Marvel Preview Presents Man-Gods from Beyond the Stars: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Marvel Preview was a short-lived black and white comic magazine published by Marvel Comics' parent company Magazine Management. It is one of several titles from the 1970s where the publisher used Marvel's talent to produce content outside of the publishing industry's self-censoring "Comics Code." Marvel Preview was used as a way for the Company to introduce and develop characters and storylines, changing subject matter almost every issue. The magazine ran from 1975 –1980, when it changed titles to Bizarre Adventures before ceasing publication in 1983.

This issue, the periodical's first, was inspired by the writings of Erich Von Daniken, a German hotelier whose bestselling book Chariots of the Gods (1968) became a publishing phenomenon. In the book, Daniken posits a theory that advanced technologies of early civilizations, such as the Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, were inspired by extraterrestrial visitation. Although scientifically discredited, the book was a huge bestseller, with its 1970 film adaptation also proving popular.

The issue features cover art by Neal Adams and includes an interview with Daniken.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1975
• maker: Marvel Comics
• Object Name: comic book
• Physical Description: paper (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 8 1/4 in x 11 in; x 20.955 cm x 27.94 cm
• place made: United States: New York, New York City
• Subject: Comics
• Subject: Star Wars
• ID Number: 2013.3039.351
• nonaccession number: 2013.3039
• catalog number: 2013.3039.351
• Credit Line: Gift of George R. Zug
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.