Marvel Comics Library: Avengers. 1963–1965

Relive the classic early adventures of Marvel's Avengers in this Biblioteca Universalis compact trade edition! Taschen has attempted to create an ideal representation of issues #1-20 of the series 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.

By early 1963 the foundations of the Marvel Universe had been laid. Following the introduction of the Fantastic Four in 1961 came the likes of The Amazing Spider-Man, the Astonishing Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, 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 worst of Marvel’s villains. The lineup was ever changing: The Hulk departed, Captain America joined, and Ant-Man became 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.

Accompanying these classic tales is an original foreword by Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, plus an in-depth history by the Eisner Award-winning writer Kurt Busiek, illustrated with original art, little-seen photos, and rare documents. Taschen, 2026.