Marvel Graphic Novel

Marvel Graphic Novel (MGN) is a line of graphic novel trade paperbacks published from 1982 to 1993 by Marvel Comics.[1] The books were published in an oversized format, 8.5" x 11", similar to French albums. In response, DC Comics established a competitor line known as DC Graphic Novel.

Not to be confused with The Official Marvel Graphic Novel Collection.
Marvel Graphic Novel
Cover of Marvel Graphic Novel #1: "The Death of
Captain Marvel" (1982). Art by Jim Starlin
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
Format8.5" x 11"
GenreScience fiction
Superhero
Sword and sorcery
Publication date1982 – 1993
No. of issues75
Main character(s)
Creative team
Written by
Artist(s)
Penciller(s)
Inker(s)
Colorist(s)
Editor(s)

Publication history

The decision to launch the line was made in late 1979, after strong sales reports for the summer. Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter envisioned the "books as being in the format of European albums, with cardboard covers, full-color, slick pages."[2] In September 1980, Shooter indicated the line was delayed because of complications in putting together the contracts, which he was drafting in consultation with Marvel attorneys.[3] In early 1981, Marvel hired Michael Z. Hobson away from Scholastic Books to be Vice-President/Publishing. His expertise in writing author contracts, which was greater than Shooter's, was a key reason.[4] A few months later, contracts with writer/artist Jim Starlin were finalized for The Death of Captain Marvel and Dreadstar.[5]

The Death of Captain Marvel, the first book in the line, was published in January 1982.[6] Marvel numbered stories through 1985 up to number 20, but released many other stories in the same format that are considered unnumbered parts of the series according to the Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide. Overstreet continued numbering beyond the original "official" numbering, following a Marvel-published list of graphic novels. When the list stopped being published, Overstreet stopped trying to number the issues, halting at number 38, although they list 29 more issues published from 1983 through 1991, although the list is known not to include every graphic novel from this period.

The line was divided evenly between author-owned and company-owned titles. Several characters were featured in an issue of Marvel Graphic Novel before receiving their own miniseries or ongoing series. The most successful of these was The New Mutants, which ran for 100 issues.[7] Other series which were spun-off from a Marvel Graphic Novel are Dreadstar,[8] Void Indigo, Starstruck, and The Swords of the Swashbucklers. In addition, Star Slammers had a miniseries published by Malibu Comics and Futurians was a short-lived title published by Lodestone Comics.

