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For fictional versions of Marvel Comics within comic books or other media, visit this disambiguation page.

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Founded:
1939
Formed by:
Location:

Marvel Comics is a comic book publishing house known for creating notable super heroes such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, Daredevil, Hulk, Thor, the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and Deadpool. Marvel's most well-known villains include the Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Red Skull, Kingpin, Loki, Thanos, Ultron, Doctor Doom, and Magneto. Marvel Comics and DC Comics have collaborated on several crossover projects together and also co-founded the intentionally short-lived Amalgam Comics imprint.

Overview[]

Marvel Comics began life as "Timely Publications" in 1939, with comic books featuring Captain America, Namor the Sub-Mariner and an early version of Human Torch. Legendary comics writer Stan Lee was hired as an office assistant in 1939. Within two years, the 19-year-old Lee was promoted to editor of the Marvel Comics line, a post that he would keep until 1972.

Everything changed in 1961, when Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby ushered in "The Marvel Age of Comics" by creating The Fantastic Four which brought a new style of superhero comic that focused on the characters' internal drama as well as their heroic adventures. The style was a huge success, and the Lee/Kirby team went on to create the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, the Mighty Thor, the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Inhumans. The prolific Lee worked with artist Steve Ditko to create Marvel's greatest success story, Spider-Man. Stan Lee's Marvel revolution extended beyond the characters and storylines to the way in which comic books engaged the readership and built a sense of community between fans and creators.

Marvel Comics have been translated all over the world, and in many languages, most notably in Europe (Arédit and Marvel France imprints) and Québec, Canada (Éditions Héritage).

Today, Marvel's heroes are blockbuster stars on the silver screen; with Spider-Man, Iron Man, the X-Men, Wolverine, Deadpool, Captain America, the Hulk, the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man and numerous others becoming regular features of the summer movie season. Additionally, heroes like the Defenders, the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Runaways, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, the Punisher and others have found success on the small screen.

Trivia[]

  • Marvel Comics was originally headquartered at 387 Park Avenue South in New York City, but has since moved to 10 East 40th Street.

See also[]

External Links[]

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