Marvel Comics Archives
Marvel Comics was started by pulp publisher Martin Goodman in 1939 with the anthology comic book title Marvel Comics (which was changed to Marvel Mystery Comics with issue #2). During the golden age of comics, the publisher developed a popular core of characters including Captain America, Bucky, Human Torch, Submariner, Miss America, Golden Girl, Red Skull, and many others by creators such as Jack Kirby, Joe Simon, Bill Everett, Stan Lee, and others.
Goodman used a number of corporate brands for Marvel throughout his tenure, including Timely Publications, Atlas Comics. The company was one of the largest publishers of Pre-Code Horror comic books during the early 1950s.
During the years following World War II, like many comic book publishers, the company transitioned to horror, crime, romance, and western titles among others. Marvel titles from this era include Journey into Mystery, Marvel Tales, Strange Tales, Venus, and countless others.
But the 1961 debut of The Fantastic Four signalled the start of the Marvel Universe we're familiar with today. Characters and teams such as Hulk, Ant Man, Wasp, Avengers, X-Men and more by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, John Romita, and others became the foundational characters which Marvel has expanded upon since that time.
In 1968, a company called Perfect Film and Chemical Corporation acquired Marvel from founder Martin Goodman. Marvel was acquired by film and media company New World Entertainment in 1986. New World sold the publisher to Ronald Perelman in 1989, who took the company public.
After riding high on a booming comics market and trading cards and other merchandise through the next few years, but its fortunes quickly turned with a slumping industry and other factors, and Marvel filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 1996.
Toy Biz, headed by Avi Arad and Isaac Perlmutter, acquired Marvel the next year, ending the bankruptcy. In 2004, Marvel Studios' acquired funding from Merrill Lynch to self-finance its own films, and with the 2008 debut of Iron Man, the company's rise to prominence in both the American and global film industry began. The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment on December 31, 2009, for $4 Billion.
Love, Krakoa, The X-Men and T-Shirts with Hellfire Vigil and X-Men #19, published by Marvel Comics today (XSpoilers)
New powers for Spider-Man revealed today in Amazing Spider-Man #7 by Joer Kelly and John Romita Jr (Spoilers)
The Future Of Thor At Marvel, Revealed In Immortal Thor #25 by Al Ewing, Justin Greenwood, Jan Bazaldua and Pasqual Ferry (Spoilers)
Storm in X-Men: Hellfire Vigil #1 as we ask... who's the daddy? (XSpoilers)
Captain America for the 4th of July, now unfrozen after 9/11, as Chip Zdarsky & Valerio Schiti rewrite the early Marvel Comics Universe
The relaunched Thor comic, coming from Marvel Comics in September 2025, will no longer be called "Thor"
A Future for Wolverine and Storm together at Marvel? Hellfire Vigil #1 XSpoilers...
Disney stitches Stitch to the covers of the Marvel Universe in September, with Spider-Man, Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four and Captain America
The comic book industy reacts to the death of Jim Shooter,at the age of 73, the man who made comics grow up
Jim Shooter, writer of Superman, Secret Wars and Legion, Editor-In-Chief of Marvel, co-founder of Valiant, Defiant and Broadway has died, aged 73.
Logan's identity crisis reaches new heights in Ultimate Wolverine #7 as Colossus, Magik and Omega Red fight to keep their prized weapon under control.
The Fantastic Four returns to the American newsstands in July... with $30 of free FF digital comics thrown in. But no Byrne or Kirby?
Can Yaddle save the life of Count Dooku, the man destined to kill her? Star Wars: Jedi Knights #5 explores this tragic paradox this Wednesday!
Major future Storm revelations in this week's X-Men: Hellfire Vigil #1 (XSpoilers... no seriously, Big spoilers)
The Hand empowers Godzilla to face Thor in Godzilla vs. Thor #1! Can the God of Thunder protect Midgard from the King of Monsters? KRA-KOOM indeed!
Captain America #1 hits stores Wednesday as Steve Rogers faces his first encounter with Doctor Doom in this new era from Chip Zdarsky and Valerio Schiti.
Marvel Comics and the Unpublished Riri Williams, The Invincible Ironheart, by Stephanie Williams and Jim Towe
Thor faces his ultimate destiny in Immortal Thor #25 as he battles the Serpent wearing his own face. Will the God of Thunder survive this final confrontation?
Can Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #15 deliver a god-tier finale? Gwen faces King Loki with cosmic power and TVA backup in this thrilling conclusion!
Hellverine #8 hits stores Wednesday as Project Hellfire's plans for Hell Hulk collide with trust issues. What could possibly go wrong?
The Avengers face their greatest challenge yet in Avengers #28 as the Mad Thinker unleashes his deadliest weapon against the Impossible City!
Spider-Man faces his toughest challenge yet in Amazing Spider-Man #7 as Hellgate threatens to consume all of Manhattan. Can our web-slinger save the day?
Doug Ramsey Is About To Become A Very Important X-Men Character Indeed
Matt Murdock faces his most disgusting enemy yet in Daredevil #23 as a fungal outbreak threatens to literally tear him apart from the inside out!
PrintWatch: The Goddamned Spider-Man Vs Wolverine & Predator Second and Third Printings
Ultimate Spider-Man #18 tops the Top Eleven Bleeding Cool Weekly Bestseller List beating out Absoliute Wonder Woman and Absolute Flash
Norman Osborn's devilish deal gets the spotlight in Bring on the Bad Guys: Green Goblin #1, revealing how Mephisto forged Marvel's most goblin-y villain.
Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time #4 hits stores Wednesday! Can the Merc with a Mouth trust Doctor Doom for ultimate power?
Doug Ramsey embraces his destiny as Revelation in X-Men #19, but will his grand vision for a new world survive its first baby steps?
Bleeding Cool Presents the Full Local Comic Shop Day 2025 Line-Up including Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, IDW, Oni, Scholastic abnd more