Marvel Graphic Novel (MGN) is a line of graphic novel trade paperbacks published from 1982 to 1993 by Marvel Comics. 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.
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". 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. 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. A few months later, contracts with writer/artist Jim Starlin were finalized for The Death of Captain Marvel and Dreadstar.
The Death of Captain Marvel, the first book in the line, was published in January 1982. 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.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". Other series which were spun-off from a Marvel Graphic Novel are Dreadstar, Void Indigo, Starstruck, and 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 # Title Year Writers Artists NotesOmnibus ReprintsEpic Collection ReprintsMasterworks ReprintsOther Reprints Citations Officially numbered titles1The Death of Captain Marvel1982Jim StarlinThe Thanos Wars: Infinity Origins; Marvel 75th Anniversary; The Death of Captain Marvel OmnibusCaptain Marvel, Vol. 6Captain Marvel: The Complete Collection2 Elric: The Dreaming City1982Michael MoorcockRoy ThomasP. Craig Russell 3 Dreadstar1982Jim Starlin 4 The New Mutants1982Chris ClaremontBob McLeod First appearance of the New Mutants.The New Mutants Vol 1The New Mutants, Vol. 1: Renewal5 X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills1982Brent Anderson Elements of this story are used in the film X2.Marvel 75th Anniversary; The Uncanny X-Men Vol 5X-Men Epic Collection Vol. 10: God Loves, Man KillsUncanny X-Men Vol 9Essential X-Men Vol 56 Star Slammers1983Walt Simonson 7 Killraven: Warrior of the Worlds1983Don McGregorP. Craig Russell Killraven, Vol. 1: Warrior of the WorldsKillraven, Vol. 1Essential Killraven, Vol. 18 Super BoxersAugust 1983Ron WilsonJohn ByrneRon Wilson 9 The Futurians1983Dave Cockrum 10 Heartburst1983Rick Veitch 11 Void Indigo1983Steve GerberVal Mayerik 12 Dazzler: The Movie1984Jim ShooterFrank SpringerWomen of Marvel: Celebrating Seven Decades; Dazzler OmnibusDazzler Vol. 3Essential Dazzler Vol. 2 13 Starstruck: The Luckless, the Abandoned and Forsaked1984Elaine LeeMichael Kaluta Collection of the Starstruck stories serialized in Heavy Metal.14 The Swords of the SwashbucklersOctober 1984Bill MantloJackson Guice 15 The Raven Banner (A Tale of Asgard)1984Alan ZelenetzCharles VessThe Mighty Thor Vol. 24 16 The Aladdin Effect1985David MichelinieGreg LaRocque Features Storm, She-Hulk, Tigra, and Wasp.Women of Marvel: Celebrating Seven Decades17 Revenge of the Living MonolithJune 1985Marc SilvestriGeof Isherwood Features Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. 18 The Sensational She-Hulk1985John ByrneJohn ByrneKim DeMulderMarvel Universe by John Byrne Vol 2; The Sensational She-Hulk by John Byrne Vol 1; Women of Marvel: Celebrating Seven Decades 19 Conan the Barbarian: The Witch Queen of Acheron1985Don KraarGary KwapiszSavage Sword of Conan: The Original Comics Years Vol 9 20 Greenberg the Vampire1985J. M. DeMatteisMark Badger Overstreet-numbered titles21 Marada the She-Wolf1985Chris ClaremontJohn Bolton Collects material originally serialized in Epic Illustrated #10-12.22 Amazing Spider-Man: Hooky1986Susan K. PutneyBernie WrightsonSpider-Man: The Graphic Novels Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 26 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". 23 Doctor Strange: Into Shamballa1986J. M. DeMatteisDan GreenDan Green 24 Daredevil: Love and War1986Frank MillerBill SienkiewiczDaredevil by Frank Miller Companion 25 Alien Legion: A Grey Day to Die1986Carl PottsAlan ZelenetzFrank Cirocco 26 Dracula: A Symphony in Moonlight & Nightmares1986Jon J Muth 27 Emperor Doom1987David MichelinieBob Hall features the AvengersDoctor Doom: The Book of DoomAvengers, Vol. 17: Judgment Day; Avengers West Coast, Vol. 3: Tales to Astonish28 Conan the Reaver1987Don KraarJohn Severin 29 The Incredible Hulk and the Thing: The Big Change1987Jim StarlinBernie Wrightson The ThingFantastic Four, Vol. 18: The More Things Change…; Incredible Hulk, Vol. 15: Ground Zero30 A Sailor's Story1987Sam Glanzman Biographical story about Sam Glanzman's service aboard the during World War II.31 Wolfpack1987Larry HamaRon Wilson Wolfpack: The Complete Collection32 Death of Groo1987Mark EvanierSergio Aragones 33 The Mighty Thor: I, Whom The Gods Would Destroy1988Jim ShooterJim OwsleyPaul Ryan The Mighty