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{{Short description|Comic book series}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox comic book title 
|image= Mwom1.jpg
|caption=''The Mighty World of Marvel #1'' published in 1972
|schedule=Vol. 1: Weekly (to 329) then monthly Vol. 2: Monthly Vols. 3–4: Every 4 weeks
|ongoing =Y
|publisher=[[Marvel UK]] & [[Panini Comics]]
|date= October 1972 – May 1983 June 1983 – October 1984 February 2003 – August 2009 October 2010 – November 2019 |issues=Vol 1: 329 Vol 2: 17 Vol 3: 86 Vol 4: 62 Vol 5: 30 Vol 6: 19 Vol 7: 22
|Superhero=y
|main_char_team=
|writers=
|artists=
|pencillers=
|inkers=
|letterers=
|colorists=
|editors= Vol 1: [[Stan Lee]], [[Tony Isabella]], Matt Softly, [[Neil Tennant]], [[Dez Skinn]],<ref name=Anglotopia /> [[Paul Neary]] Vol 2: [[Bernie Jaye]], Tim Hampson Vols. 3–7: [[Scott Gray (writer)|Scott Gray]]
|creative_team_month=
|creative_team_year=
|creators=
|subcat=Marvel UK
|sort=Mighty World of Marvel
|nonUS=y
}}
'''''The Mighty World Of Marvel''''' (commonly shortened to '''''MWOM''''') was a British comic book series published first by [[Marvel UK]] and then by [[Panini Comics]]. Debuting on 30 September 1972,<ref name=Anglotopia>{{cite web|title=THE MIGHTY WORLD OF MARVEL: THE HISTORY OF MARVEL UK COMICS|date=June 30, 2020|first=John|last=Rabon|url=https://anglotopia.net/site-news/uncategorized/the-mighty-world-of-marvel-the-history-of-marvel-uk-comics/|publisher=Anglotopia}}</ref> it was the first title published by Marvel UK and ran until 1984. The series was revived in 2003 by Panini Comics, who are licensed to reprint Marvel US material in Europe, and was published monthly until November 2019.

Spending much of the 1970s as [[Marvel UK]]'s flagship title, ''MWOM'' published black & white reprints of American Marvel four-colour material. Thanks in large part to the success of ''MWOM'', Marvel UK gained a foothold in the (at the time) vast [[United Kingdom|UK]] weekly comic market, allowing the company to cross-market and later introduce non-superhero UK-reprint titles such as ''[[Planet of the Apes (comics)|Planet of the Apes]]'' and ''[[Star Wars (1977 comic book)|Star Wars]]''.

== Publication history ==

=== Vol. 1 (1972–1983) ===
''MWOM'' started out publishing reprints of 1960s stories featuring Marvel's existing characters — including [[Spider-Man]], [[Hulk|The Hulk]], and the [[Fantastic Four]]. The monthly format of the American material was adapted to fit the British weekly format, with stories being split up over several weeks. As was the custom with British weekly titles, the first issue of ''MWOM'' featured a free gift, in this case a ''Hulk'' [[iron-on]] T-shirt transfer.<ref name=Anglotopia />

After [[Spider-Man]] left to star in his own publication, ''[[Spider-Man Comics Weekly]]'',<ref>{{cite news|title='Comic-book crack for generations': why Spider-Man still has us all in his web: With his teenage neuroses and gawky vulnerability, Spidey isn't your ordinary superhero, but despite the dodgy wrist action he still resonates with armies of fans|first=Peter|last=Bradshaw|date=17 December 2021|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/dec/17/comic-book-crack-for-generations-why-spider-man-still-has-us-all-in-his-web}}</ref> replaced by [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics character)|Daredevil]] in the third strip, who was himself replaced by the original [[X-Men]] and then the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]. Eventually the title settled with the Hulk as cover star, backed up by Daredevil and the Fantastic Four.

Early during the comic's run a type of [[fan club]], [[FOOM]] (Friends Of Ol' Marvel), was started and readers were invited to join and receive exclusive items.

