100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Overnight NZ-wide delivery on in-stock orders 🚀

The Marvel Age of Comics 1961–1978. 45th Ed

Series: 45th Edition
4.35 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 139 ratings, 19 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Marvel Age of Comics 1961-1978 by Roy Thomas explores the transformative era in comic book history sparked by the 1961 debut of Fantastic Four No. 1. This period saw the rise of iconic heroes such as the Hulk, Spider-Man, Iron Man, the X-Men, and the revival of Captain America. The book highlights Marvel’s groundbreaking character and narrative innovation that redefined the superhero genre with relatable heroes facing real-world struggles. It also covers Marvel’s expansion into horror, sword and sorcery, and martial arts through characters like Man-Thing, Conan, and Shang-Chi. Featuring over 500 images and insider insights, it examines the work of seminal creators including Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko, offering a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at this invincible era in pop culture.
Read More
Format: Hardback
$6299
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This richly illustrated and detailed volume is ideal for comic book enthusiasts, Marvel fans, pop culture historians, and anyone interested in the evolution of superhero storytelling during the 1960s and '70s.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

The Marvel Age of Comics was a triumphant era of comic book and pop culture innovation that redefined the superhero genre. This treasure trove of images and exclusive insights reveals the making of such popular characters as the Hulk and Spider-Man, as well as the legends who created them, from Stan "The Man" Lee to Jack "King" Kirby.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

It was an age of mighty heroes, misunderstood monsters, and complex villains. With the publication of Fantastic Four No. 1 in November 1961, comics giant Marvel inaugurated a transformative era in pop culture. Through the next two decades, the iconic Hulk, Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men leapt, darted, and towered through its pages. Captain America was resurrected from his 1940s deep-freeze and the Avengers became the World's Greatest Super Heroes. Daredevil, Doctor Strange, and dozens more were added to the pantheon, each with their own rogues' gallery of malevolent counterparts.

Nearly 60 years later, these thrilling characters from the 1960s and '70s are more popular than ever, fighting the good fight in comics, toy aisles, and blockbuster movies around the world.

In The Marvel Age of Comics 1961–1978, legendary writer and editor Roy Thomas takes you to the heart of this seminal segment in comic history—an age of triumphant character and narrative innovation that reinvented the superhero genre. With more than 500 images and insider insights, the book traces the birth of champions who were both epic in their powers and grounded in a world that readers recognized as close to their own; relatable heroes with the same problems, struggles, and shortcomings as everyone else.

By the '70s, we see how the House of Ideas also elevated horror, sword and sorcery, and martial arts in its stable of titanic demigods, introducing iconic characters like Man-Thing, Conan, and Shang-Chi and proving that their brand of storytelling could succeed and flourish outside of the capes and tights.

Behind it all, we get to know the extraordinary Marvel architects whose names are almost as familiar as the mortals (and immortals!) they brought to life—Stan "The Man" Lee, Jack "King" Kirby, and Steve Ditko, along with a roster of greats like John Romita, John Buscema, Marie Severin, Jim Steranko, and countless others.

The result is a behind-the-scenes treasure trove and a jewel for any comic fan's library, brimming with the innovation and energy of an invincible era for Marvel and its heroes alike.

