In the late Sixties a fireball struck the town of Pederson, Illnois granting fantastic powers to the 113 children who were in utero at the time of impact. They grew up as the world watched. Labeled the Specials by the Media, their powers were monitored and catalogued by the United States Government. Public perception of them changed often. Were they the future of mankind? A scourge? A random occurrence? Heroes? Villains? Role models or simply caricatures? What would be their impact on culture and society? They were a waried as kids and adults ever are; some were more powerful, some less. As adults they became many things: a policeman, a corporate symbol, a singer, an assassin, a writer, a painter, a thief, a preacher. Some found celebrity, some notoriety, while others simply went to work and raised families like everyone else. But they all carried inside them a seed of something great. Something special. Something that made them stars. As their epic stories unfolded, there were other stories as well...of their lives and the lives of those around them. This book is about those stories. Collected here are the short stories about the Specials, a bit about their beginnings, a bit about their middles and just a little bit about their end.

    It's out action featuring the newest stars to be of Disney XD: Avengers and the Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.! Featuring art pulled directly from the animated series, this sneak peek at the two newest animated series from the geniuses at Marvel Animation promises to make this the best yet!

    One of the most groundbreaking Marvel Comics of all is collected for the first time! Born to be the world's most fearsome fighter, Shang-Chi's life takes a major turn when he discovers the truth about his father - the villainous Fu Manchu! So begins the epic story of the Master of Kung Fu! On a quest to end the reign of his pernicious patriarch, Shang-Chi pits his deadly hands and furious feet against incredible foes like Tiger-Claw, Razor-Fist, the mysterious Midnight - and even the macabre Man-Thing! COLLECTING: SPECIAL MARVEL EDITION 15-16, MASTER OF KUNG FU (1974) 17-37, GIANT-SIZE MASTER OF KUNG FU 1-4, GIANT-SIZE SPIDER-MAN 2, and material from IRON MAN ANNUAL 4

    Then, Frank has SIX HOURS TO KILL until a deadly serum turns him into a 220-pound corpse. Also, watch as Frank stops at a service station on the edge of the bayou...and steps into a world of unspeakable horror.

    Gwen Stacy has lost her spider-powers! Which makes this a very bad time to fi nd herself in Frank Castle's crosshairs! So when the Mary Janes head to a haunted house, will Gwen be along for the fun, or will she be one of the ghosts? Thanksgiving should be a happy time with friends and family - unless crime lord Matt Murdock and his ninjas crash the party! Is it time for Gwen to put a stop to the Kingpin of Crime - or does Matt have a thing or two to teach her? Plus, the Mary Janes get loud and Gwen spends some time with her ever-expanding social circle - including Captain America! She-Hulk?! Her BPFF (best pig friend forever) Spider-Ham! And her new body-swapping bud, the All-New Wolverine! COLLECTING: SPIDER-GWEN (2015B) 7-15, SPIDER-GWEN ANNUAL 1, ALL-NEW WOLVERINE ANNUAL 1

    His adventures will become legend. He will become king. Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith brought Robert E. Howard's iconic creation to four-color life with work that set new standards for comic book storytelling. Marvel is honored to present their original epic sagas - all painstakingly restored to match the majesty of the original editions. In these early exploits, Conan ventures from his homeland for the first time, honing his skills as a thief, mercenary, and above all, warrior! COLLECTING: CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1970) 1-13 AND MATERIAL FROM CHAMBER OF DARKNESS (1969) 4

    Strange as you've never seen him before: as an eye-patch-wearing wielder of black magic! See him take on the deadliest foes in any dimension: Khat, Erlik Khan, Shuma-Gorath, Enitharmon the Weaver and more! Guest-starring the Defenders, Valkyrie, Cloak and Dagger, and some of Strange's closest friends - including Rintrah, Topaz, Clea and Wong! Collecting the Dr. Strange stories from STRANGE TALES (1987) #1-19 and the Cloak & Dagger story from #7.

    Quickly becoming the underworld's most feared assassin, she terrorizes her targets with a seemingly inexhaustible lust for bloodshed. In service to the Kingpin, Mary sets her deadly sights on Daredevil, the heroic protector of New York's notorious Hell's Kitchen.With the Man Without Fear at her mercy, can she bring herself to strike the fatal blow? Collects Daredevil Vol. 1 #254-257, 259-263.

    Spidey faces some of his most fearsome foes - including Tarantula, Kraven, Lightmaster, Vulture, Hitman, Morbius, Brother Power, Hate Monger, Beetle and the Enforcers! Guest-starring the Fantastic Four, Inhumans and Champions!

    When Spider-man encounters Wolverine, he is told that he is in over his head, but he doesn't realize how true that is until he finds his friend Ned dead in their hotel room. Seeking revenge and answers, Spider-man sets out to find Wolverine, but what he finds is a web of lies and deceptions, all leading to a fateful moment which will forever change the life of Peter Parker!Reprints the one-shot from 1987 with a square spine. The indicia identifies it as "Vol. 2 #1" despite being just a reprint.

    But what is driving his old friend and foe? Plus, in the ultimate Nineties team-up, Spidey joins X-Force to battle the unstoppable Juggernaut!COLLECTING: SPIDER-MAN (1990) 1-14, 16; X-FORCE (1991) 4

    Which incarnation of Deadpool will be eliminated in this issue? And will the tragedy prove too much for Wade Wilson?

    For years, the mystery of the Hobgoblin's identity plagued not only Spider-Man and his friends, but fans, as well! Now, all is revealed, and the answers will shock you! As the Hobgoblin stands exposed at last, the threats of Norman Osborn and an all-new Green Goblin wait in the wings! Featuring all your favorite Spidey characters, from Mary Jane to Betty Brant to Robbie Robertson! COLLECTING: Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives #1-3 and Spectacular Spider-Man #259-261 -- written by Roger Stern and Glenn Greenberg, and illustrated by Ron Frenz and Luke Ross.

    Freeze and Catwoman. Plus, the serial killer named Holiday seems to have returned to a life of crime, but who is committing Holiday's murders this time?

    And what the young gunslinger sees brings him the darkest of nightmares.