1st printing. Collects Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions (1982) #1-3, The Avengers West Coast (1986) Annual #2 and The Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) Annual #16.

Written by Mark Gruenwald, Bill Mantlo, Steven Grant, Steve Englehart, and Tom DeFalco. Art by John Romita, Jr., Pablo Marcos, Al Milgrom, Bob Hall, Tom Palmer, Bill Sienkiewicz, Keith Pollard, Al Williamson, Marshall Rogers, Bob Layton, Jackson Guice, Kevin Nowlan, Ron Frenz, and Bob Wiacek. Cover by John Romita, Jr. and Bob Layton. Introduction by Tom DeFalco.

The first-ever Marvel event series receives the extra-sized treatment it deserves!

When the Grandmaster plays a game of cosmic chess against Death herself, Earth's super heroes become the pawns! If the Grandmaster wins, his brother the Collector will be restored to life. But if he loses, Death will claim a bitter price! Each side selects twelve champions from across Earth to do battle for the fragments of the golden globe of life. But this clash of Marvel titans comes with unexpected twists and turns - and several surprising new combatants!

Then, months later, the fallout of the contest leads to a life-and-death saga pitting two teams of Avengers against one another - and a truly lethal Legion of the Unliving!

Hardcover, 224 pages, full color. Rated T9