As ''MWOM'' passed its hundredth issue (August 31, 1974) a galaxy of different characters began to be featured in the publication (with the Hulk still holding the top spot), many of these coming via the merger of other titles into ''MWOM''. The [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] returned to ''MWOM'', bringing [[Conan the Barbarian]] with them in issue #199 (July 21, 1976) following the cancellation of their own magazine. The Avengers had joint cover billing with the Hulk, and over time the green giant would share it with other characters. From issue #233 (March 1977), the Hulk co-starred with [[Planet of the Apes (comics)|Planet of the Apes]] (after their own 1974–1977 weekly folded) and subsequently with [[Dracula (Marvel Comics)|Dracula]] and [[Nick Fury]]. (The former was left over from the last merger, when the title then called ''Planet of the Apes and Dracula Lives'' merged into ''MWOM''; while the latter was from ''Fury'' weekly, an unsuccessful March–August 1977 attempt to follow the popularity of boys' war comics in the UK.)<ref>Afterword in Chris Claremont, Steve Parkhouse, et al., ''Captain Britain Vol.3: The Lion and the Spider'', Panini UK/Marvel (2008).</ref> The final strip to share the masthead with the Hulk was the [[Fantastic Four]], who returned to ''MWOM'' after starring in their own magazine, ''The Complete Fantastic Four''.

==== ''Marvel Comic'' ====
The comic changed when in 1978 [[Dez Skinn]] was hired by [[Stan Lee]] to head Marvel UK. Skinn revamped all of Marvel UK's titles, including ''The Mighty World of Marvel'', changing the title to '''''Marvel Comic''''' at #330 (January 24, 1979). This saw a move towards more traditional UK boys' adventure-type comics as [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics character)|Daredevil]] was joined (or re-joined) by [[Dracula (Marvel Comics)|Dracula]], [[Conan the Barbarian]], [[Shang-Chi]], [[Skull the Slayer]], and [[Godzilla, King of the Monsters (comic book)|Godzilla]], who replaced the [[Hulk]] three issues after the re-launch.

==== ''Marvel Superheroes'' ====
In September 1979, however, the title returned to its roots when it became the monthly '''''Marvel Superheroes''''' with issue #353, starring the ''[[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]''. Supporting the Avengers were other superhero teams, initially the original [[X-Men]] but later the [[Champions (1975 team)|Champions]], while the third and final strip, Superhero Spotlight, featured a new character every few issues. Initially, it ran [[Ms. Marvel]]'s adventures, which were continued from ''Marvel Comic''. Issue #377 (September 1981) saw the first of a new series of original [[Captain Britain]] stories started,<ref name=Anglotopia /> continued from the [[Black Knight (comics)|Black Knight]] strip in ''[[Hulk Weekly]]'', which had also featured original material. These stories were written by [[Dave Thorpe]] and drawn by [[Alan Davis]]. ''[[Captain Britain]]'' ended with issue #388 (August 1982), just as yet another merger occurred — ''Rampage'' joined ''Marvel Superheroes'', and the new [[X-Men]] arrived to replace Captain Britain.

Erratic distribution affected sales, and eventually ''Marvel Superheroes'' was cancelled in the summer of 1983. Issue #397 ended the continuous run of what was at the time Marvel UK's longest-running title (it was later to be supplanted by [[Spider-Man Comics Weekly|Spider-Man weekly]], which eventually ran 666 continuous issues).

=== Volume 2 (1983–1984) ===
Shortly afterwards, in June 1983, ''Mighty World of Marvel'' was re-launched and re-numbered, again as a monthly. The new series mainly concentrated on reprint material, initially the X-Men (continued from ''Marvel Superheroes'') as well as such American [[Limited series (comics)|limited series]] as ''[[Vision (Marvel Comics)|The Vision]] and the [[Scarlet Witch]]'', ''[[Wolverine (comic book)|Wolverine]]'', ''[[Cloak and Dagger (comics)|Cloak and Dagger]]'', and a somewhat out-of-chronology ''X-Men and the [[Micronauts (comics)|Micronauts]]'', set some years after the recent X-Men series. ''MWOM'' vol. 2 also featured the end of [[Alan Moore]] and [[Alan Davis]]'s [[Jaspers' Warp]] [[Captain Britain]] storyline, after ''[[The Daredevils]]'' was cancelled and merged with ''MWOM'' (from vol. 2, issue #7, December 1983). After Moore left, [[Alan Davis]] took over writing duties for the Captain Britain stories, but the strip stopped in issue #16 as the Captain left for his own new monthly title in 1985.<ref>{{cite web|title=SCOOP: New Marvel Brexit British Superhero Team Comic Launches In Empyre|date=February 13, 2020|first=Rich|last= Johnston|author-link=Rich Johnston|url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/scoop-new-marvel-brexit-british-superhero-team-comic-launches-empyre/|work=[[Bleeding Cool]]}}</ref>

Despite some strong material, the merger of the more adult-orientated ''[[The Daredevils]]'' with the more mainstream ''MWOM'' was not an overriding success, and #17 was ''MWOM'' vol. 2's final issue. Issue #17 saw the beginning of the limited series ''Magick'', which was continued in the Marvel UK series ''[[Savage Sword of Conan]]'', with which ''MWOM'' merged.

