Stan Lee’s Bring on the Bad Guys: Celebrate Marvel’s Greatest Villains

Back in print and arriving just in time for its 50th anniversary, Bring on the Bad Guys by Stan Lee returns as a vibrant celebration of Marvel’s most unforgettable villains. This landmark collection reminds fans that while heroes may wear the halos, it is often the antagonists who steal the scene, drive the drama, and define the stakes.

Building on the success of Marvel’s early “Fireside” collections, Bring on the Bad Guys was the third installment in a groundbreaking series of full-color paperback anthologies co-published with Simon & Schuster. Known as the Marvel Fireside Books, these volumes followed the runaway popularity of Origins of Marvel Comics (1974) and Son of Origins of Marvel Comics (1975), perfecting a profitable formula of curated reprints that introduced key Marvel stories to a wider audience.

Unlike traditional comic books sold on spinner racks or newsstands, the Fireside editions were oversized 8.5″ x 11″ softcover paperbacks tailored for bookstores and libraries. This strategic move elevated Marvel stories into mainstream retail spaces, attracting older teens, casual readers, and collectors alike. In many ways, these anthologies were the precursors to the modern graphic novel, bridging the gap between disposable periodicals and curated collected editions.

Each volume featured Stan Lee’s iconic introductions and essays, placing these classic stories in historical context and framing Marvel’s heroes and villains as modern myths. Lee’s commentary explained character origins, highlighted creative collaborations, and often cemented these tales as legendary milestones. While primarily reprints, the Fireside Books were influential in shaping how audiences consumed comics, laying the groundwork for the graphic novel market that would flourish in the decades to come.

Although other creators, such as Will Eisner with A Contract with God (1978), are credited with defining the original graphic novel format, Marvel also pioneered original long-form storytelling. The Silver Surfer (1978), written by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and published in the Fireside format, is widely regarded as the first original Marvel graphic novel, thereby solidifying the significance of the format.

Bring on the Bad Guys spotlights a rogues’ gallery that includes Doctor Doom, Dormammu, Loki, Red Skull, Abomination, Green Goblin, and Mephisto, all emblazoned across the cover in a roll call of menace.

Classic stories include the first appearances and origins of Doctor Doom (Fantastic Four #5 and Annual #2) brought to life by Jack Kirby, whose operatic artistry cemented Doom as one of comics’ greatest adversaries. Dormammu emerges from Strange Tales #126-127, with Steve Ditko’s surreal visuals introducing a villain who is more force of cosmic destruction than mortal man. Loki’s early machinations appear in Journey Into Mystery #112-115, Thor facing the Absorbing Man and Loki, setting the stage for one of Marvel’s most enduring rivalries.

Captain America’s nemesis, Red Skull, is revisited in Tales of Suspense #66-68, while The Amazing Spider-Man #40 unveils the Green Goblin’s true identity under John Romita Sr., forever altering Peter Parker’s world. Hulk fans witness his first clash with the Abomination in Tales to Astonish #90-91, illustrated by the legendary Gil Kane, while Silver Surfer #3 presents Mephisto in a cosmic showdown rendered by John Buscema.

Stan Lee’s introductions remain a highlight, acknowledging artists while narrating the saga in his unmistakable voice.

Fifty years later, Bring on the Bad Guys is both a nostalgic treasure and a testament to the enduring power of great antagonists. Because without tyrants, tricksters, and cosmic devils, even the mightiest heroes would have nothing to overcome. On sale 10/6/2026.