REVIEW: The Book of the Vishanti
Are you a scholar of the arcane arts? Are you dying to get your hands on a tome that has notes in the margin written by Stephen Strange himself? Then you need to summon The Book of the Vishanti, available now from Abrams Books.
The Book of the Vishanti: A Magical Exploration of the Marvel Universe. Photo Credit: Avery Kaplan.
This gorgeous volume has been brought to our plane of existence by author Matthew K. Manning, with illustrations by Alessandro Valdrighi, design by Scott Richardson, and editing by David Wohl. However, by and large, this book maintains character throughout its run, refusing to acknowledge that it is anything other than a book that emerged from the very panels of Marvel Comics themselves!
The Book of the Vishanti
Photo Credit: Avery Kaplan.
Here’s what I mean about the book maintaining character: when you purchase it, it has a paper slip around the outside that explains that it is a Marvel Comics tie-in that alludes to Doctor Strange…
A tome worthy of Strange. Photo Credit: Avery Kaplan.
However, when you take the packaging off, there is no sign that this book is Marvel branded, or that it was published by Abrams. Instead, it just looks like The Book of the Vishanti that is contained within the library at the Sanctum Santorium! The spine maintains this illusion, too, so the grimoire will look nice on your shelf.
Some of my favorite Marvel Comics characters appear in the pages of The Book of the Vishanti. Photo Credit: Avery Kaplan.
Throughout this book, you will find no references to specific issues, or the creators behind certain Marvel Comics concepts and characters. That’s because this book maintains the perspective of having been written from within the Marvel multiverse, where all of these entries are about real-life entities, not fictional characters! I loved the way that this spell was maintained throughout the whole book’s run.
Wanda’s coming for you AND your book, Chthon! Photo Credit: Avery Kaplan.
And the information in the book is incredibly helpful, and will only prove more so as both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the current Marvel Comics stories move towards more mystical narrative territory!
Available Now
The Darkhold, meanwhile, is a book to avoid. Photo Credit: Avery Kaplan.
If you’re interested in getting your hands on The Book of the Vishanti for yourself, it’s available now at your local bookstore or public library.
Have you had the chance to read The Book of the Vishanti? What magical spells did you pick up? We want to hear from you, Marvel Blog True Believers! Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