Thor Vol. 2234 Cloak and Dagger: Predator and Prey1988Bill MantloLarry Stroman Cloak and Dagger Vol 235 The Shadow: Hitler's Astrologer1988Dennis O'NeilMichael KalutaRuss Heath 36 Willow: Movie Adaptation1988Mary Jo DuffyBob HallRomeo Tanghal 37 Hercules, Prince of Power: Full Circle1988Bob Layton 38 Silver Surfer: Judgment Day1988Stan LeeJohn BuscemaSilver Surfer: Return to the SpacewaysSilver Surfer, Vol. 4: Parable Unofficially-numbered titles39 The Inhumans1988Ann NocentiBret Blevins40 The Punisher: Assassin's Guild1988Mary Jo DuffyJorge Zaffino Punisher, Vol. 2: Circle of Blood41Who Framed Roger Rabbit1988Don Ferguson Daan JippesDan Spiegle Daan Jippes42Conan of the Isles1988Lin Carter L. Sprague DeCampRoy ThomasJohn Buscema Dave SimonsConan the Barbarian: The Original Marvel Years Vol 543The Dreamwalker1989Miguel José Ferrer Bill MumyGray Morrow44Ax1988Ernie Colón45Arena1989Bruce Jones46The Amazing Spider-Man: Parallel Lives1989Gerry ConwayAlex Saviuk Andy MushynskyAmazing Spider-Man, Vol. 19: Assassin Nation Spider-Man: The Graphic Novels47Kull: The Vale of Shadow1989Alan ZelenetzTony DeZunigaKull the Conqueror: The Original Marvel Years48A Sailor's Story Book Two: Winds, Dreams and Dragons1989Sam J. Glanzman49Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment1989Roger L. SternMike MignolaMark BadgerDoctor Doom: The Book of DoomDr. Strange, Vol. 8: Triumph and Torment; Fantastic Four, Vol. 19: The Dream Is Dead50Wolverine/Nick Fury: The Scorpio Connection1989Archie GoodwinHoward V. ChaykinWolverine Vol. 2Wolverine, Vol. 2: Back to Basics51The Punisher: Intruder1989Mike BaronBill ReinholdPunisher, Vol. 4: Return to Big Nothing52William Gibson's Neuromancer: The Graphic Novel1989Tom DeHaven William GibsonBruce Jensen53Conan the Barbarian in The Skull of Set1989Doug MoenchPaul GulacyGary Martin54Roger Rabbit: The Resurrection of Doom1989Bob FosterTodd KurosawaDan Spiegle Bill Langley55Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe1989Mark GruenwaldPaul RyanAl WilliamsonSquadron Supreme by Mark Gruenwald; Squadron Supreme Classic OmnibusSquadron Supreme: Death of a Universe56Power Pack & Cloak and Dagger: Shelter from the Storm1989Bill MantloSal VellutoMark FarmerCloak and Dagger Vol 1; Power Pack Classic Vol 157Rick Mason: The Agent1989James D. HudnallJohn Ridgway58Silver Surfer: The Enslavers1990Stan Lee Keith PollardKeith PollardChris IvySilver Surfer, Vol. 5: The Return of Thanos59Conan the Barbarian: The Horn of Azoth1990Gerry ConwayRoy ThomasMichael DochertyTony DeZuniga60Rio Rides Again1990Doug Wildey61The Black Widow: The Coldest War1990Gerry ConwayErnie ColónMark FarmerGeorge FreemanMike HarrisVal MayerikJosef RubinsteinBlack Widow StrikesBlack Widow, Vol. 2: The Coldest War62Ka-Zar: Guns of the Savage Land1990Chuck DixonTimothy TrumanGary KwapiszRicardo Villagran63Spider-Man: Spirits of the Earth1990Charles VessSpider-Man: The Graphic NovelsAmazing Spider-Man, Vol. 21: Return of the Sinister Six 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".64The Punisher: Kingdom Gone1990Chuck DixonJorge ZaffinoPunisher, Vol. 4: Return to Big Nothing65Excalibur: Weird War III1990Michael HigginsTom MorganJosef RubinsteinExcalibur Vol. 2Excalibur, Vol. 3: Girls' School from Heck 66Wolverine: Bloody Choices1991Tom DeFalcoJohn BuscemaWolverine Vol. 3Wolverine, Vol. 3: Blood and Claws67Avengers: Death Trap - The Vault1991Danny FingerothRon LimFred FredericksJames Sanders III Reprinted as Venom: Death Trap - The Vault (March 1993)Spider-Man vs. VenomAvengers, Vol. 21: The Collection Obsession; Venom, Vol. 1: Symbiosis68Conan the Rogue1991John Buscema Roy ThomasJohn Buscema69Punisher: Blood on the Moors1991Alan Grant John WagnerCam Kennedy70Silver Surfer: Homecoming1991Jim StarlinBill ReinholdSilver Surfer, Vol. 8: The Herald Ordeal71Spider-Man: Fear Itself1992Stan Lee Gerry ConwayRoss Andru Mike EspositoSpider-Man: The Graphic NovelsAmazing Spider-Man, Vol. 22: Round Robin 72Conan: The Ravagers Out of Time1992Roy ThomasMichael Docherty73Punisher/Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday's Web1992D.G. ChichesterLarry StromanMark FarmerPunisher, Vol. 7: Capital Punishment; Black Widow, Vol. 2: The Coldest War74Daredevil/Black Widow: Abattoir1993Jim StarlinJoe ChiodoDaredevil, Vol. 17: Into the Fire; Black Widow, Vol. 2: The Coldest War
Marvel Original Graphic Novel In 2013, Marvel started publishing a new line of graphic novels titled Marvel Original Graphic Novel or Marvel OGN.