List of graphic novels in the Marvel Graphic Novel line
Number Title Year Writers Artists Notes Citations
Officially numbered titles
1 The Death of Captain Marvel 1982 Jim Starlin [6][9]
2 Elric: The Dreaming City 1982 Michael Moorcock
Roy Thomas		 P. Craig Russell [9]
3 Dreadstar 1982 Jim Starlin [8][9]
4 The New Mutants 1982 Chris Claremont Bob McLeod first appearance of the New Mutants [7][9]
5 X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills 1982 Brent Anderson elements of this story are used in the film X2 [9]
6 Star Slammers 1983 Walt Simonson [9]
7 Killraven: Warrior of the Worlds 1983 Don McGregor P. Craig Russell [9]
8 Super Boxers August 1983 Ron Wilson
John Byrne		 Ron Wilson [9]
9 The Futurians 1983 Dave Cockrum [9]
10 Heartburst 1983 Rick Veitch [9]
11 Void Indigo 1983 Steve Gerber Val Mayerik [9]
12 Dazzler: The Movie 1984 Jim Shooter Frank Springer [9]
13 Starstruck: The Luckless, the Abandoned and Forsaked 1984 Elaine Lee Michael Kaluta collection of the Starstruck stories serialized in Heavy Metal [9]
14 The Swords of the Swashbucklers October 1984 Bill Mantlo Jackson Guice [9]
15 The Raven Banner (A Tale of Asgard) 1984 Alan Zelenetz Charles Vess [9]
16 The Aladdin Effect 1985 David Michelinie Greg LaRocque features Storm, the She-Hulk, Tigra, and the Wasp [9]
17 Revenge of the Living Monolith June 1985 Marc Silvestri
Geof Isherwood		 [9][10]
18 The Sensational She-Hulk 1985 John Byrne John Byrne
Kim DeMulder		 [9]
19 Conan the Barbarian: The Witch Queen of Acheron 1985 Don Kraar Gary Kwapisz [9]
20 Greenberg the Vampire 1985 J. M. DeMatteis Mark Badger [9]
Overstreet-numbered titles
21 Marada the She-Wolf 1985 Chris Claremont John Bolton collects material originally serialized in Epic Illustrated #10-12 [9]
22 Amazing Spider-Man: Hooky 1986 Susan K. Putney Bernie Wrightson [9][11]
23 Doctor Strange: Into Shamballa 1986 J. M. DeMatteis
Dan Green		 Dan Green [9]
24 Daredevil: Love and War 1986 Frank Miller Bill Sienkiewicz [9]
25 Alien Legion: A Grey Day to Die 1986 Carl Potts
Alan Zelenetz		 Frank Cirocco [9]
26 Dracula: A Symphony in Moonlight & Nightmares 1986 Jon J Muth [9]
27 Emperor Doom 1987 David Michelinie Bob Hall features the Avengers [9]
28 Conan the Reaver 1987 Don Kraar John Severin [9]
29 The Incredible Hulk and the Thing: The Big Change 1987 Jim Starlin Bernie Wrightson [9]
30 A Sailor's Story 1987 Sam Glanzman biographical story about Sam Glanzman's service aboard the USS Stevens (DD-479) during World War II [9]
31 Wolfpack 1987 Larry Hama Ron Wilson [9]
32 Death of Groo 1987 Mark Evanier Sergio Aragones [9]
33 The Mighty Thor: I, Whom The Gods Would Destroy 1988 Jim Shooter
Jim Owsley		 Paul Ryan [9]
34 Cloak and Dagger: Predator and Prey 1988 Bill Mantlo Larry Stroman [9]
35 The Shadow: Hitler's Astrologer 1988 Dennis O'Neil Michael Kaluta
Russ Heath		 [9]
36 Willow: Movie Adaptation 1988 Mary Jo Duffy Bob Hall
Romeo Tanghal		 [9]
37 Hercules Prince of Power: Full Circle 1988 Bob Layton [9]
38 Silver Surfer: Judgment Day 1988 Stan Lee John Buscema [9]
Unofficially-numbered titles
39 The Inhumans 1988 Ann Nocenti Bret Blevins [9]
40 The Punisher: Assassin's Guild 1988 Mary Jo Duffy Jorge Zaffino [9]
41 Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1988 Don Ferguson

Daan Jippes

 Dan Spiegle

Daan Jippes

 [9]
42 Conan of the Isles 1988 Lin Carter

L. Sprague DeCamp
Roy Thomas

 John Buscema

Dave Simons

 [9]
43 The Dreamwalker 1989 Miguel José Ferrer

Bill Mumy

 Gray Morrow [9]
44 Ax 1988 Ernie Colón [9]
45 Arena 1989 Bruce Jones [9]
46 The Amazing Spider-Man: Parallel Lives 1989 Gerry Conway Alex Saviuk
Andy Mushynsky		 [9]
47 Kull: The Vale of Shadow 1989 Alan Zelenetz Tony DeZuniga [9]
48 A Sailor's Story Book Two: Winds, Dreams and Dragons 1989 Sam J. Glanzman [9]
49 Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment 1989 Roger L. Stern Mike Mignola
Mark Badger		 [9]
50 Wolverine/Nick Fury: The Scorpio Connection 1989 Archie Goodwin Howard V. Chaykin [9]
51 The Punisher: Intruder 1989 Mike Baron Bill Reinhold [9]
52 William Gibson's Neuromancer: The Graphic Novel 1989 Tom DeHaven

William Gibson

 Bruce Jensen [9]
53 Conan the Barbarian in The Skull of Set 1989 Doug Moench Paul Gulacy
Gary Martin		 [9]
54 Roger Rabbit: The Resurrection of Doom 1989 Bob Foster Todd Kurosawa
Dan Spiegle
Bill Langley		 [9]
55 Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe 1989 Mark Gruenwald Paul Ryan
Al Williamson		 [9]
56 Power Pack & Cloak and Dagger: Shelter from the Storm 1989 Bill Mantlo Sal Velluto
Mark Farmer		 [9]
57 Rick Mason: The Agent 1989 James D. Hudnall John Ridgway [9]
58 Silver Surfer: The Enslavers 1990 Stan Lee

