Pre-Hero Marvel Comics

This particular niche may be my single favorite among them all. It carried what would become Marvel Comics from the Atlas "Summer of Death" in 1957 to their down to earth, more realistic super-heroes who still thrive today, more than 60 years later.

Below are displayed all issues of what comprise the "pre-hero Marvel" era. These are the fantasy/mystery/sci-fi/monster books that were the first to be produced without the Atlas seal just after the Atlas collapse in 1957.

This era extended to the final issue that would be published to a title that would forsake its roots to make way for the burgeoning super-hero market.... Tales Of Suspense #38.

It took me a number of years to collect them all, and I'm still upgrading whenever the opportunity arises.

If you have not explored these classics in depth, then I hope that you will enjoy viewing these pieces of history as much as I do.

A small representation of earlier books from the Timely/Atlas era can be found here.

Other romance and western Marvel comics from the pre-hero time period are viewable below the monster/sci-fi books.

This is a truly unique series, short though it was, in that each and every issue contained stories that were all written and drawn by the same two talents.... Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. It was a continuation from Marvel's first, "Amazing Adventures" series, incorporating the word, "Adult" in the title and the blurb, "The Magazine That Respects Your Intelligence" prominently on each cover.

This would prove to be an ultimately futile attempt to draw attention from some slightly older readers in addition to the children that at that time composed the primary comic-buying demographic.

#14 was the final issue, #15 dropping the word, "Adult" and introducing a new super-hero called, "Spider-Man". The death song of this title had already been written, and since #15 would be the final issue regardless, Martin Goodman allowed Stan Lee to place within it a story about a lonely teenager who was bitten by a radioactive spider. Mr. Goodman was certain that the book would report dismal sales.... after all, who wants to read a comic book about something as creepy as a boy bitten by a spider? But, what did it really matter? #15 would end the series anyway.

This is the title that would be renamed, "Amazing Adult Fantasy" after only 6 issues, and would introduce and feature the first Marvel-age hero, Dr. Droom. Later renamed Dr. Druid, this character was revived several years later and was briefly featured in a new ongoing series in "Weird Wonder Tales". Several years later, he procured a membership in the Avengers. But then, didn't everybody....?

white box variant

price stamp variant

One the earliest Atlas horror titles, and the first Marvel era title to reach #100.

Though virtually never mentioned in a discussion about pre-hero Marvel comics, this title definitely fits into that classification.

The books pictured below, among a handful of other titles, helped to keep the company that had been known as Atlas afloat after the company's relatively sudden implosion in mid-1957.

That same company would be reborn as Marvel Comics just a few years later. 'World Of Fantasy" featured only two monster covers, both at the end of the run. They featured artwork from some of the best artists that Atlas had, including Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Joe Maneely who had been killed by falling off of a subway platform in June of 1958. His as-yet unpublished story artwork would be featured in this title for a full year after his untimely demise at the age of 32.

The other "pre-hero" Marvels

Yeah, I know. These aren't technically "pre-hero" books because none of them ever introduced any super-heroes and continued their 3rd tier status for the remainder of their existence. But they did exist within the Marvel line during a pivotal time period when the future of what had been Atlas Publications was still very much in doubt. A few of these westerns do feature monster/sci-fi covers, however, seemingly as an acknowledgment that the subject matter that they had presented previously was quickly becoming a thing of the past.

black circle variant

Linda Carter, Student Nurse

The last few of these do just slightly intrude into the Marvel era, but I felt compelled to include them anyway if only for their scarcity. Very, very hard to find in high grade. The awesome Kirby covers and artwork make most collectors, including myself, tend to keep them once they find them.