Introduction

This introduction contextualizes the Marvel Comics universe as one of the most expansive imaginary worlds of all time, and differentiates it from the imaginary world created by its main rival, DC Comics. It then argues that the history of Marvel Comics’ world-building is one of negotiation between high-concept superhero adventures and stories on the one hand and characters grounded in a semblance of real-world psychology and sociopolitical culture on the other. The introduction concludes with a chapter outline that provides an overview of the chronology of Marvel’s world-building over the past eighty years and points to how the book may prove useful to readers interested in both analyzing and creating imaginary worlds.