Keith Pollard

 Keith Pollard
Chris Ivy		 [9]
59 Conan the Barbarian: The Horn of Azoth 1990 Gerry Conway
Roy Thomas		 Michael Docherty
Tony DeZuniga		 [9]
60 Rio Rides Again 1990 Doug Wildey [9]
61 The Black Widow: The Coldest War 1990 Gerry Conway Ernie Colón
Mark Farmer
George Freeman
Mike Harris
Val Mayerik
Josef Rubinstein		 [9]
62 Ka-Zar: Guns of the Savage Land 1990 Chuck Dixon
Timothy Truman		 Gary Kwapisz
Ricardo Villagran		 [9]
63 Spider-Man: Spirits of the Earth 1990 Charles Vess [9][12]
64 The Punisher: Kingdom Gone 1990 Chuck Dixon Jorge Zaffino [9]
65 Wolverine: Bloodlust 1990 Alan Davis Alan Davis
Paul Neary		 [9]
66 Excalibur: Weird War III 1990 Michael Higgins Tom Morgan
Josef Rubinstein		 [9]
67 Wolverine: Bloody Choices 1991 Tom DeFalco John Buscema [9]
68 Avengers: Death Trap - The Vault 1991 Danny Fingeroth Ron Lim
Fred Fredericks
James Sanders III		 [9]
69 Conan the Rogue 1991 John Buscema

Roy Thomas

 John Buscema [9]
70 Punisher: Blood on the Moors 1991 Alan Grant

John Wagner

 Cam Kennedy [9]
71 Silver Surfer: Homecoming 1991 Jim Starlin Bill Reinhold [9]
72 Spider-Man: Fear Itself 1992 Stan Lee

Gerry Conway

 Ross Andru

Mike Esposito

 [9]
73 Conan: The Ravagers Out of Time 1992 Roy Thomas Michael Docherty [9]
74 Punisher/Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday's Web 1992 D.G. Chichester Larry Stroman
Mark Farmer		 [9]
75 Daredevil/Black Widow: Abattoir 1993 Jim Starlin Joe Chiodo [9]

Collected editions
  • Essential Killraven includes Marvel Graphic Novel #7: Killraven: Warrior of the Worlds, 504 pages, July 2005, 978-0785117773
  • Essential Dazzler Vol. 2 includes Marvel Graphic Novel #12: Dazzler: The Movie, 688 pages, April 2009, 978-0785137306
  • Women of Marvel: Celebrating Seven Decades includes Marvel Graphic Novel #12: Dazzler: The Movie, #16: The Aladdin Effect, and #18: The Sensational She-Hulk, 1,160 pages, January 2011, 978-0785143260
  • Spider-Man: The Graphic Novels collects Marvel Graphic Novel #22: The Amazing Spider-Man: Hooky, The Amazing Spider-Man: Parallel Lives, The Amazing Spider-Man: Spirits of the Earth, and Spider-Man: Fear Itself, 280 pages, June 2012, 978-0785160656

Marvel Original Graphic Novel

In 2013, Marvel started publishing a new line of graphic novels titled Marvel Original Graphic Novel or Marvel OGN.

TitleYearWritersArtistsISBNNotesCitations
Avengers: Endless Wartime 2013 Warren Ellis Mike McKone 978-0785184676 Features the Avengers against an ancient enemy from Thor's past. [13]
Amazing Spider-Man: Family Business 2014 Mark Waid
James Robinson		 Gabriele Dell'Otto
Werther Dell'Edera		 978-0785184409 Revolves around Peter Parker, not Spider-Man, being targeted by a vengeful Kingpin. As Parker combats the threat, he is helped by a woman who claims to be his long-lost sister, Teresa. [14]
X-Men: No More Humans Mike Carey Salvador Larroca 978-0785154020 Features the aftermath of the "Battle of the Atom" event. [15]
Thanos: The Infinity Revelation Jim Starlin 978-0785184706 Features the return of Adam Warlock. [16]
Avengers: Rage of Ultron 2015 Rick Remender Jerome Opeña 978-0785190400 Explores the early relationship between Hank Pym and Ultron and features two generations of the Avengers. [17]
Thanos: The Infinity Relativity Jim Starlin 978-0785193036 Adam Warlock, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Silver Surfer, Gladiator, and the reunited Infinity Watch join together to thwart the threat of Annihilus. [18]
Thanos: The Infinity Finale 2016 Jim Starlin Ron Lim 978-0785193050 Concludes Starlin's first Infinity trilogy. [19]
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Beats Up the Marvel Universe Ryan North Erica Henderson 978-1302903039 [20]
Deadpool: Bad Blood 2017 Chris Sims Rob Liefeld 978-1302901530 The return of Rob Liefeld to Marvel, with a new Deadpool story featuring Cable and Domino. [21]
Thanos: The Infinity Siblings 2018 Jim Starlin Alan Davis 978-1302908188 This is the first OGN in a trilogy. Jim Starlin has stated that this trilogy will be his final Thanos story. [22]
Thanos: The Infinity Conflict 978-1302908140 The second book in Starlin's final Thanos trilogy. [23]
Thanos: The Infinity Ending 2019 Jim Starlin Alan Davis 978-1302908164 The conclusion to Starlin's final Thanos trilogy. [24]

