I requested this book for my husband, a huge comic book lover since childhood. When it arrived it far exceeded expectations. He is very knowledgeable about even obscure characters and loved that how various characters came about and were connected was detailed in this very thorough, and seemingly accurate history. I ended up enjoying it too, though, and it is fascinating history even for the comic book novice. For me though, what makes this an excellent gift book, is the vibrant color on the cover and every page. Just looking through the beautiful pages of comics over many decades is beautiful and fascinating. This is a coffee table book for the Average Joe. It brings back memories for those who have been comic book lovers and is fun to explore even for those not familiar with the genre.