Part I: The Foundations of the Universe

Welcome to the birth of Marvel. This era features more major character debuts than any other, showing you exactly how the universe's biggest heroes gained their powers. From the foundation of the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and the Avengers, this is the bedrock of decades of continuity. While you'll see plenty of Silver Age guest appearances, actual crossovers are minimal. Note that this order starts with a handful of modern limited series that take place chronologically before and during these classic, early published stories.