Publisher of iconic characters Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Thor, the Incredible Hulk., Avengers and the X-Men.
In the beginning there was Timely
In 1939 Martin Goodman was persuaded by Frank Torpey, the sales manager of Funnies Inc. to start publishing comics. This was the start of Timely Publications which would later produce its first comic Marvel Comics #1.
Timeline:
1939
- Marvel Comics #1
- Introduction of The Human Torch
- Introduction of Submariner
- Introduction of The Angel
- Introduction of The Mask Raider
- Joe Simon is hire to be the first Editor and Chief of Timely.
1940
- Artist Jack Kirby joins Timely’s staff.
- Goodman hire his wife’s teenage cousin, Stanley Lieber. He would later be known as Stan Lee.
- The “Marvel Universe” is created in when Namor and The Human Torch are in the first crossover issue.
- Introduction of The Thin Man
- Introduction of Betty Dean
- Introduction of Black Widow
- First “One off” Red Raven is introduced and the series doesn’t see a second issue.
- The Roman god Mercury makes and appearance in the Red Raven issue in “Mercury in the 20 Century”
- The Human Torch takes over the “Red Raven” series. Starting with The Human Torch #2. There was never a number 1.
- Introduction of Toro
- One story of Super Hero Marvel Boy was released.
- Introduction of Vision.
1941
- Introduction of Captain
- Introduction of Bucky
- Introduction of the Patriot.
- Timely comics fight the Nazis.
- Introduction of the Red Skull
- Introduction of Blue Diamond
- Introduction of Fin
- Stanley Lieber writes first story for Timely, “Captain Comic #4”, under the pen name of Stan Lee.
- Teams All Winners and Young Allies (formerly Sentinels of Liberty) make the first of Marvel’s many teams.
- Introduction of The Whizzer
- Indroduction of Jack Frost.
- The Human Torch #5 depicts an epic battle between The Human Torch and Namor.
- Introduction of Father Time
- Introduction of The Destoryer
- Joe Simon and Jack Kirby leave Timely
- Stan Lee becomes Editor-in-Chief at the young age of 18 years old.
1942
- The December 7 1941 attack on sends several Timely members into armed services.
- Introduction of Citizen V
- Introduction of Missy Fury
- Vince Fago becomes Editor while Stan Lee is off at war.
1943
- Introduction of Super Rabbit to Comedy Comics
- Introduction of Captain Wonder
- All Select Comics unite the big three, Captain , Sub-Mariner, and The Human Torch.
- Introduction of Miss
1944
- Captain films were released in a 15 part series.
1945
- The end of World War 2 brought the decline of “Super Heroes” sales.
- Introduction of Millie the Model who spawned 207 issues.
- Introduction of Patsy Walker
- Marvel reaches out to a young female audience.
- Stan Lee returns to his chair as Editor-in-Chief after the war.
1946
- Introduction of The Blonde Phantom
- Introduction of Mighty Mouse.
- Young Allies Comics was cancelled.
- All Winners Squad #21 was the last issue for the team.
- Harvey Kurtzman starts doing freelance work for Timely comics. He would later become the original editor of MAD magazine.
- Gene Colan is hired as an artist for Timely.
1947
- Introduction to Namora
- As Super Hero comic stayed in a slump, Crime, Romance, and Westerns gain in popularity
1948
- Comic Crimefighters and Lawbreakers Always Lose! debut to increase the popularity of the crime comics.
- Introduction of Two-Gun Kid.
- Introduction of Sun Girl
- Introduction of Kid Colt
- Introduction of Venus
- The Super Rabbit series is canceled.
- John Buscema answers and ad to become one of the best know artist in Marvel’s history.
- As Super Hero comic stayed in a slump, Crime, Romance, and Westerns gain in popularity 1950's
- Timely goes through an identity change. From Timely to Atlas Comics to eventually Marvel.
- 1960's
- As super hero comics make a re-emergence Marvel comes out with it's new heroes. These heroes have more personal and emotional back stories
- 1961 sees the creation of The Fantastic Four
- In the following years (following the successful relaunch of DC's heroes ) Marvel launches the Hulk, X-men, Iron Man, Spiderman, Daredevil, Avengers, The return of the GA Capt America, and Many more.
The comic-book arm of the company started in 1939 as Timely Publications, and by the 1950s was generally known as Atlas Comics. Marvel's modern incarnation dates from 1961, with the launching of Fantastic Four and other superhero titles created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and others. Marvel has since become the largest American comic book publisher over long time competitor DC comics
Editors-in-chief
- Joe Simon (1940-1941)
- Stan Lee (1941-1942)
- Vincent Fago (acting editor during Lee's military service) (1942-1945)
- Stan Lee (1945-1972)
- Roy Thomas (1972-1974)
- Len Wein (1974-1975)
- Marv Wolfman ( black-and-white magazines 1974-1975, entire line 1975-1976)
- Gerry Conway (1976)
- Archie Goodwin (1976-1978)
- Jim Shooter (1978-1987)
- Tom DeFalco (1987-1994)
- Bob Harras (1995-2000)
- Joe Quesada (2000-present)
Located in New York City, Marvel has been successively headquartered in the McGraw-Hill Building (where it originated as Timely Comics in 1939); in suite 1401 of the Empire State Building; at 635 Madison Avenue (the actual location, though the comic books' indicia listed the parent publishing-company's address of 625 Madison Ave.); 575 Madison Avenue; 387 Park Avenue South; 10 East 40th Street; and 417 Fifth Avenue.
Marvel has had 25 television series's, 34 live action films and 72 video games based on the Marvel universe. There are also several theme park rides based on the Universe too.
