Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions

In 1982, Marvel published its first-ever limited series, a three-issue event that brought together a global roster of heroes—from Black Panther and the Thing to the obscure Arabian Knight—for a cosmic tournament orchestrated by the mysterious Abdul Qamar. Written by Bill Mantlo, Mark Gruenwald, and Steven Grant, with foundational pencils by John Romita Jr., this series introduced the "Contest of Champions" concept that would later become a Marvel staple. Though brief, it matters as a landmark experiment in company-wide crossover storytelling and a showcase for the era's expanding multicultural cast.