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 chief Stan Lee realized something was missing. ?I was writing
these characters and I thought it would fun to put them together in a team ? he recalled. So
Lee 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 didn't choose. Not everyone got along?the
Hulk fought with everyone?but working together they could defeat the baddest of Marvel's 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 heroes?and
Avengers?and the group's founding members shockingly departed leaving Captain America to lead
the newly minted heroes.Relive the classic early adventures of Avengers Nos. 1?20 now available
as a compact trade edition. 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 era's inexpensive imperfect printing?as if
hot off a world-class 1960s printing press.Accompanying the stories are an original foreword by
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and an in-depth history by the Eisner Award-winning writer
Kurt Busiek that's illustrated with original art little-seen photographs and rare documents.
This mighty collection about Earth's Mightiest Heroes is worthy of Tony Stark's library?or
yours.(c) 2024 MARVEL
