Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics traces its publishing lineage to Timely Comics, founded in 1939 by Martin Goodman. Timely’s first comic, Marvel Comics No. 1, introduced the Human Torch, created by Carl Burgos, and Namor the Sub-Mariner, created by Bill Everett. During the 1940s, the company published Captain America Comics, whose first issue, dated March 1941, featured Joe Simon and Jack Kirby’s Captain America striking Adolf Hitler on the cover before the United States entered World War II. Goodman’s company later used the Atlas Comics name in the 1950s before adopting Marvel as its principal identity in the early 1960s. Marvel’s modern expansion is closely associated with writer-editor Stan Lee, artist Jack Kirby, artist Steve Ditko, and other collaborators. Fantastic Four No. 1, cover-dated November 1961, launched the Fantastic Four: Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm gained powers after exposure to cosmic rays. The series established a shared setting in which heroes could encounter one another and experience personal conflicts. Lee and Kirby followed it with Hulk in 1962, Thor in Journey into Mystery, and the X-Men and Avengers in 1963. Lee and Ditko introduced Peter Parker in Amazing Fantasy No. 15 in 1962; Spider-Man’s premise joined adolescent insecurity, financial pressure, and superhero responsibility. Marvel’s characters became central to several landmark storylines. The Dark Phoenix Saga, developed by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, and others in Uncanny X-Men, transformed Jean Grey into the Phoenix and culminated in her death on the moon. Frank Miller’s Daredevil work reshaped Matt Murdock’s crime-fiction atmosphere and introduced Elektra. In 1984, Marvel published Secret Wars, written by Jim Shooter and drawn by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton, a crossover that brought numerous heroes and villains to Battleworld and gave Spider-Man a black costume. Corporate ownership changed repeatedly. The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment in 2009. Marvel Studios, a sister company within Disney, released Iron Man in 2008, beginning the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Marvel Comics remains the comic-book publisher responsible for continuing periodical series, collected editions, and new print stories. Its imprint has published creators and characters across superhero, science fiction, horror, war, romance, and licensed comics, although its best-known properties include Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and the Punisher. Marvel’s publication history includes disputes that shape how its work is discussed. Kirby sought recognition and control concerning characters he co-created; his heirs reached a 2014 settlement with Marvel and Disney. Marvel has credited creators differently across eras, and its stories have been revised through retcons, alternate universes, and relaunches. The Ultimate Marvel line, launched in 2000 with Ultimate Spider-Man by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, retold major characters.