The Origin of the Avengers
By Stan Lee

The year was 1963.

Just two years earlier, in '61, little Marvel Comics had shaken up the comic book world by launching the Fantastic Four. Suddenly, we weren't little Marvel any longer. We had become the hot new kids on the block.

After the FF, in May of 1962, we launched another new title that made fandom sit up and take notice. You may have heard of it - the incredible Hulk.

But we weren't about to rest on our laurels. Sensing that we were on a roll, we decided to see where the momentum would take us.

So we created another new hero. August '62 saw the first, unexpected and unheralded appearance of - the amazing Spider-Man.

And, that very same month we introduced still another new hero, from the hallowed hills of Asgard. You guessed it, the mighty Thor.

Well, the whole thing was just unbelievable. Every one of our new super hero titles looked like hits. The fans started deluging us with letters and phone calls, demanding more and more.

So, as you might suspect, motivated by a deep-rooted desire to please, as well as a sense of overpowering greed, we just kept going.

One month after our Thunder God made his initial appearance, the world was treated to our newest and smallest super hero, whose name is somewhat of a giveaway - the astonishing Ant-Man.

Finally, in March of '63, that heavy, clanging sound you might have heard was the coming of still another masterful Marvel creation, the invicible Iron Man!

Please note that the word 'finally' was merely for the purpose of bringing us up to the fateful date of September 1963. There was actually nothing final about ol' Shell-Head's creation. You see, after him we also gifted you with Doctor Strange, Daredevil, the X-Men, Sgt. Fury and Odin knows how many others in our seemingly endless list of super hero spectaculars. But for now, let's forget the others and return to the month of September '63.

You see, early in '63, together with the gang in the bullpen, I was sitting around wondering what to do next, casually contemplating some new mix of madness and mischief for Marvel to get into. As it inevitably does, the talk turned to the comics we had been producing and what we thought of them.

It occurred to us that one of the most popular features of our mags, according to the fan mail, were the guest apperances that our heroes and heroines so often made in our other titles. Our readers really seemed to love it when the Hulk popped up in a Fantastic Four adventure, or when Spidey might meet Iron Man while web-swinging over the city.

That was the clue, the tip-off! If the happy hordes of Marveldom enjoyed seeing our heroes together, why not get a team where a number of them could join forces each issue?

No sooner did the idea hit us than we were off and running. Of course, our most dynamite decision would have to be determining which of our rapidly proliferating coterie of costumed characters would comprise our soon-to-be-formed super team! (And just try saying that five times fast with a mouthful of marbles!)

We knew we couldn't use the Fantastic Four because they were already a team . Spidey wasn't a good choice because he was definitely a loner. Now, I can hear you mumbling, "Well, the Hulk isn't exactly a party animal, yet you used him!" You're right, but we tossed ol' Greenskin in just for contrast. I felt it would be more interesting to have one member who was somewhat unpredictable, who might serve as a catalyst for future problems and interesting hassles.

As for the other available candidates, they all seemed perfect for the team we wanted to create. Iron Man's alter ego, the wealthy industrialist Tony Stark, was a natural leader. Don Blake in the persona of Thor, Son of Odin, provided the necessary color and contrast as well as a fabulous sense of fantasy. Henry pym and his lady-love, Jan, were so totally different from the others that they rounded the team out beautifully. As for The Hulk, any group of do-gooders that included a not-so-jolly green giant would never have a dull moment.

Perhaps the most attractive thing about the team is the fact that it's open-ended. Old members can leave and new members can join. As an example, when the time came to script issue #4, it occurred to me that someone was missing. There was one special person I who represented the very essence of all that the Avengers stood for, and I felt it was time for us to bring him back from the limbo of long-lost heroes, which is why AVENGERS #4 became one of our best-selling, most sought-after issues-for it reintroduced the one, the only - Captain America!

Dyed-in-the-wool Avengers fans know that over the years there have been many changes in the star-studded roster, but they also know that one thing will never change. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, you can expect the best in thrills, fun and fantasy whenever you hear that spellbinding cry - AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!