The Marvel Cinematic Universe launched back in 2008 when Iron Man hit theaters. 11 years and 22 movies later, Marvel is the premiere franchise when it comes to the box office. But the history of Marvel Comics is much longer. This August , Marvel Comics will celebrate its 80th anniversary with the release of “Marvel Comics #1000,” according to the New York Times.
- “Marvel Comics #1” arrived on newsstands on August 31, 1939, featuring Namor, the Sub-Mariner and the android Human Torch.
- 80 years later, Marvel has assembled 80 different creative teams to work on this 80-page celebration of Marvel’s rich history.
- Each team will create just one page and each page will represent a year in Marvel’s history, with the very first panel coming from that 1939 issue.
- Subsequent pages will feature iconic characters like Captain America, Iron Man and Spider-Man as well as some lesser-known characters like Blue Marvel, Night Thrasher and the Three X’s.
- “Marvel Comics #1000” features a painted cover (seen above) from artist Alex Ross, which includes iconic characters and images from throughout Marvel’s history.
- “This Week in Marvel” broke down all the details regarding the upcoming comic:
- No exact release date has been announced for “Marvel Comics #1000” has been announced at this time, but it will be available both in comic shops and digitally this August.
What they’re saying:
- Tom Brevoort, Marvel’s executive editor and senior vice president of publishing: “This is by far the most complex and complicated and difficult book I’ve ever had to assemble.”
- C.B. Cebulski, Marvel’s editor in chief: “Our characters are mentioned in so many different ways and in so many different mediums and we always keep track. Now these distinguished individuals are able to contribute back to the comics they grew up on.”
- Al Ewing, comic writer, on working on “Marvel Comics #1000”: “This is the kind of honor that doesn’t really come that often.”