© 2020 MARVEL

Series: 45th Edition

View all
  • Seba. Cabinet of Natural Curiosities. 45th Ed.
    The Cabinet of Natural Curiosities is one of the 18th century's greatest natural history achievements and remains one of the most prized natural history books of all time. Though scientists of his era often collected natural specimens for research purposes, Amsterdam-based pharmacist Albertus Seba (1665-1736) was unrivalled in his passion. His amazing collection of animals, plants, and insects from all...
    Hardback
    $6299
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Tree Houses. 45th Ed.
    The idea of climbing a tree for shelter, or just to see the earth from another perspective, is as old as humanity. In this neat TASCHEN edition, take a tour of some of our finest arboreal adventures with the most beautiful, inventive, and enchanting tree houses around the world. From romantic to contemporary, and from famed architects to little-known craftsmen,...
    Hardback
    $5699
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Hieronymus Bosch. The Complete Works. 45th Ed.
    Only 20 paintings and eight drawings are confidently assigned to Netherlandish painter Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450-1516), yet their fantastical visions have secured his place as one of the most cult artists in history. Five hundred years after his death, his works continue to inspire scholars, artists, designers, and musicians, influencing everything from death metal band names to designer dresses. This...
    Hardback
    $6299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Motorcycles. 45th Ed.
    Dream Rides: The most spectacular bikes on the planet. From the 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller to the 2020 Aston Martin AMB 001, Motorcycles. 45th Ed. lavishly explores 50 of the most desirable motorcycles to have ever sped thrillingly around a circuit or along an open road. From pioneering record-breakers, luxury tourers, and legendary roadracers to GP-winning machines, iconic superbikes, and...
    Hardback
    $6299
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The adidas Archive. The Footwear Collection. 45th Ed.
    More than 100 years ago, brothers Adolf ("Adi") and Rudolf Dassler crafted their first pair of sports shoes. Hundreds of groundbreaking designs, epic moments, and star-studded collaborations later, this book presents a visual review of the adidas shoe through almost 200 models. To further develop and tailor his products to athletes' specific needs, Dassler asked them to return their worn...
    Hardback
    $6299
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Homes For Our Time. Contemporary Houses around the World. Vol. 2. 45th Ed.
    Climate, environment, history, and technology are transforming architecture worldwide. The second volume in the Homes for Our Time series documents this housing revolution and raises questions: What role do homes play in our endangered world? How can they innovate?In Sri Lanka, Palinda Kannangara created the Frame Holiday Structure on a budget of $ 40,000. Built from steel scaffolding, exposed brick,...
    Hardback
    $5699
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Frank Lloyd Wright. 45th Ed.
    A building by Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) is at once unmistakably individual and evocative of an entire era. Notable for their exceptional harmony with their environment, as well as for their use of steel and glass to revolutionize the interface of indoor and outdoor, Wright's designs helped announce the age of modernity, as much as they secured his place in...
    Hardback
    $6299
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Information Graphics. 45th Ed.
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." -Albert Einstein Our everyday lives are filled with a massive flow of information that we must interpret in order to understand the world we live in. Considering the complex variety of data floating around us, sometimes the best-or even only-way to communicate is visually. This unique book presents...
    Hardback
    $6299
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • J. C. Volkamer. The Book of Citrus Fruits. 45th Ed.
    Have you ever thought of citrus fruits as celestial bodies, angelically suspended in the sky? Perhaps not, but J. C. Volkamer (1644-1720) did-commissioning an extravagant and breathtaking series of large-sized copperplates representing citrons, lemons, and bitter oranges in surreal scenes of majesty and wonder.Ordering plants by post mostly from Italy, Germany, North Africa, and even the Cape of Good Hope,...
    Hardback
    $5999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • HR Giger. 45th Ed.
    Swiss artist HR Giger (1940-2014) is most famous for his creation of the space monster in Ridley Scott's 1979 horror sci-fi film Alien, which earned him an Oscar. Yet this was just one of the most popular expressions of Giger's biomechanical arsenal of creatures, which consistently merged hybrids of human and machine into images of haunting power and dark psychedelia....
    Hardback
    $6299
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Shoes A–Z. 45th Ed.
    Sky-high, ornate, and the pinnacle of glamour, both restrictive and liberating, art object and deeply ordinary, shoes tell the story of shifting attitudes toward desire, power, and wealth throughout history. Lace up for a journey through the most enviable shoe closet from the permanent collection at The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology-and four centuries of fashion's hardest working...
    Hardback
    $5999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Rolling Stones. 45th Ed.
    The kind of fame and success The Rolling Stones have achieved in their 60-plus year career is without parallel; their most famous riffs and catchiest lyrics are indelibly engraved in our collective memory. With their mesmerizing on- and off-stage presence, the Stones set the standard for how a rock band should sound, pose, pout, and behave. They were the first...
    Hardback
    $5999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

A fantastic book praised as the greatest representation of Marvel Comics history by Joe Sinnott, a renowned comic book artist and inker. DPA calls Marvel 'pop culture in its purest form,' while Le Figaro lauds it as a veritable Bible chronicling Marvel's incredible odyssey.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9783836577878

Publisher: Taschen GmbH

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 01 September 2020

Country: Germany

Imprint: Taschen GmbH

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 43.0mm

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 217.0mm

Weight: 1131g

Pages: 512

About the Author

Roy Thomas was among the first comic book creators reared on comics themselves, bringing an encyclopedic knowledge of the medium as well as a youthful enthusiasm that served him well in his prime years as a writer and editor in the industry. He served alongside Stan Lee during the pivotal years of Marvel’s ascension to the number one company in comics, with storied runs on The X-Men, The Avengers, and Conan the Barbarian. Thomas continues to publish his authoritative Alter Ego comics history magazine and remains a popular addition to convention lineups around the world.

