With San Diego not officially kicking off until the show preview later this evening, Marvel has decided to get the party going nice and early by announcing their new line of Season One graphic novels featuring some of the publishers biggest characters.

While you might think this sounds a bit like what DC’s been working on with the Earth One titles, Marvel senior vice president and executive editor Tom Brevoort has assured fans that the 616 universe continuity will remain intact but still accessible for new fans to dig into also:

Everything you know about them, everything that’s existed for the last 50 years still exists and is still there,” Brevoort says. “These are individually new stories, even though they’ve got bits and pieces of old and formative origin stuff in and around them, as well.

If you want to dip your toe in the water and find out the essence of what Marvel is all about, here is a nice place for you to start in big, sizable, meaty chunks.

The first run of Season One books are as follows:

Fantastic Four: Season One
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Stephen King’s The Stand, Glee) and David Marquez (Secret Warriors)
Release date: February 2012

X-Men: Season One
Dennis Hopeless (Legion Of Monsters) and Jamie McKelvie (Phonogram)
Release date: March 2012

Daredevil: Season One
Antony Johnston (Daredevil) and Wellinton Alves (Nova)
Release date: April 2012

Spider-Man: Season One
Cullen Bunn (Fear Itself: The Deep, Sixth Gun) and Neil Edwards (Fantastic Four)
Release date: May 2012

According to Marvel, the titles listed above are part of a first wave with a second wave to be released in the months following.

For the full scoop on Marvel’s new project, as well as a preview of Fantastic Four: Season One, check out USA Today.

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