=== Volume 3 (2003–2009) ===
[[Image:Mwom38.png|right|thumb|upright|''The Mighty World of Marvel'' vol. 3, #38, published in 2006]]
The title remained in limbo until [[Panini Comics]] (which had obtained the Marvel UK license in 1995)<ref name=Anglotopia /> began publishing it as a "Marvel Collectors' Edition" in February 2003. The new ''MWOM'' featured reprints of American Marvel material from all eras of Marvel history; a typical issue was 76 pages long, with most stories lasting 22 pages.

Initially, the title reprinted a [[Hulk]] and a [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics character)|Daredevil]] story each issue with a revolving guest spot. This format was eventually replaced with three revolving guest spots; generally a full story arc was printed before being replaced by something else, or there was a break in a run (which was often revisited at a later date). In addition to Daredevil and the Hulk, characters featured included [[She-Hulk]], [[Blade (comics)|Blade]], [[Ghost Rider]], [[Captain Britain]], the [[Fantastic Four]], [[Nick Fury]], and the [[Defenders (comics)|Defenders]]. The title also printed many Marvel team-up stories featuring multiple superheroes, from such series as ''[[Marvel Team-Up]]'' vol. 3, the ''[[Contest of Champions II]]'', and ''[[Beyond!]]''. ''MWOM'' also regularly printed spotlights on the more obscure characters featured. These spotlights were a page long and featured a fictional character biography with pictures and a description of their abilities.

Issue #50 was 100 pages long to celebrate the milestone. It was mentioned in issue #67 that the editors were aiming to get closer to the US chronologically.

Volume 3 ended in August 2009, after 86 issues, following ''[[Civil War (comics)|Civil War]]'' and ''[[Planet Hulk]]''.

=== Volume 4 (2009–2014) ===
''The Mighty World of Marvel'' vol. 4 debuted in September 2009, following the relaunch of all other Collectors' Editions as part of signalling the end of ''[[Civil War (comics)|Civil War]]''. Issues #1–#5 featured the [[World War Hulk]] storyline. Issue #8 signaled the first tie-in to the [[Secret Invasion]] event that runs across all seven of the Panini Collectors' Editions. ''Mighty World of Marvel'' printed tie-ins from ''[[Captain Britain and MI13]]'', ''[[Hercules (Marvel Comics)|Hercules]]'', ''[[Thunderbolts (comics)|The Thunderbolts]]'', and ''[[Ms. Marvel]]''.

Volume 4 ended in June 2014 with issue 62.

=== Volume 5 (2014–2016) ===

''The Mighty World of Marvel'' vol. 5 was launched in July 2014 to tie-in with the arrival of [[Marvel Now!]] branded stories in the UK. The initial line-up includes ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy]]'' to tie-in with their [[Guardians of the Galaxy (film)|film]]. [[Avengers Arena]] was also in the initial lineup. The main storyline for [[Original Sin]] was also featured. Mighty World of Marvel also reprinted [[Silver Surfer]] and [[Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.]] along with Daredevil.

Volume 5 ended in September 2016 with issue #30.

=== Volume 6 (2016–2018) ===

''The Mighty World of Marvel'' vol. 6 was launched in October 2016. The initial line was [[Doctor Strange]], [[Ms. Marvel]] and [[Black Widow (Marvel Comics)|Black Widow]] followed by [[Silver Surfer]] and [[Guardians of the Galaxy]]. Later issues featured [[Ms. Marvel]] & [[Nick Fury]]'s [[Civil War II]] stories.
The following is a summary of characters featured in this volume:
* issues #1 - #6: [[Doctor Strange]], [[Ms. Marvel]], [[Black Widow (Marvel Comics)|Black Widow]]
* issue #7: [[Guardians of the Galaxy]], [[Silver Surfer]], [[Doctor Strange]]
* issue #8: [[Guardians of the Galaxy]], [[Silver Surfer]], [[Tales of The Pet Avengers]]
* issue #9: [[Guardians of the Galaxy]], [[Silver Surfer]], [[Ms. Marvel]]
* issues #10 - #11: [[Guardians of the Galaxy]], [[Silver Surfer]], [[Ms. Marvel]], [[Nick Fury]]
* issues #12 - #13: [[Guardians of the Galaxy]]: [[Mother Entropy]], [[Ms. Marvel]], [[Nick Fury]]
* issue #14: [[Champions (2016 team)|Champions]], [[Guardians of the Galaxy]]: [[Mother Entropy]], [[Black Widow (Marvel Comics)|Black Widow]], [[Marvel 75th Anniversary]] ([[Captain America]]), [[Nick Fury]]
* issues #15 - #17: [[Champions (2016 team)|Champions]], All-New [[Guardians of the Galaxy]], [[Black Widow (Marvel Comics)|Black Widow]]
* issues #18 - #19: [[Black Panther (comics)|Black Panther]], [[Champions (2016 team)|Champions]], All-New [[Guardians of the Galaxy]], [[Black Widow (Marvel Comics)|Black Widow]], [[Doctor Strange]]

