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Publishers / Marvel / The Avengers (1963) / #196
196June 1980
$0.40

The Avengers #196

Marvel · June 1980 · on sale March 18, 1980

2 variants
Buy it now on eBay ›Graded copies ›
How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
  • Buy links are eBay affiliate links. They never change what the record says.

Identification plate

Series
The Avengers (Marvel, 1963 series)
Issue
#196
Publication date
June 1980
Key date
June 1980
On-sale date
March 18, 1980
Indicia publisher
Marvel Comics Group
Price
$0.40
Pages
36
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

From the editorial file The first full appearance of the Taskmaster, June 1980, after a one-panel tease in #195. A textbook cameo chain: both issues carry key status, and which one counts as the debut depends on who you ask.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0Introducing the Treacherous Taskmaster!cover1pencils: George Pérez; inks: Joe Rubinstein; letters: Gaspar SaladinoTony Masters, Taskmaster
1The Terrible Toll of the Taskmastercomic story17script: David Michelinie; pencils: George Pérez; inks: Jack Abel; colors: Carl Gafford; letters: John CostanzaBeast, Captain America, Carol Danvers, Iron Fist, Iron Man, Jocasta, Scott Lang, Tony Masters, Hank McCoy, Ms. Marvel, Peter Parker, Hank Pym, Danny Rand, Steve Rogers
3-letters page1script: David Michelinie

Plus 2 pages of advertisements and other matter across 2 sequences, as published.

Printings and variants

EditionHow to tell
Newsstandbarcode 0714860245806
Britishprice 0.15 GBP

Where to read it

CollectionYear
The Avengers #3501992On eBay ›
Avengers Visionaries #[nn]
ISBN 0785107177		1999On eBay ›
George Perez Book 12003On eBay ›
Avengers No. 196 [Marvel Legends Reprint] #[nn]2005On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Canadian and Whitman editions exist for many bronze books; match the barcode area to the plate.
  • Look for Mark Jewelers inserts and date stamps - they affect collector preference, not authenticity.

Series context

‹ #195196 of 402#197 ›

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com