4.5 stars. Much better than the volume for Season 2, which I read first. The episode summaries in this one are more succinct (rather than seeming like padding) and there was more actual insight into the characters and plots provided.

Half a star docked because, like the second volume, it could occasionally be a bit random or redundant with pictures. The text would mention some interesting visual but there wouldn't be a corresponding pic of same, which would be logical. A few quotes or info tidbits were repeated as well. ( )

I’ve been a fan of Marvel’s “Art of” books since “The Art of Marvel Studios” collection was released. The books are beautiful, high quality productions with gorgeous full color photos, artwork and background information. When Agents of SHIELD got its own book, it was wisely redefined as “Season 1 Declassified” rather than an art of book (since there isn't as much concept art involved). Agent Carter follows the same path.

I expected to be a bit disappointed with this book because Agent Carter only had 8 episodes to draw from as compared to SHIELD’s 22. And yes, this book is definitely shorter than SHIELD season 1, or any of the art books. And I I think the retail price should be lower to reflect that. Nevertheless, this book packs a lot into those pages and fewer episodes means an expected bonus– more in depth coverage of those episodes and how they were made. I had intended to merely flip through the book when it arrived but I became so engrossed I read it straight through.

The book opens with a charming foreword from Hayley Atwell, whose affection for the character she plays is strongly felt. Chapter one goes into detail on who Peggy is - from the various comic characters who inspired the final film character, to her supporting roles in the MCU films, and finally as the protagonist of her own series. Readers learn how the cast and crew were assembled (see what I did there? ;-), with pages for every significant character and the actor who plays them, and a decent amount of coverage on how the show was marketed. In fact, the art books could takes cues from this!

Chapter two goes through each episode in detail. This includes not only the basic plot, but how it affected Peggy’s character arc, small stories about the filming from the actors, and how it fit into the overall season. The episode coverage here is much better than the SHIELD season 1 book.

Chapter three goes behind the scenes of how the show was created, logistically. Stunts, lighting, editing, costume design, props, sound editing – they are all covered here. I liked this chapter the best because it had so much. A driving point is what a challenge it was to bring the show to the screen on a television budget. It quickly becomes apparent that Carter didn’t have anywhere close to the budget that SHIELD had/has. And, it’s all the more impressive what they accomplished as a result. Naturally, the book is filled with stunning photography of the cast and sets. The show has a deliberate vintage quality look, and the specifics of how that look was painstakingly created are fascinating. Chapter four closes out the book and is more of an afterword than a chapter.

Overall, this book was much better than I anticipated. Fans of the art books, or the SHIELD season 1 should enjoy Agent Carter. The book reminded me how much I enjoyed the show and am glad it was picked up for a second short season. Highly recommended. ( )