldon is excited by recent news of the return of Captain America, but the public has begun to fear
mutants, especially the mutant team known as the
X-Men. As he covers an anti-mutant mob that comes face-to-face with the X-Men, he overhears X-Men leader
Cyclops ordering his teammates not to engage with the mob, saying "they're not worth it" and leaving. Sheldon, unsure of their meaning, finds the words staying with him. Despite the public's distrust of the X-Men, some Marvels are treated as celebrities, as seen by Sheldon at the gala opening of
Alicia Masters' sculptures, where gossip spreads over the upcoming marriage of the Fantastic Four's
Reed Richards and
Susan Storm. Sheldon leaves the gala and rushes home after hearing about an anti-mutant mob near there, and he finds his daughters hiding their friend, a mutant girl with a skull-like head. Sheldon sees the importance of hiding this girl, but is worried for his family. Following the wedding, mutant-hunting robots called
Sentinels are unleashed by
Bolivar Trask during a televised debate with
Charles Xavier; they malfunction and begin rampaging throughout the city. A mob forms in the chaos, attacking and destroying everything in sight, with only Sheldon helping the injured. The repaired Sentinels stop the mob, but Sheldon returns home to find the mutant girl gone.
"Judgement Day" As the 1960s progress, Sheldon is preoccupied with his work, to the detriment of his family. The news is filled with stories of the Avengers being declared a menace, the law going after
Tony Stark, sightings of
Spider-Man, and a possible
Judgement Day. The
Silver Surfer appears to the world and defeats the Fantastic Four, heralding the appearance of
Galactus. With the city in panic, Sheldon believes the Earth will end, and he returns home to be with his family in the final moments. Suddenly, news comes that the Fantastic Four have managed to defeat Galactus, saving the planet. In the wake of the team's victory, Sheldon promises he will spend more time with his family. However, he is later disgusted by the way the public has again turned on the Marvels, with Jameson, now the publisher of the
Daily Bugle and Sheldon's most frequent employer, claiming that the Galactus threat was a hoax. Sheldon rages at a crowd carrying on an anti-mutant conversation.
"The Day She Died" In the early 1970s, Sheldon publishes
Marvels, which becomes an instant bestseller. He remains dismayed at the public's reaction to the Marvels and is disgusted by Jameson and his screeds against Spider-Man, who has been framed for the death of
NYPD captain
George Stacy. Sheldon resolves to investigate the murder and clear Spider-Man's name. While talking to a witness with
Luke Cage, he learns that not only do the police believe Spider-Man is innocent, but that they suspect
Otto Octavius to be the real killer. Sheldon interviews Octavius, but he refuses to confess to the murder. Sheldon then interviews Stacy's daughter
Gwen and develops a friendship with her. Gwen's admiration and trust in the Marvels gives Sheldon a sudden insight: the purpose of the Marvels is to protect innocents like Gwen. On his way to meet her at the apartment of her boyfriend, Peter Parker, Sheldon witnesses Gwen's kidnapping by the
Green Goblin. He follows the Goblin to the
Brooklyn Bridge and a confrontation with Spider-Man. Watching their battle through a telephoto lens, Sheldon is certain that Spider-Man will defeat the villain and rescue Gwen. Instead, Gwen is
knocked off the bridge and killed, and Sheldon's faith in the Marvels is shattered. He plans to retire, but before he can hang up his camera, he has his assistant take a final photo of himself, Doris, and a "nice, normal boy" —
Danny Ketch, who, unbeknownst to Sheldon, will grow up to become the demonic hero
Ghost Rider.
Epilogue During
Christmas time in the mid-1970s, Sheldon is with his daughters in
Rockefeller Center when the Sentinels begin attacking. The X-Men, who were walking among the crowd, spring into action with Sheldon and his daughters left in awe at
Banshee and
Storm. After the Sentinels are defeated, the cops try to monitor the situation when
Nova, who admits that he is new, appears to help with any civilian casualties. Beth and Jennie ask their father if what occurred was anything like his old job, to which he answers positively, adding: "It's scary. It's exciting. It's thrilling. All of it at once". Having relived the thrill and earning the gumption to write another article, he resists and takes his daughters back home for the night. ==Collected editions==