Marvel Fireside Books

The first book, 1974's Origins of Marvel Comics, was very successful, and inspired a series of annual sequels.

It introduced new readers to the work of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and other Marvel creators, and packaged the material in a traditional book format that carried more cachet than the flimsy pamphlet style of a typical comic book.

Many of the books featured painted covers illustrated by such artists as Bob Larkin,[2] John Romita Sr., and Earl Norem.

Teaming up with Fireside, the paperback imprint of Simon & Schuster, Marvel initially produced Origins of Marvel Comics in 1974,[3] featuring the origins of the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor, and Doctor Strange.

The Silver Surfer (1978) by Stan Lee, with art by Kirby and Joe Sinnott, was a new take on the late 1960s icon; and is considered by many to be one of the first true "graphic novels".