Also by Roy Thomas

View all
  • Stoker's Dracula
    Marvel's graphic novel retelling of the legendary Bram Stoker's original novel, collected in colour for the first time! The classic story of Dracula, in the mighty Marvel manner! Since 1897, Bram Stoker's Dracula has mesmerised audiences as a novel, in movies, and in comics. Now, this definitive comics collection tells the tale of Jonathan Harker, Mina Murray, Abraham Van Helsing,...
    Paperback
    $5000
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Conan The Barbarian: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol.5
    For fans of the greatest literary warrior of all times! The legend of Conan the Barbarian strides on with Omnibus Volume 5, which sees new writers and artists take up the reins and welcomes legends like Gil Kane, Bruce Jones, and Neil Adams to the roster of great creators. This volume also brings back fan-favourite characters like Jenna and Murilo...
    Hardback
    $29000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Savage Sword Of Conan
    The Savage Sword of Conan returns from Heroic Signatures and Titan Comics! This third volume collects issues 7-9 of the stunning new Savage Sword of Conan magazine. SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #7: Roy Thomas returns to Conan! The Savage Sword of Conan begins its barbaric second year from Heroic Signatures and Titan Comics. This issue features the return of legendary...
    Paperback
    $5999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • King Conan: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol. 1
    Collecting issues #1-19 of King Conan (1980), this 776-page epic omnibus heralds a new era for Conan and features the creative talents of such luminaries as Roy Thomas, Doug Moench, John Buscema, and Marc Silvestri. From the battlefield to the throne room, from barbarian to legendary monarch, the timeless saga of Conan reaches the time when he at last became...
    Hardback
    $23500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Savage Sword Of Conan: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol.5
    Conan at his finest! Savage, brutal, and always...EPIC! Freed from the strict Comic Code Authority stamp of approval, the Savage Sword of Conan magazine was always more hard-hitting and savage than its sister title Conan the Barbarian, featuring more action, violence, and raunch. Omnibus Volume 5 of the original comic series is no exception. This volume sees Michael Fleisher and...
    Hardback
    $28000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Savage Sword of Conan: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol.10
    The greatest hero in sword-and-sorcery history. This is the legend of Conan! The Savage Sword of Conan: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol.10 features 18 Conan stories from 1987, written by the likes of Chuck Dixon, Larry Yakata, and Don Kraar. The artwork is masterfully drawn by Gary Kwapisz, Andy Kubert, and Val Mayerik. The omnibus also includes the graphic novel,...
    Hardback
    $29000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Stan Lee Story
    The mostly true tale of Stan Lee, the one and only Godfather of Comics. From his childhood in Depression-era New York, to transforming Marvel into the number one comics publisher in the world, to his 21st-century reinvention as Chief Creative Officer of global entertainment company POW! Entertainment, Stan "the Man" Lee stands the test of time as the most legendary...
    Hardback
    $23500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Solomon Kane: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol. 1
    Set in the late 16th-17th Century, Solomon Kane, often described as a living weapon of God, is depicted as a tall, thin, dour one-man war-machine traveling the world spreading the good word and delivering vengeance and wrath upon the evil and corrupt, from devil-worshipping devotees, to pirates, cannibals, demons, werewolves, and vampires. This collection spans 15 years and gathers over...
    Hardback
    $23000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Conan The Barbarian: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol.2
    The adventure continues in this collection of classic Conan stories, perfect for fans and collectors alike! Tired of the thieving life, Conan signs on as a mercenary for the warring kingdom of Turan. The enemy will tell of Conan's legendary skill in battle—if any of them live to tell the tale—but palace intrigue may prove more dangerous to the barbarian....
    Hardback
    $28500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Conan The Barbarian: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol.1
    For fans of Conan, both old and new, and a perfect way to discover the adventures of the famous Cimmerian, this is the definitive collection of Marvel's classic 1970s Conan the Barbarian. Born on a battlefield in the frozen lands of Cimmeria, Conan fights his way through the untamed kingdoms of the Hyborian Age, sparing no man, woman, or wizard...
    Hardback
    $29000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Conan The Barbarian: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol.3
    The greatest hero in sword-and-sorcery history. This is the legend of Conan! Battle runs through Conan's life like the blood in his veins. A stint with the mercenary Crimson Company isn't enough to quench his fury, but perhaps consorting with Belit, pirate queen of the Black Coast, can. Together, Conan and Belit will reave across Hyboria's high seas and into...
    Hardback
    $28500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Savage Sword Of Conan: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol.6
    More savage, brutal and epic in scope than its sister title Conan the Barbarian. The Savage Sword of Conan: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol.6 sees Conan doing what he does best: slaughtering monsters and demons, slaying opponents, and wenching. In this massive 1008-page Omnibus collection, writer Michael Fleisher hits his stride with a series of mould-breaking Conan tales including 'The...
    Hardback
    $27000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Arts & Culture

