Facts About Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics is the brand name and primary imprint of Marvel Worldwide Inc., formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, a publisher of American comic books and related media. In 2009, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Worldwide’s parent company.

Here are some facts about our beloved Marvel:

The Thing of ‘The Fantastic Four’ was once killed after being possessed by Dr. Doom. Grief-stricken, Mr. Fantastic decided to revive him by stealing the Thing’s soul from Heaven. While there, the Four were invited to meet God, who was designed to look like Marvel artist, Jack Kirby.

Michael Jackson wanted to be Spider-Man.

Kevin Feige, who eventually became the President of Marvel Studios and mastermind behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was hired on to the first X-Men film as an assistant, but was given an associate producer credit when another producer discovered he was “a walking encyclopedia of Marvel.”

Darth Vader was inspired by Marvel’s Doctor Doom.

Clark Gregg’s Agent Coulson was not intended to reappear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe past the first Iron Man film. It wasn’t until a contract dispute with Samuel L. Jackson caused Nick Fury’s role in Thor to be dropped, and Clark Gregg was asked to reappear in a larger role.

Marvel trademarked the word “zombies”.

At the end of the Deadpool movie, the title character fights Ajax on top of a partially disassembled Heli-carrier visually similar to the ones used by S.H.I.E.L.D. in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is a direct nod to the MCU, though FOX Studios requested that flying aircraft look different enough to prevent a lawsuit from Disney.

Deadpool is a spoof of Deathstroke.

In a 1996 DC/Marvel Comics crossover, Quicksilver challenged the Flash (WallyWest) to a race and lost.

Venom was created by a fan.

In the 1997 DC/Marvel special Batman/Captain America, the Red Skull hires the Joker to steal an atomic bomb during World War II. Joker evades Batman, Cap, Bucky, and Robin and delivers it to the Skull, but is horrified when he learns that the Skull is a Nazi (saying “I may be a criminal lunatic but I’m an American criminal lunatic!”). When the Skull threatens to drop the bomb on Washington D.C., the Joker actually fights him in the plane’s cargo bay. When Captain America and Batman take over the plane and bring it over the ocean, the two villains are dropped out with the bomb just before it explodes. Both Captain America and Batman are convinced the two are still alive somehow.

Mario Puzo, the Godfather author, tried to write for Marvel.

Marvel and DC comics created Amalgam Comics, which joined the two universes together, resulting in characters such as Darkclaw (Batman/Wolverine), Super Soldier (Superman/Captain America), and Iron Lantern (Green Lantern/Iron Man).

Luke Cage was the first black superhero with his own comic.

Many of Marvel’s notable superheroes and villains are of Irish descent including, Captain America, Beast, Iceman, An incarnation of Ant-Man, Daredevil, Bullseye and Dum Dum Dugan.

When Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were creating villains for the Marvel Comic Books they turned to the Bible. Out of that inspiration came Galactus (God) and Silver Surfer (Satan).

Marvel created a superhero named Throg. He is a frog that has the power of Thor and is in a group called the Pet Avengers.

In the Marvel Universe, the cleanup from major battles is handled by Damage Control, a joint venture of Tony Stark and the Kingpin. They even had their own series in the late 80’s.

During the “Old Man Logan” Marvel series by Mark Millar, the Hulk reproduced with She-Hulk because Bruce Banner knew she was biologically compatible to carry his offspring, despite her being his cousin.

In one of the Marvel’s “What if?” series, Hulk and She-Hulk get married “and their lives became much like those on ‘I Love Lucy’.”

In the Marvel comics series “Spider-Man: Reign”, set 30 years in the future, it is revealed that Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker’s wife, has died from cancer brought on by Peter’s radioactive semen.

There is an issue called The Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe, where he kills every single Marvel superhero and villain, including himself.

The Pentagon halted its cooperation with Marvel Studios on ‘The Avengers’ because they did not appreciate that they would have to answer to the secret organization like S.H.I.E.L.D.

In Marvel’s Earth-616 continuity alone, Jean Grey, a founding member of the X-Men, has died fourteen times.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the events in ‘Thor’, ‘The Incredible Hulk’ and ‘Iron Man 2’, all take place within seven days, collectively referred to as “Fury’s Big Week”.

In the Ultimate Marvel Universe, Black Widow shot and killed Tony Stark’s butler, Jarvis, after he walked in on the two of them having sex, revealing her true sinister persona.

FAQs about Marvel Comics

1. What is Marvel Comics?

• Answer:
  • Marvel Comics is an American publishing company that creates comic books, graphic novels, and related media. It’s renowned for its vast universe of iconic superheroes and villains, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, the X-Men, and the Avengers.
  • It is one of the “Big Two” companies in the American comic book industry, the other being DC Comics.
  • Marvel Entertainment, its parent company, is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.

2. When was Marvel Comics created?

• Answer:
  • Marvel’s origins trace back to 1939, when it was founded as Timely Comics.
  • The first comic book released by Timely Comics was “Marvel Comics #1” (October 1939), which featured the debut of characters like the Human Torch and Sub-Mariner.
  • Timely comics then became Atlas Comics in the 1950’s. Then in the early 1960’s it became Marvel Comics.

3. How is Marvel Comics different from DC Comics?

• Answer:
  • While both are major comic book publishers, they have distinct characteristics:
    • Character Approach: Marvel is often praised for its more relatable characters, who often have flaws and personal struggles. Their heroes are often more “human”. Whereas DC characters are often portrayed as more godlike.
    • Setting: Marvel stories are frequently set in real-world locations, particularly New York City, which adds a sense of realism.
    • Tone: While this can vary, Marvel is often associated with a blend of action, humor, and drama, while DC is sometimes seen as having a more mythic and serious tone.
    • Of course these are generalities, and both companies have many variances within their publications.

4. How do I start reading Marvel Comics?

• Answer:
  • This is a common question, as Marvel’s history can be overwhelming. Here’s a breakdown of how to approach it:
    • Choose a Character: Start with a character that interests you, such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, or Captain Marvel.
    • Modern Story Arcs: Look for recent story arcs or “jumping-on points,” such as those from “Marvel NOW!” or “Fresh Start.” These are designed to be accessible to new readers.
    • Trade Paperbacks and Graphic Novels: These collections compile multiple issues of a storyline, providing a complete narrative.
    • Marvel Unlimited: Marvel’s digital subscription service offers access to a vast library of comics.
    • Don’t worry about reading everything: Marvel has been publishing comics for many decades, so it is virtually impossible to read everything. Focus on characters and storylines that you find interesting.
    • Online reading guides, and wikis are very helpful tools.

5. Where can I buy Marvel Comics?

• Answer:
  • You can purchase Marvel Comics from:
    • Local comic book stores.
    • Online retailers like Amazon.
    • The Marvel Comics app and website.
    • Digital platforms like ComiXology.
    • Book stores.

6. What is the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)?

• Answer:
  • The MCU is a media franchise centered on a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios.
  • It’s based on characters from Marvel Comics and is a shared universe where all the films and television series take place.
  • The MCU has achieved immense popularity and critical acclaim, becoming one of the highest-grossing film franchises of all time.
  • It is important to remember that the MCU is a separate entity from the comic book universe, even though they share characters.