===Volume 7 (2018–2019)===
This volume started publication in April 2018 — appearing every 28 days — and ended in November 2019 with issue 22. Panini had planned to relaunch it. Volume eight was to star '[[The Immortal Hulk]]', and issue 1 was advertised, but ultimately the end of volume 7 was also the end of the title.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lewstringer.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-end-of-mighty-world-of-marvel.html|last=Stringer|first=Lew|authorlink=Lew Stringer|title=The end of The Mighty World of Marvel|website=Blimey! The Blog of British Comics|date=14 November 2019|accessdate=24 January 2022}}</ref>

'''Issue 1:''' 100-PAGE-SPECIAL!
*[[Silver Surfer]] Vol. 8 #9
*[[Black Panther (comics)|Black Panther]] Vol. 4 #3
*[[Champions (2016 team)|Champions]] Vol. 2 #6
*[[The New Avengers (comics)|New Avengers]] Annual #1
*[[Strange Tales]] #118
*'''Release:''' 5 April 2018

'''Issue 2:'''
*[[Silver Surfer]] Vol. 8 #10
*[[Black Panther (comics)|Black Panther]] Vol. 4 #4
*[[Champions (2016 team)|Champions]] Vol. 2 #7
*[[Strange Tales]] #119
*'''Release:''' 3 May 2018

'''Issue 3:'''
*[[Silver Surfer]] Vol. 8 #11
*[[Black Panther (comics)|Black Panther]] Vol. 4 #5
*[[Champions (2016 team)|Champions]] Vol. 2 #8
*[[Strange Tales]] #120
*FREE MARVEL TRADING CARDS!
*'''Release:''' 31 May 2018

'''Issue 4:'''
*[[Silver Surfer]] Vol. 8 #12
*[[Black Panther (comics)|Black Panther]] Vol. 4 #6
*[[Champions (2016 team)|Champions]] Vol. 2 #9
*[[Strange Tales]] #121
*FREE MARVEL TRADING CARDS!
*'''Release:''' 28 June 2018

'''Issue 5'''
*100-PAGE-SPECIAL!
*[[Secret Empire (2017 comic)|Secret Empire]] begins!
*The [[Guardians of the Galaxy (2008 team)|Guardians of the Galaxy]] return in an all-new adventure!
*[[Silver Surfer]]!
*[[Champions (2016 team)|Champions]] in [[Secret Empire (2017 comic)|Secret Empire]]!
*Classic Action with [[Doctor Strange]]!
*FREE MARVEL TRADING CARDS!

Issues #5-6 were part of the ''[[Secret Empire (2017 comic)|Secret Empire]]'' event and feature ''[[Champions (2016 team)|Champions]]'' vol. 2, #s 10-11.

==References==
{{reflist}}

=== Sources consulted ===
{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.wymann.info/comics/004-MarvelUK1.html The Mighty World of Bronze Age British Marvel (1972-1979)]
*{{gcdb series|id=21497|title=''The Mighty World of Marvel'' (1972)}}
*{{gcdb series|id=31494|title=''Marvel Comic'' (1979)}}
*{{gcdb series|id=2601|title=''Marvel Superheroes'' (1979)}}
*{{comicbookdb|type=title|id=8966|title=''The Mighty World of Marvel'' (1972)}}
*{{gcdb series|id=2753|title=''The Mighty World of Marvel'' (1982)}}
*{{comicbookdb|type=title|id=11403|title=''The Mighty World of Marvel'' (1982)}}
*{{comicbookdb|type=title|id=17023|title=''The Mighty World of Marvel'' (2003)}}
{{refend}}

{{Captain Britain}}
{{Panini CEs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mighty World of Marvel}}
[[Category:Marvel UK titles]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics titles]]
[[Category:1972 comics debuts]]
[[Category:1984 comics endings]]
[[Category:2003 comics debuts]]
[[Category:Comics anthologies]]
[[Category:Superhero comics]]
[[Category:British comics]]

The Mighty World of Marvel - Revision history

imported>Citation bot: Altered title. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Abductive | Category:Marvel Comics titles | #UCB_Category 369/420