Assembling the definitive Marvel Age Avengers anthology

By early 1963 the foundations of the Marvel Universe had been laid. Following the introduction of the Fantastic Four in 1961 came the amazing (Spider-Man), the astonishing (Ant-Man), the strange (Doctor, that is), the incredible (Hulk), the invincible (Iron Man) and the mighty (Thor). Still, Marvel editor in chiefStan Leerealized something was missing. I was writing these characters and I thought it would fun to put them together in a team, he recalled. SoLee and artist Jack Kirby assembled Iron Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Thor, and the Hulk to create the Avengers.

Right away it was clear this team was different. If the Fantastic Four were family, then the Avengers were the co-workers you didnt choose. Not everyone got alongthe Hulk fought with everyonebut working together they could defeat the baddest of Marvels bad guys, like Loki, Kang the Conqueror, the Masters of Evil, and Immortus. The lineup was ever changing: The Hulk departed, Captain America joined, and Ant-Man grew up to become Giant-Man. Then, remarkably, villains Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch became heroesand Avengersand the groups founding members shockingly departed, leaving Captain America to lead the newly-minted heroes.

Relive the classic early adventures of Avengers Nos. 120 in an XXL-sized edition thats bigger than the Hulks fist, weightier than Thors hammer, and with more extras than Iron Mans armor.TASCHEN has attempted to create an ideal representation of these books as they were produced at the time of publication. The most pristine pedigreed comics have been cracked open and photographed for reproduction in close collaboration with Marvel and the Certified Guaranty Company. Each page has then been digitally remastered using modern retouching techniques to correct problems with the eras inexpensive, imperfect printingas if hot off of a world-class 1960s printing press.

Accompanying the stories are an original foreword by Marvel Studios PresidentKevin Feigeand an in-depth history by the Eisner Award-winning writerKurt Busiekthats illustrated with original art, little-seen photographs, and rare documents. This mighty collection about Earths Mightiest Heroes is worthy of Tony Starks libraryor yours.

The author

Kurt Busiekhas been writing comic books since 1982. He has written several series for Marvel, includingThe Avengers, and won acclaim for his work on the four-issue miniseries Marvels. In 1995 he launched his own super hero multiverse with his seriesAstro City.

The artists

Jack Kirby(19171994) was one of comics most legendary and prolific artists whose notable co-creations include Captain America, Avengers, X-Men, Incredible Hulk, Ant-Man, S.H.I.E.L.D., and Thor.

Stan Lee(19222018) is known to millions as the man whose super heroes propelled Marvel to its preeminent position in the comic book industry. His co-creations include Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, The Fantastic Four, Iron Man, and hundreds of others. While the Chairman Emeritus of Marvel, he was also the Chief Creative Officer of POW! Entertainment, where he created numerous new characters and stories in areas including publishing, film, TV reality, stage, documentary, and multimedia.

Hardcover,11.0×15.6in.,9.78 lb,630pages