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1st appearance of the Avengers w/ origin; Loki app.; Jack Kirby cover/art; COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 9 (CBI)


Avengers #1 debuted in September 1963, with (naturally) the first appearance of the Avengers — as composed of the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Ant-Man, and Wasp. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby had been inspired by the success of DC's Justice League of America and Marvel's own Fantastic Four. The idea paid off with young fans who kept reading as the Hulk departed, Ant-Man became Giant Man, and a revived Captain America joined the team. (Of course, Marvel executives also hoped that fans of one hero would be inspired to look into books featuring fellow Avengers.)

The Avengers was always a popular title, with the first issue considered a top collectible. The series would still grow into something much bigger as the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduced beloved characters under the Avengers banner. The first film was a huge success, following the Avengers #1 template of our heroes taking on Loki. That would culminate with the Avengers and others joining forces against Thanos for 2019's Avengers: Endgame, which remains one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

Today, the MCU continues to be built around the Avengers franchise. Marvel Studios' production slate includes Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 and 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars, with both films making headlines after Robert Downey Jr. joined the cast as Dr. Doom. The enduring popularity of the series continues to revive investors' interest in the original Silver Age comics. With no plans to end the MCU any time soon, copies of The Avengers seem set to remain a sharp investment.
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Artists Information

Jack Kirby is called 'The King of Comics' for a reason, during his career that spanned six decades he gave us many of the most iconic characters the medium would ever see. From his introduction of Captain America at the height of World War II it was clear he wasn't your ordinary comics artist. But it was his creative explosion at Marvel Comics in the 1960's that cemented his legacy, over a short period of time Kirby would give us The Fantastic Four, Iron Man, The Hulk, The X-Men, Thor, Ant-Man and Nick Fury just to name a few. Kirby would then go to DC and create his Fourth World, introducing Darkseid, Mister Miracle, The New Gods and a host of cosmic supporting players. Long live The King.

Richard "Dick" Ayers was an American comic book artist and cartoonist best known for his work as one of the main inkers during the late-1950's and 1960's Silver Age of Comics, including some of the earliest issues of Marvel Comics' including Jack Kirby's The Fantastic Four. He is the signature penciler of Marvel's World War II comic Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, drawing it for a 10-year run, and he co-created Magazine Enterprises' 1950s Western-horror character the Ghost Rider, a version of which he would draw for Marvel in the 1960s. His career would span 7 decades until his death in 2014.