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.
Man, Avengers #13 is a greedy comic book. It is not only an official Fall Of X crossover title but also for the upcoming event Blood Hunt. I know people say that Marvel Comics events land on top of one another these days, but this is a little much, is it not? One notable twist […]
This is not the kind of thing any previous Spider-Man writer had to deal with. Not even Stan Lee or JMS. But Zeb Wells married Saturday Night Live performer Heidi Gardner fourteen years ago in 2010. And so, a split makes the headline of People Magazine, which in this case reads "SNL's Heidi Gardner Details 'Painful' […]
Yesterday eBay saw a stunning amount of sales of New X-Men #114 from July 2001, the first issue of the comic by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, and the first appearance of Cassandra Nova, who also appeared in the Deadpool And Wolverine trailer that dropped yesterday. Everyone knew that Cassandra Nova was in the film, […]
Ah, the good ol' family reunion—except in the Marvel Universe, it's less about awkward conversations over stuffing and more about who gets to torment Wolverine next. That's right, folks, whipping out the *really* big guns in Wolverine #48, hitting comic book stores this Wednesday, April 24th. Let's take a peek at what the Creed family […]
Alright, gather 'round folks—it's time once again to dive into the seemingly never-ending maelstrom of family drama with your favorite magically dysfunctional siblings. This week, we're treated to the release of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver #3, hitting the shelves harder than a passive-aggressive comment at a family reunion on Wednesday, April 24th. Let's see what […]
Ah, the sweet symphony of slaughter continues this Wednesday in Predator: The Last Hunt #3. Just when you thought comic books had reached peak violence, Marvel decides to crank up the carnage and splash a little more crimson for good measure. Don't believe me? Feast your eyes on the official synopsis: THE BLOODIEST CHAPTER OF […]
Well, folks, brace yourselves for yet another "thrilling" installment in superhero redundancy as Avengers #13 hits the shelves this Wednesday, April 24th. It seems we're taking all bets on whether the Avengers can out-clank a whole new robotic nightmare – the Stark Sentinel program. Here's what Marvel's spinning this time: THE AVENGERS VERSUS THE STARK […]
When Jim Lee and Chris Claremont launched X-Men #1 in 1991, it was done so with a gatefold cover that became famous, homaged repeatedly and a high seller at auction. Well, now Marvel are doing a new X-Men #1 for From The Ashes and Scott Koblish has created a connecting cover that runs across the […]
Jan Bazaldua is the new artist of Immortal Thor from issue 13 onwards, as seen in Marvel's July 2024 solicits and solicitations. Artist on Spider-Man, Mr & Mrs X, Loki, Red Goblin, Captain Marvel, Evil Dead, Legion Of X, Winter Guard, X-Force, and more, it's time to add Immortal Thor to her list. Jan Bazaldua […]
Well, folks, if you thought the X-Men had already plunged every depths of mutant melodrama, brace yourselves. X-Men Forever #2 is swooping into stores this Wednesday, April 24th, to tear up whatever you thought made sense in the X-Men universe. Get ready for another whirl of tights, fights, and outright narrative plights as Kieron Gillen […]
Invincible and Void Rivals co-creator Robert Kirkman has a storied history with Marvel's biggest heroes, from the massive Marvel Zombies (that inspired action figures, merchandise, one of Marvel Studios' What If episodes) to Marvel Team-Up where Spider-Man met Invincible (which may have also just happened on Amazon Prime). But The Walking Dead, Kirkman's most famous […]
Well, web-slingers and wall-crawlers, hold onto your masks because it's time for another round of mind-boggling identity crises with Superior Spider-Man #6, swinging into stores this Wednesday, April 24th. What is it this time? Another battle royale to decide who deserves the title of "Most Overcompensating Neurotic in Tights"? Let's check out the synopsis, shall […]
Well, strap in, folks, because the galaxy's most infamous tin can with a jetpack is back at it again in Star Wars: Jango Fett #2, dropping into your local comic shop this Wednesday, April 24th. In this thrilling installment, our helmeted hero finds himself not just chasing but also being chased. Yes, it's hard work […]
Ah, folks, gather 'round as we dive into the life of everyone's favorite webslinger in Ultimate Spider-Man #4, swinging into your local comic store this Wednesday, April 24th. If your Spidey-sense is tingling it might just be the existential dread of yet another comic where Peter Parker's alter ego nearly tips the boat. WHO IS […]
Welcome, fellow comic connoisseurs and involuntary horror enthusiasts! Peg your excitement meters for the spine-chilling release of Star Wars: Darth Maul – Black, White, and Red #1, dropping this Wednesday, April 24th. Are you ready to dive deep into the galaxy's darkest corners where even the Sith might fear to tread? Well, ready or not, […]
Ah, here we go again, folks! Brace yourselves for the latest melodrama-kissed pages of Jackpot and Black Cat #2, hitting your local comic shack this Wednesday, April 24th. It appears that much of NYC has finally had enough of celebrities (or just one in particular), because lo and behold, they're all gunning for Mary Jane […]
Recently, Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto's Ultimate Spider-Man, a story about a married-with-kids middle-aged Peter Parker who chooses to get a spider bite and become Spider-Man, has been teasing the appearance of Gwen Stacy. In the original Spider-Man continuity, Gwen Stacy was Peter Parker's first longtime girlfriend, and she died at the hands of Norman […]
Ah, here we go again, folks! Another Wednesday, another desperate dive into a purportedly profound puddle of narrative. This time it's GODS #7, hitting the shelves this April 24th, poised to entertain or, more likely, send us into a spiraling existential dread about our own family dramas. Here's what Marvel has spoon-fed us for a […]
Welcome to the Bleeding Cool Weekly Bestseller List which sees the third Ultimate Black Panther top the charts, just beating out Avemgers Twilight. And while the Energon Universe's Cobra Commander and Marvel's Fall Of House Of X follow, the story this week looks like DC Comics roaring back, placing five titles in the top ten, […]
Ah, it's that time again, folks. Time for another thrilling episode of clone-on-clone violence in the ever-spinning roulette of Spider-dramas. Marvel is launching Amazing Spider-Man #48 this Wednesday, and guess what? Peter Parker is duking it out with his not-so-unique clone, Ben Reilly. Surprise, surprise! Plus, there's some ominous undertones with Norman Osborn because what's […]
