The Penguin Classics Marvel Collection presents the origin stories, seminal tales, and characters of the Marvel Universe to explore Marvel's transformative and timeless influence on an entire genre of fantasy.

It is impossible to imagine American popular culture without Marvel Comics. For decades, Marvel has published groundbreaking visual narratives that sustain attention on multiple levels: as metaphors for the experience of difference and otherness; as meditations on the fluid nature of identity; and as high-water marks in the artistic tradition of American cartooning, to name a few.

This anthology contains twelve key stories from the first two years of Spider-Man's publication history (from 1962 to 1964). These influential adventures not only transformed the super hero fantasy into an allegory for the pain of adolescence but also brought a new ethical complexity to the genre-by insisting that with great power there must also come great responsibility.

A foreword by Jason Reynolds and scholarly introductions and apparatus by Ben Saunders offer further insight into the enduring significance of The Amazing Spider-Man and classic Marvel comics.

The Penguin Classics black spine paperback features full-colour art throughout.

Working With Ditko takes a unique and nostalgic journey through comics’ Bronze Age, as editor and writer Jack C. Harris recalls his numerous collaborations with legendary comics master Steve Ditko! It features never-before-seen preliminary sketches and pencil art from Harris’ tenure working with Ditko on The Creeper, Shade the Changing Man, the Odd Man, the Demon, Wonder Woman, Legion of Super-Heroes, The Fly, and even Ditko’s unused redesign for Batman! Plus, it documents their work on numerous independent properties, and offers glimpses of original characters from Ditko’s drawing board that have never been viewed by even his most avid fans! This illustrated volume is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the creative comic book process by one of the industry’s most revered creators, as seen through the eyes of one of his most frequent collaborators!

Meet the world's greatest heroes, as drawn by the world's greatest creatorsAn introduction to Doctor Strange for the youngest superfans-featuring art by legendary artist Steve Ditko! Power into action with Stephen Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme and Earth's best line of defense against mystical threats! Learn all about his abilities, skills, and friends in this bright and bold board book, with art from the classic comics. Vivid colors and three special gatefolds make for a fun-filled read perfect for the youngest kids and longtime Marvel fans alike.

The stories that built the Marvel Universe, from the brilliant minds of legendary creators - now available in an accessible new format the whole family can enjoy! Peter Parker has not been Spider-Man for very long, but the threats this newly minted hero must face are mounting quickly! Experience the debuts of Mysterio, Kraven the Hunter, the Scorpion - and most dastardly of all, the Green Goblin! And as if that weren't enough, the eight-armed Doctor Octopus has returned, determined to unmask Spidey! Plus, witness the wallcrawler's first meetings with Daredevil and the Hulk, and the continuing development of his love/hate friendship with the Human Torch!

The third in a series of volumes collecting Spider-Man's incredible adventures in a year-by-year format for comic book readers everywhere to enjoy and discover the tales that created a legend.

When Stan Lee first pitched the idea of Spider-Man in 1962, his boss was full of objections: People hate spiders. Teenagers aren't lead characters; they're sidekicks. He should be glamorous and successful, not a friendless loser. But Stan persisted and Martin Goodman let him give the unlikely hero a tryout in Amazing Fantasy, which was already slated for cancellation. With Spider-Man on the cover, No. 15 shot to the top of Marvel's best-seller list for the year, and the rest is history. Amazing Spider-Man, which debuted seven months later, broke the comics mold. Peter Parker lived in uncool Queens, was always broke, continually worried about his Aunt May, was unlucky in love, and was constantly getting yelled at by his boss, Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson. Spider-Man had the quips and confidence that Parker lacked, but learning to use his powers wasn't always easy. He often seemed on the verge of defeat against the rogue's gallery of classic foes that debuted in the first couple of years: Vulture, Doctor Octopus, Sandman, Lizard, Electro, Kraven the Hunter, Mysterio, and the Green Goblin. Much of the credit for Spider-Man's greatness goes to co-creator and artist Steve Ditko, who had a knack for portraying teenagers and their problems. His artwork infused Spider-Man with a loose-limbed energy, and, while maybe everyone was scared of spiders, Ditko made swinging through New York seem like the coolest adventure ever. This XXL-sized collector's dream, close in size to the original artworks, features the first 21 stories of the world's favorite web slinger from 1962-1964. Rather than recolor the original artwork (as has been done in previous decades' reprints of classic comics), 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 been photographed as printed more than half a century ago, then digitally remastered using modern retouching techniques to correct problems with the era's inexpensive, imperfect printing-as if hot off of a world-class 1960s printing press. Three different paper stocks, including an uncoated and woodfree paper, were exclusively developed for this series to simulate the feel of the original comics. With an in-depth historical essay by Marvel editor Ralph Macchio, an introduction by uber-collector David Mandel, and original art, rare photographs, and other gems, these 698 pages of wall-crawling wonder will make anyone's spider-sense tingle with anticipation. (c) 2021 MARVEL About the series MARVEL COMICS LIBRARY is an exclusive, long-term collaboration between TASCHEN and Marvel. The rarest classic comics, including Spider-Man, Avengers, and Captain America are meticulously reproduced in their original glory, in extra-large format. The library offers collectors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lay their hands on the world's most desirable comics. Each volume includes an essay by a comic book historian along with hundreds of photos and artifacts, including rare original comic book artwork.

