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 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 now available as a compact trade edition. The most pristine pedigreed comics have been cracked open and photographed for reproduction in close collaboration with Marvel and the Certified Guaranty Company. Accompanying the stories are an in-depth history by the Eisner Award-winning writer Kurt Busiek thats illustrated with original art, little-seen photographs, and rare documents. This mighty collection about Earths Mightiest Heroes is worthy of Tony Starks libraryor yours. © 2026 MARVEL
