Origins of Marvel Comics by Stan Lee is a foundational book in growing Marvel’s legacy, proving collections of comics could be successful in bookstores and giving readers a chance to read early Marvel comics classics. Initially published in 1974, it collected both the origin story and a more recent (still 1969s) story of the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor, Doctor Strange and Nick Fury.
Aside from enshrining the story titles (“Clash of Titans”???) in our consciousness for all time, the book also gave an entry to Marvel’s greatest stories and characters in an affordable paperback. Even in the 70s, those early issues were collectors items, and the idea of reprinting comics was still in its infancy.
The book also, famously, put Stan Lee firmly in the role of the sole creator of the Marvel U. Stan wrote the intro and commentary and gave himself most of the credit, pushing artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko to the side.
Despite this unfortunate narrative the book remains a classic….and it’s just gotten a 50th anniversary deluxe and updated edition from Abrams Comic Arts. The original cover by John Romita Sr. has been updated by Alex Ross, and editor Chris Ryall has updated the contents with essays by Ryall, Tom Brevoort, Ross, and Larry Lieber. There’s also an interview with Linda Sunshine, the only recently rediscovered editor at Firesign Books who worked on the original.
Diamond Preview’s World has an interview with Ryall that’s really fascinating and detailed about the making of the book, and such details as Ryall meeting up with 93-year-old Larry Lieber (Stan’s brother) and one of the few surviving people who worked on the original comics (tho Steranko is still alive and kicking.)
Ryall puts the book’s importance into perspective – and also notes the huge update that finally rights a historic wrong:
It was a foundational thing that mattered to so many people. In many ways, it kickstarted the entire idea of bookstore graphic novels, which just didn’t exist before that. I think Alex Ross’s cover perfectly sums up our approach. The original cover shows Stan Lee’s hands on a typewriter, and all the characters springing out of it. Alex’s cover shows Stan Lee’s hands at the typewriter and Jack Kirby’s hand finishing Thor and Steve Ditko’s hand finishing Doctor Strange. The broader point is we weren’t in the room. We don’t know who all did what. But together these guys made magic and together they created this universe that still resonates for, you know, millions of fans today. And I think that was what was important to me, was celebrating the work all of these guys did, not apologizing for what Stan wrote, enhancing it by talking up everybody’s efforts.
It’s indeed justice that the the hands of Ditko and Kirby are now on the cover along with Stan’s hand at the typewriter. (And h/t to comics historian Paul Gravett who drew this to m attention on FB.)
I remember checking this book out of the library when I was a kid, just getting into the lore and long running storylines of Marvel Comics. I’m sure I’m not the only person of my generation and beyond who found this book a gateway to thinking about Marvel Comics as the MARVEL UNIVERSE – a larger unfolding fantasy realm in itself. And thanks to Stan Lee’s early devotion to community building, you wanted to be part of the Merry Marching Crew and get to know the Marvel Bullpen.
Though this view may have been as much of a fantasy as Doctor Strange’s mystic realm, it was still a lasting one.
50 years later not only are graphic novels and reprints of classic comics embedded in the industry and the publishing world in general, but the MCU is one of the greatest fantasy worlds for billions of people around the world. Hulk, Fury and Doctor Strange are cultural icons beyond what a casual reader could have imagined.
I believe that Stan and Jack themselves might have had this vision, though. Stan believed he could huckster himself to the greatest heights of fame….and he was right. Jack believed his work had value and could touch any reader….and he was right, too
Ditko….well, he had another vision.
Origins of Marvel Comics indeed.
Check out the interview for more historical perspective, and put Origins of Marvel Comics: The 50th Anniversary Edition on your potential gift list for 2024.
The original contents of origins of Marvel Comics, per Wikipedia:
- “The Fantastic Four” (Fantastic Four #1, November 1961)
- “When Strikes the Silver Surfer!” (Fantastic Four #55, October 1966)
- “The Hulk” (The Incredible Hulk #1, May 1962)
- “A Clash of Titans” (The Incredible Hulk #118, August 1969)
- “Spider-Man!” (Amazing Fantasy #15, August 1962)
- “Rocked By… the Shocker!” (The Amazing Spider-Man #72, May 1969)
- “Thor the Mighty and the Stone Men from Saturn!” (Journey Into Mystery #83, August 1962)
- “And Soon Shall Come the Enchanters!” (Thor #143, August 1967)
- “Doctor Strange, Master of Black Magic!” (Strange Tales #110, July 1963)
- “The Origin of Doctor Strange” (Strange Tales #115, December 1963)
- “The Fearful Finish!” (Strange Tales #155, April 1967)
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