Books and Comics

Marvel Publishing, Inc., a company doing business as Marvel Comics, produces American comic books and related media. It forms a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc.SECInfo.com: "Marvel Entertainment/Inc. 10-K for 12/31/07", filed February 28, 2008

Marvel counts among its characters such well-known properties as Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, The X-Men, Captain America, The Fantastic Four, The Hulk, Thor, Daredevil, The Punisher, Ghost Rider, Deadpool, Black Panther, Blade, The Silver Surfer, Nick Fury, Moon Knight, and others. Most of Marvel's fictional characters operate in a single reality known as the Marvel Universe, with locales set in real-life cities such as New York.

Ultimate Marvel Universe Retrieved October 18, 2008

The comic-book arm of the company started in 1939 as Timely Publications, and by the 1950s had generally become 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, surpassing its longtime competitor DC Comics.Marvel Comics official site Retrieved October 18, 2008

On August 31, 2009, The Walt Disney Company announced a deal to acquire Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion in cash and stock. The voting for the deal is scheduled to occur on December 31, 2009.Marvel Sets Date for Disney Vote, Los Angeles Business Journal, December 3, 2009