Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers

    (Marvel, 2003)
™ and © 1963, 1964, 2003-2005 Marvel Entertainment Group

The prohibitive prices that most of the early, seminal issues of Marvel Comics’ command from back issue dealers spawned the Marvel Masterworks series. Usually ten consecutive issues of a title’s early run were collected and packaged under an impressive hard cover with an additional dust jacket. Originally priced at $29.95, these volumes were a handsome addition to a comic fan’s bookshelf.

This series is a softbound version of the hardback series. While perhaps not as impressive as the hardback version, these volumes still serve the fan base by providing a reasonable alternative for reading some classic stories. These books are also valuable for fans who may have the original issues but are reluctant to inflict any more wear and tear on those collector’s items. Another series, Marvel Milestone Edition, reprinted a single issue of a title that was deemed momentous and was reproduced as originally published, even including the original advertisements, house ads and letters pages. The Masterworks series however featured only the stories and none of the incidental material.

This Avengers edition includes the first ten issues of that title illustrating their origin as a group, the volatility of the line-up and return of Captain America.

— George Haberberger
Jump to issue:
  • 4/B
    #4 Variation B
    Direct Market Trade paperback Cover B by Jack Kirby
    Cover: $24.99
    W: Stan Lee, Roy Thomas  ·  A: Don Heck
    Softcover; Collects #31-40
    1 copy for $14.50
  • 5
    #5
    Dec 2005
    Cover: $24.99
    W: Roy Thomas  ·  A: John Buscema, Don Heck, George Tuska
    Collects Avengers #41-50 and Annual #1; Introduction by Roy Thomas
    1 copy for $14.50
  • 5/A
    #5 Variation A
    Direct Market Hardcover
    Dec 2005
    Cover: $54.99
    W: Roy Thomas  ·  A: John Buscema, Don Heck, George Tuska
    Collects Avengers #41-50 and Annual #1; Collets Avengers #41-50 and Annual #1; Marvel Masterworks #54
    1 copy for $60.00
  • 7/HC
    #7 Hardcover
    Hardcover Edition with cover by John Buscema
    Oct 2007
    Cover: $54.99
    W: Roy Thomas  ·  A: John Buscema
    Reprints Avengers #59-68
    1 copy for $60.00
  • 11/HC
    #11 Hardcover
    Hardcover Edition with cover by John Buscema
    Nov 2011
    Cover: $54.99
    W: Roy Thomas, Steve Englehart, Harlan Ellison, Steve Gerber, Stan Lee  ·  A: Rich Buckler, Don Heck, George Tuska, John Buscema, Dave Cockrum, Jim Starlin, Sam Kweskin
    Collects The Avengers #101-111 and Daredevil #99
    1 copy for $43.00