Taschen’s The Marvel Age of Comics 1961–1978 by Roy Thomas released

By John Freeman on September 21, 2017

It was an age of mighty heroes, misunderstood monsters, and complex villains. With the publication of Fantastic Four #1 in November 1961, comics giant Marvel inaugurated a transformative era in pop culture. Through the next two decades, the Hulk, Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men leapt, darted, and towered through its pages. Captain America was resurrected from his 1940s deep-freeze and the Avengers became the World’s Greatest Super Heroes. Daredevil, Dr. Strange, and dozens more were added to the pantheon, each with their own rogues’ gallery of malevolent counterparts. More than 50 years later, these thrilling characters from the 1960s and ’70s are more popular than ever, fighting the good fight in comics, toy aisles, and blockbuster movies around the world.

In The Marvel Age of Comics 1961–1978, legendary writer and editor Roy Thomas takes you to the heart of this seminal segment in comic history – an age of triumphant character and narrative innovation that reinvented the super hero genre. With hundreds of images and insider knowledge, the book traces the birth of champions who were at once epic in their powers and grounded in a world that readers recognised as close to their own; relatable heroes with the same problems, struggles, and shortcomings as everyone else.

By the 1970s, we see how the House of Ideas also elevated horror, sword and sorcery, and martial arts in its stable of titanic demigods, introducing characters like Man-Thing, Conan, and Shang-Chi, and proving that their brand of storytelling could succeed and flourish outside of the capes and tights.

Behind it all, we get to know the extraordinary Marvel architects whose names are almost as familiar as the mortals (and immortals!) they brought to life – Stan “The Man” Lee, Jack “King” Kirby, and Steve Ditko, along with a roster of greats like John Romita, John Buscema, Marie Severin, Jim Steranko, and countless others.

The result is a behind-the-scenes treasure trove and a jewel for any comic fan’s library, brimming with the innovation and energy of an invincible era for Marvel and its heroes alike.

• Buy The Marvel Age of Comics 1961–1978 from amazon.co.uk

About the Author
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John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

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