References
  1. Marvel Graphic Novel at the Grand Comics Database
  2. "Newswatch: 'Spectacular' Sales Prompt New Projects". The Comics Journal. Stamford, Connecticut: Fantagraphics Books (52): 7–8. December 1979.
  3. Groth, Gary (November 1980). "Pushing Marvel into the '80s: An Interview with Jim Shooter". The Comics Journal. Stamford, Connecticut: Fantagraphics Books (60): 80–107.
  4. "Newswatch: Michael Z. Hobson Named Marvel V.P./Publishing". The Comics Journal. Stamford, Connecticut: Fantagraphics Books (62): 13. March 1981.
  5. Howe, Sean (2012). "Trouble Shooter". Marvel Comics The Untold Story. New York, New York: HarperCollins. p. 237. ISBN 978-0061992100.
  6. DeFalco, Tom; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1980s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 207. ISBN 978-0756641238.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  7. DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 209: "Since the first three Marvel Graphic Novels had sold so well, Marvel decided to launch the new series The New Mutants in the same format."
  8. Buttery, Jarrod (September 2019). "Dreadstar: Jim Starlin's Odyssey". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (115): 35–54.
  9. Overstreet, Robert M. (2019). Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (49th ed.). Timonium, Maryland: Gemstone Publishing. pp. 853–854. ISBN 978-1603602334.
  10. Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2012). "1980s". Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 150. ISBN 978-0756692360. In this story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Marc Silvestri, Spider-Man was recruited by Captain America into battle with a giant living monolith of Egyptian origins to prevent the creature from destroying the entire city.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  11. Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 156: "Writer Susan K. Putney and artist Bernie Wrightson delivered a memorable graphic novel that removed Spider-Man from his usual urban setting and placed him in a fantasy world of magic and mysticism."
  12. Cowsill, Alan "1990s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 190: "The magnificent painted artwork of Charles Vess was the star of the show in this 86-page hardback graphic novel."
  13. Phegley, Kiel (June 12, 2013). "Warren Ellis Readies Avengers: Endless Wartime". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on August 7, 2014.
  14. Truitt, Brian (June 17, 2013). "Spider-Man gets a sister in 2014's 'Family Business'". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014.
  15. Schedeen, Jesse (May 28, 2014). "Graphic Novel Review: X-Men - No More Humans". IGN. Archived from the original on October 6, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  16. Overstreet, p. 1083
  17. Dietsch, T.J. (July 25, 2014). "SDCC 2014: Avengers: Rage of Ultron". Marvel Comics. Archived from the original on October 16, 2016.
  18. Morse, Ben (November 19, 2014). "Jim Starlin Returns with Thanos: The Infinity Relativity". Marvel Comics. Archived from the original on November 23, 2014.
  19. Morse, Ben (July 2, 2015). "Jim Starlin Gives Thanos a Finale". Marvel Comics. Archived from the original on October 16, 2016.
  20. Overstreet, p. 1118
  21. Arrant, Chris (November 11, 2015). "Liefeld Working On New Deadpool Book With X-Men '92 Writers". Newsarama. Archived from the original on November 15, 2015.
  22. Johnston, Rich (December 19, 2017). "Jim Starlin Clarifies Why Infinity Siblings Will Be His Final Thanos Story". BleedingCool. Archived from the original on September 6, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  23. Morrison, Matt (March 22, 2018). "Marvel Announces Thanos Graphic Novel (That Led Creator To Quit)". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019.
  24. Johnston, Rich (March 11, 2019). "Final Part Of Jim Starlin's Last Thanos Story – The Infinity Ending?". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on September 29, 2019.
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