Posted By Dan Greenfield on Feb 16, 2023 | 2 comments

And there came a day unlike any other…

Marvel’s solicitations are out Thursday and the publisher has two first-rate Facsimile Editions in the pipeline, both of which focus on the Avengers, who are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year.

First up is Lee and Kirby’s The Avengers #1 from 1963, followed by Goodwin and Colan’s Iron Man #1, from 1968.

Dig the official solicitations:

AVENGERS #1 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by STAN LEE
Penciled by JACK KIRBY
Cover by JACK KIRBY

And there came a day unlike any other, when Earth’s Mightiest Heroes were united against a common threat! On that day the Avengers were born! The first five heroes to answer the call? Thor, Iron Man, the Wasp, Ant-Man and the Hulk! And the nefarious foe whose fiendish plan brought them together? Loki! Witness the Avengers’ founding all over again as the trickster’s bid to get the better of his brother, the God of Thunder, rebounds on him in spectacular fashion! Can these five very different heroes find a way to work together and defeat the God of Lies? It’s one of the all-time great Marvel comic books, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting AVENGERS (1963) #1.

32 PGS./All Ages… $3.99

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IRON MAN #1 FACSIMILE EDITION

Written by ARCHIE GOODWIN
Penciled by GENE COLAN
Cover by GENE COLAN

In 1968, after years of sharing a split title with Captain America (plus one issue with Namor), Iron Man blasted into his own solo series for the first time – and quickly found himself battling alone against A.I.M.! Trapped in the terror group’s submarine, can Tony Stark fight his way out? Or will the sinister scientist Mordius discover the secrets of his invincible armor – and use them against the Golden Avenger? Plus: The origin of Iron Man is retold in action-packed fashion! It’s one of the all-time great Marvel comic books, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting IRON MAN (1968) #1.

32 PGS./All Ages… $3.99

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A few thoughts:

— The Avengers #1 story has been reprinted a bajillion times but this is the first time as a Facsimile Edition, which includes all the ads, extras and whatnot. It’s due May 17, 2023.

— I think I’m even more excited for Iron Man #1, which has also not been done as a Facsimile Edition until now. It goes on sale a week later, May 24, 2023. (Iron Man’s first appearance in Tales of Suspense #39 has already been released as a Facsimile Edition.)

— Obligatory Price Comparison: An unslabbled, mid-grade Avengers #1 recently sold on eBay for $2,827. Meanwhile, an unslabbed, high-grade Iron Man #1 went for $2,499. The Facsimile Editions are four shellheads each.

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MORE

— MARVEL Solicits Two Big JOHN BYRNE Omnibus Editions For the Fall. Click here.

— AVENGERS #9: WONDER MAN’s First Appearance to Be Released As Facsimile Edition. Click here.