*The ultimate guide to the Marvel Universe!
A new era in comic books began in 1961 with the debut of Fantastic Four #1. In the years that followed, the creative minds at Marvel Comics would introduce one unforgettable character after another. Classic icons such as Spider-Man, Hulk, the X-Men and Daredevil formed the foundation of the Marvel Universe -- where larger-than-life beings with superhuman powers exist in a world that could be our own. Today, that world has expanded to include champions of every variety, all still sharing a common struggle to balance human lives with heroic responsibilities.
The Marvel Encyclopedia contains the essential facts about Marvel's most famous characters -- their origins, their powers, their most trusted allies and their most dangerous enemies. *Source: Back Cover
Also includes an introduction by Joe Quesada and reprints Ultimate Spider-Man #1, "Powerless."