The stories that built the Marvel Universe, from the brilliant minds of legendary creators - now available in an accessible new format the whole family can enjoy] Dr. Stephen Strange is a once-brilliant surgeon whose own failings left his hands in ruins and his career in tatters. He desperately sought a cure, but found so much more instead. Now, Doctor Strange is the Master of the Mystic Arts, Earth's Sorcerer Supreme - mankind's only hope against dark and otherworldly forces] From Strange's wicked rival Baron Mordo, to the Dread Dormammu, ruler of the Dark Dimension, prepare to have your horizons widened by the mind-boggling mystic realms on display in these strange tales from Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's spellbinding, visionary run

First, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko introduced the Master of the Mystic Arts. Now, in this second Mighty Marvel Masterworks volume they make him a legend. The Eternity Saga is a multi-part adventure that many consider it be one of the greatest Marvel stories of all time. In it, Baron Mordo gains new power from the dread Dormammu, so much power that he strikes down the Ancient One and forces Doctor Strange to go on the run. As Strange races across the globe and into new dimensions, he seeks the aid of the all-encompassing Eternity. The epic conclusion pits Strange against Dormammu with the lives of Clea and the Ancient One in the balance. Also featuring Doctor Strange/Spider-Man iconic team-up!

COLLECTING: Strange Tales (1951) 130-146, Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1964)

He's the most amazing, spectacular, sensational hero in all the Marvel-Verse - your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man! And he's swinging into action in these incredible adventures! First, enjoy a modern spin on Spidey's classic origin tale of power and responsibility, as a spider bite transforms the life of unpopular teen Peter Parker - for better and worse! Then, to save the life of his beloved Aunt May, Spidey must triumph against impossible odds and overcome an army of Doctor Octopus' goons in a character-defining classic from the legendary team of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko! And if that wasn't enough, the wallcrawler faces all his deadliest enemies - Doc Ock, Kraven the Hunter, Mysterio, Sandman, Electro and Vulture - banded together as the Sinister Six!

Steve Ditko was the last of a sturdy generation of American comic book artists who produced iconic, modern day mythology and was among the most influential and original creators of the 20th Century. A prime architect, together with Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, of a universe of heroic characters that took Marvel Comics from an underdog New York publisher in the 1960s to the world-recognized brand of comic book superheroes and multi-million-dollar movies of today, Ditko co-created Spider-Man but walked away from the character he designed over 50 years ago, to never again return to the enduring superhero and retreating completely from the public eye thereafter. Seeking his own individualistic paths for creative and personal expression would lead to condemnation from some, restricted work opportunities from others and a reclusive life peppered with memories of interfering editors; original artwork that had been stolen from him and a life-long adherence to his Objectivist convictions. With the book sourcing a decade-long correspondence between Steve Ditko and its author David Currie, the history of the formative years of American comic books and the rise of Marvel Comics is revealed, illuminated further by interviews with many other comic book creators from all periods. It's an intrigue-filled story of heroes and villains, both fictional and real; visionary artists on zero-hour contracts and one man's artistically productive and diligently uncompromising life.