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The Marvel FAQ

We've unleashed a wealth of information about Marvel Comics, but I'm sure you still have questions. Fortunately, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man has answers! If you have a burning question that you think is worthy of being added to the FAQ, please send an email to MarvelFAQ@marvel.com. We'll take a look and add the most pressing questions!

Q. Who was the first Marvel Super Hero?
A. Namor the Sub-Mariner is considered the first Marvel Super Hero. He was originally created for a comic that never saw publication, but eventually made his first appearance in MARVEL COMICS #1 in 1939. The original android Human Torch also made his debut in that same issue.

Q. Was MARVEL COMICS #1 the first Marvel comic book?
A. Yes…and no. Ya see, MARVEL COMICS #1 was definitely the first Marvel comic and first appearance of the Marvel Super Heroes, but it was actually published through Timely Comics. Timely continued to publish comics featuring Marvel characters and stories for over a decade until the name changed to Atlas Comics in the '50s.
In the '50s, Atlas mostly published comics featuring monsters, western characters, romance themes and many more. Super Heroes? They just weren't around much in the '50s. It wasn't until 1961 when the first official Marvel Comics were published. While the Marvel Comics brand began with the AMAZING ADVENTURES anthology, things really kicked off with the introduction of FANTASTIC FOUR #1. And the rest, they say, is history!

Q. Who were the original members of The Avengers?
A. I like to think the Avengers became a real contender of a team when I joined, but that may be a bit of an exaggeration. In truth, the first team of Avengers—who banded together in 1963's AVENGERS #1 to battle Loki—consisted of Ant-Man, Wasp, Thor, Iron Man and the Hulk. Okay, yeah, that's a pretty cool team.

Q. What was the first Marvel crossover event?
A. Well, in 1982 a whole load of us heroes got pulled into CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS, Marvel's first limited series. But that took place in that single series. In 1984, even more heroes—and a bunch of villains—were teleported away to Battleworld by the all-powerful Beyonder in SECRET WARS. That series lasted 12 issues, but also crossed over into AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, AVENGERS, CAPTAIN AMERICA, HULK, IRON MAN, THE THING, FANTASTIC FOUR, MARVEL TEAM-UP, THOR and UNCANNY X-MEN. That was a doozy

Q. Wolverine has metal claws and a metal skeleton, right? What's the metal called?
A. Oh boy. I'd like to say "cranky-tanium," but that would just get me into trouble with my fellow Avenger. Wolvie's skeleton and claws are covered with a virtually indestructible metal called adamantium. He was part of some shady Canadian government experiment and they grafted the metal to his bones and claws. It has, uh, made him a bit testy.

Q. How do you pronounce the name of Thor's hammer Mjolnir?
A. Good question! Mjolnir is pronounced me-yol-near. Say it loud, say it proud!

Look for additions to our FAQ soon!