The Avengers Battle the Earth-Wrecker

The Avengers Battle the Earth-Wrecker (1967)
Otto Binder
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])

Introduction by Stan Lee. First novel based on Marvel Comics characters. The Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Goliath/Ant-Man, and the Wasp) must defeat "Karzz, the Conqueror" (an alien time traveller from the 70th century) who threatens to set in place "four world-doom catastrophes" to destroy the Earth out of revenge for humanity's stepping in the way of his complete rule over the galaxy in his own, future, time. By destroying the Earth in the 20th century, he plans to create an entirely different timeline where he is ruler of all. Notable for being the first novel based on Marvel Comics characters more than anything else. Very campy. (Makes Batman Versus Three Villains of Doom--see below--downright serious, in comparison.) Doubtlessly, Binder was trying to emulate the then "hip" writing style Stan Lee was using in the Marvel Comics of the time, but an entire novel of said style can be rather difficult to take, to put it lightly. For collectors/completists only, I'm afraid. (Oh, and by the way, while Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch appear on the book's cover, they are not actually present in the novel itself. However they and Thor are described as "former members" early on in the novel, and are represented by statues dedicated to each of them during an Avengers themed telecast.) (Finished reading 1/6/10)