By Zack Quaintance —The final best comiXology sales of the year list is the $1 Marvel Masterworks edition, primarily because Marvel is running a $1 masterworks sale, and those are some of my favorite Marvel Comics collections. I’ve picked out five of my favorites, all of which are excellent reference points for the beginnings of some of superhero fiction’s most iconic characters.

Enjoy!

Best comiXology Sales: $1 Marvel Masterworks Edition

The Amazing Spider-Man Masteworks, Vol. 1
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko
Collects Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #1-10, material from Amazing Fantasy (1962) #15. The stories that built the Marvel Universe, from the brilliant minds of legendary creators — now available in a new lineof Mighty Marvel Masterworks! The stories that built the Marvel Universe, from the brilliant minds of legendary creators — now available in an accessible new format the whole family can enjoy! When young Peter Parker gains remarkable abilities from a radioactive spider, he must step up and try to become a hero — while also dealing with the fantastic pressures of an everyday teenager! For with great power, there must also come great responsibility! Enjoy these stories of spectacular web-slinging adventure from Spidey’s very beginning — including the tragic origin that started it all; the first appearances of the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson, Doctor Octopus, the Sandman, the Vulture and Electro and guest-star nods from the Fantastic Four and Human Torch! Relive the foundation of every amazing arachnid adventure that followed!
Why It’s Cool: Honestly, I think these early Spider-Man stories between Stan Lee and Steve Ditko might be my favorite superhero comic books ever made. They are absolutely required reading if you’ve never gone back to check them out.
Price: $.99
Buy It Here: The Amazing Spider-Man Masterworks, Vol. 1

Avengers Masterworks, Vol. 1
Writer: Stan Lee
Artists: Jack Kirby and Don Heck
Collecting Avengers (1963) #1-10. Gathering together to face the evil Loki, Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Ant-Man, the Wasp, and the Mighty Thor formed the improbable core of the ever-changing super-team. And from the ice of the northern Atlantic, Captain America returned from the frozen depths that the Avengers truly took form. Illustrated by Jack Kirby and Don Heck, and written by Stan "The Man" Lee, you'll find the first appearances of Kang the Conqueror, Wonder Man, the Space Phantom and Baron Zemo, the debut of the Masters of Evil and the Hulk's departure from the team, and subsequent battle with the Sub-Mariner vs. the Avengers.
Why It’s Cool: Hey, it’s Stan and Jack doing the first team-up of Marvel’s mightiest heroes…what isn’t cool about these comics?
Price: $.99
Buy It Here: Avengers Masterworks, Vol. 1

Black Panther Masterworks, Vol. 1
Writer: Don McGregor
Artists: Rich Buckler, Billy Graham, and Gil Kane
Collects material from Jungle Action #6-24.
In 1973 comics' first African super hero took the headlining slot in an ambitious ongoing series, beginning a 13-issue epic unprecedented in its time. Writer Don McGregor teamed with artists Rich Buckler and Billy Graham to tell "Panther's Rage," a story so huge it ranges across the savannah, into the deepest jungles and up to the snow-topped mountains of Wakanda. Over its course McGregor & Co. would define T'Challa, give full depth and life to the Wakandas and their culture, while pitting the Panther against the murderous Erik Killmonger for control of the kingdom. Not one to rest on his laurels, McGregor then set out to raise the bar once again, sending T'Challa to the American South to investigate the murder of Angela Lynne and its connection to the Klan and the history of the Soul Strangler.
Why It’s Cool: The Black Panther over the years has had some truly excellent runs, all of which have contributed to what the character would later become and the way we know it now. This is probably the first of those runs, giving as it does real definition to Wakanda and introducing classic characters like Killmonger.
Price: $.99
Buy It Here: Black Panther Masterworks, Vol. 1

Ms. Marvel Masterworks, Vol. 1
Writers: Chris Claremont and Jim Mooney
Artist: John Buscema and Sal Buscema
Collects Ms. Marvel (1977) #1-14.
The year was 1977, and Marvel was set to debut its latest and greatest new super heroine. NASA Security Chief Carol Danvers' life had long been intertwined with the alien Kree's interventions on Earth. But now it was time for this new woman in a new era to take on a new persona all her own: Ms. Marvel! As editor of Woman magazine, Danvers must contend with the Marvel Universe's biggest blowhard, J. Jonah Jameson, while discovering her identity and origins as a super hero. Chris Claremont, continuing the series begun by Gerry Conway, brings to bear all the craft and character development of his renowned X-MEN run - while Jim Mooney, John Buscema and Joe Sinnott supply some of the most stunning art of the era!
Why It’s Cool: The character has changed quite a bit over the years, and largely for the better, but many of the defining characteristics of the Carol readers know today can first be found in these comics. Space, the Skrull, the Kree, the military…it’s all in here.
Price: $.99
Buy It Here: Ms. Marvel Masterworks, Vol. 1

Uncanny X-Men Masterworks, Vol. 1
Writer: Chris Claremonet
Artists: John Byrne and Dave Cockrum
Collects Uncanny X-Men #94-100, Giant-Size X-Men #1.
Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Storm, Colossus; Endowed with unique abilities, these mutants were summoned by Professor X to rescue the original X-Men, an underground organization sworn to protect those that fear and hate them. Relive their original adventures - discover the human within the hero and the truth behind the legend!
Why It’s Cool: The Original 5 X-Men comics are a nice curiosity, but this is when the X-Men as most readers know them really came together, launching one of the longest and best-ever runs of dramatic superhero soap opera comics.
Price: $.99
Buy It Here: Uncanny X-Men Masterworks, Vol. 1

See our past top comics to buy here, and check out our reviews archive here.

Zack Quaintance is a tech reporter by day and freelance writer by night/weekend. He Tweets compulsively about storytelling and comics as Comics Bookcase.