View all
  • Dylan's Pick
    Bold Types
    A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...
    Hardback
    $5500
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    Available
    Ships in 1 week
  • Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    New Release
    Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...
    Hardback
    $4499
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    Hardback
    $7299
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • They Bloom Because of You
    Bestselling author and Instagram sensation Jessica Urlichs returns with a new collection of beautifully observed poems about the ever-evolving journey of motherhood - the hard, the magic and the fleeting. ‘A raw and honest read that makes you feel seen and understood in a way that will bring you to tears.’ - Hilary Swank ‘A book to keep close and...
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3600
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Leaves of Grass
    A collectible new Penguin Classics series offers beautiful, slim, clothbound editions of ten favourite poets. In 1855, Walt Whitman published his first collection of poetry, Leaves of Grass. The volume received great praise from leading Transcendentalist poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. This encouragement led to what would become a lifelong project, as Whitman expanded and rewrote the volume until his death...
    Hardback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Great Writers and the Cats who Owned Them
    Throughout history, cats and writers have bonded together in a magical combination of comfort, companionship and inspiration. The famous authors featured here range from Samuel Johnson, whose cat Hodge dined on oysters, and Edward Lear, whose charismatic cat Foss was missing half his tail, to Margaret Mitchell, L. M. Montgomery and Dorothy L. Sayers, who rescued her kitten Blitz from...
    Hardback
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Beautiful Chaos
    The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller Selected poems from bestselling author and Instagram poet, Jessica Urlichs. 'These words awaken the magic of life by celebrating the ordinary.' - Giovanna Fletcher Motherhood is messy and beautiful, and hard and humbling. We adore our children and sometimes we miss ourselves. Beautiful Chaos is a collection of raw, honest poems about motherhood, capturing everything...
    Paperback
    $2900
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Odyssey
    Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage and family; about travellers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative....
    By Homer
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • To the Women - The New Collection of Wise Words Every Woman Needs
    THE COMPLETELY UPDATED COLLECTION WITH OVER 70 BRAND NEW POEMS, FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES NO.1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WILD HOPE AND WORDS TO LIVE BY 'Amazing . . . Donna's words speak to my heart' Davina McCall To the Women is a celebration of the beauty, strength, and joy of being a woman. A love letter to our deep capacity...
    Hardback
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Wreck This Journal: Now in Colour
    The creative journey continues with Wreck This Journal: Now in Colour by Keri Smith, the latest and most vibrant edition of the groundbreaking series that redefined journaling. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this edition brings the playful destructiveness of the original to life in dazzling full colour, adding a dynamic new dimension to the beloved prompts. Whether you're a seasoned Wreck-er,...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • A Thousand Feasts
    THE INSTANT #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER From award-winning writer Nigel Slater, comes a new and exquisitely written collection of notes, memoir, stories and small moments of joy. 'Nigel Slater’s prose is the rarest delicacy of all: exquisite yet effortless, filled with heart, tenderness, yearning and humour' ELIZABETH DAY For years, Nigel Slater has kept notebooks of curiosities and wonderings, penned...
    Paperback
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Did I Ever Tell You This?
    In this unexpected memoir, written in a creative burst of just a few months in 2022, Sam Neill tells the story of how he became one of the world’s most celebrated actors, who has worked with everyone from Meryl Streep to Isabel Adjani, from Jeff Goldblum to Sean Connery, from Steven Spielberg to Jane Campion. By his own account, his...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.