Commuters across the country are being given a chance to pick up some of the world’s most memorable comics this week to celebrate 80 years of Marvel comics.

Hundreds of comic books being left on tubes, trains and buses nationwide, including the first appearance of Spider-Man, the introduction of Black Panther and the first same-sex marriage in X-Men.

The initiative aims to introduce new audiences to the origins of the characters and stories that have influenced pop culture and

will see hundreds of comics distributed on public transport in Glasgow as well as London, Manchester, Brighton and Cardiff.

Professor Chris Murray, a comic books lecturer at the University of Dundee, said: “Marvel Comics has been a cultural phenomenon for 80 years, introducing us to relatable heroes like Spider-Man and The Hulk who, despite being outsiders, always did the right thing.”