Simply Marvel-lous
Royal Mail has today revealed our images of the Marvel superhero Special Stamps issued to mark the UK’s celebration of Marvel’s iconic comic stories.
The 15-stamp set features some of the most popular superheroes from the comic books.
Ten stamps show: Spider-Man; Hulk; Thor; Iron Man; Doctor Strange; Captain Marvel; Peggy Carter; Black Panther; Captain Britain and Union Jack. A further five stamps are part of an exclusive short comic strip story contained in a miniature sheet.
The world-famous Marvel Comics grew out of Timely Comics, which in 1939 published its first comic book, Marvel Comics #1.
Editor Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby created a superhero revolution when they devised a new world of characters in the early 1960s, including Hulk and Thor.
In 1963, Lee and Steve Ditko hit upon a new idea for a hero; a teenager who accidentally takes on superhero abilities – and tested it out in a magazine that was about to be retired. However, the character caught the attention of the readers and Spider-Man was born.
In 1972, Marvel UK was formed, publishing weekly comics that repackaged the stories for a British audience. This changed in 1976 when Captain Britain Weekly was launched, featuring the adventures of the first Marvel superhero created for the UK.
Stamp illustrator, artist, Alan Davis, said: ‘I really can't take all the credit for producing these stamps. The speed of production required in US comics makes it necessary to separate the creative disciplines into four individual jobs. Writer, penciller, inker and colourist. My primary focus is writing and pencilling.
‘My long-time collaborator Mark Farmer supplied the blackline inks for the stamps and Laura Martin added the colour.’
Stamp strategy manager, Philip Parker, said: ‘Generations have grown up, spellbound by the adventures and the personalities of these superheroes. Our epic new stamps celebrate each in characteristic pose, emerging from the stamp frame.’
The stamps and a range of collectible products are available now to pre-order from www.royalmail.com/marvel and go on general sale from Thursday 14 March by phone on 03457 641 641 and in 7,000 Post Offices throughout the UK.
