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Marvel Comics Timespan
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World War II begins
World War 2 begins, and many writers and artists at marvel are drafted. Those at home create comics to support the troops and raise morale. -
Marvel Comics #1 released
First appearance of Android superhero, the Human Torch, Namor, the Sub-Mariner, and sold 80,000 copies. With this hit on his hands, Publisher Martin Goodman began creating an in-house staff, hiring Joe Simon as editor, hiring frequent collaborator Jack Kirby, with Syd Shores following soon after. With this, Timley Comics had officially formed. -
Timley Comics founded
In 1939, with comics and superheroes being popular, publisher Martin Goodman founded Timley Publications. -
Marvel Comics rechristened Marvel Mystery Comics with issue #2
Marvel Comics was rechristened Marvel Mystery Comics with issue #2 (Dec. 1939). The magazine would continue under that title through #92 (June 1949) before becoming Marvel Tales through #159 (Aug. 1957). -
Timley Publishes additional Comics
Timely begins publishing additional series, beginning with Daring Mystery Comics #1 (Jan. 1940), Mystic Comics #1 (March 1940), Red Raven Comics #1 (Aug. 1940), The Human Torch #2 (premiering Fall 1940 with no cover date and having taken over the numbering from the unsuccessful Red Raven), and Captain America #1 (March 1941) -
Golden Age of Comics Begins
Super hero Archtype created, famous heroes we know today begin to debut. After the Second World War, themes involving Nuclear Power begin to appear in comics. Towards the end of the 40s, popularity of superheroes begins to wane, and ccompanies switch to other genres such as war, science fiction, horror, romance, western and crime. -
Captain America Comics #1
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Joe Simon and Jack Kirby leave for DC Comics
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Stan Lee promoted to interm editor
Stan Lee, a cousin of Timley founder Martin Goodman's by marriage who had been serving as an assistant since 1939, at age 16, was promoted to interim editor just shy of his 19th birthday. Showing a knack for the business, Lee stayed on for decades, eventually becoming the publisher for Marvel Comics' in 1972. Fellow Timely staffer Vincent Fago would substitute during his military service in the Second World War. -
World War II ends
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Marvel Mystery Comics becomes Marvel Tales
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Sub-Mariner Comics Cancelled at #32
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Captain America Comics cancelled at #75
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Timely begins using Atlas News Logo
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Timely Comics becomes Atlas Comics
After Superheroes began falling out of favor after the war, and after many cancellations of superhereo titles, Timley comics became Atlas Comics, and their comics expanded into genres such as war, western, romance and horror. -
Atlas survives purely on following trends
The majority of what comics Atlas produced were based on what the competition was selling, and followed their trends to a tee. Editior-in-chief of Atlas and later marvel Stan Lee told historian Les Daniels, Goodman "would notice what was selling, and we'd put out a lot of books of that type." Commented Daniels, "The short-term results were lucrative; but while other publishers took the long view and kept their stables of heroes solid, Goodman let his slide." -
Silver Age of Comics Begins
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Jack Kirby Returns
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Marvel Comics Brand Appears
The first comics to be sold under the Marvel Comics brand were the science-fiction anthology Journey into Mystery #69 and the teen-humor title Patsy Walker #95 (both cover dated June 1961), which each displayed an "MC" box on its cover (In the top right on the Patsy Walker title). -
Fantastic Four #1 released
Writer/editor Stan Lee revolutionized superhero comics in 1961 by marketing them to older readers. Fantastic Four #1 was the first release in this attempt and established Marvel's repuatation. Marvel's heroes quickly gained a reputation for having a sense of realism to them, as many of the heroes were flawed and considered freaks or misfits by their non-powered peers. -
Ant-Man appears in Tales to Astonish #27
Ant-Man appeared in a story about a scientist character testing shrinking technology on himself. it sold well and Stan Lee later thought it would be fun to expand him into a full-fledged hero. Ant-man ended up becoming one of the founding members of the Avengers along with Iron-Man, Thor, The Hulk and his girlfriend, The Wasp (who had similar powers). -
Thor appears in Journey into Mystery #38
Stan Lee in 2002 described Thor's genesis early in Marvel's pantheon, following the Hulk's creation:
"How do you make someone stronger than the strongest person? It finally came to me: Don't make him human — make him a god..." -
Incredible Hulk #1 released
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created the Hulk in response to the overwhelming popularity of the Thing from the Fantastic Four. Lee cited influence from Frankenstien, Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Kirby mentions a story of a mother saving her child from being trapped under a car. Although originally coloured grey, there were difficulties in the consistency of the colour, and the colour was eventually changed to green. -
Spider Man appears in Amazing Fantasy #15
When Spider Man appeared in 1968, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, he broke ground by being one of the first teenaged superheroes to not be delegated to the role of a sidekick. Although he definetley had the makings of a sidekick, he ultimatley had no mentor and had to discover on his own, that "With Great power there must also come great responsibility". -
Amazing Spider Man #1 released
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Incredible Hulk cancelled after issue #6
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Iron Man appears in Tales of Suspense #39
Iron Man was created as a vehicle for Stan Lee to explore cold War themes, and as a character that the readership of marvel would oppose. Although he was concieved as an unlikable character, he became very popular and recieved his own series with The Invincible Iron Man in may of 1968. The series ran till september of 1996. -
Dr.Strange appears in Strange Tales #110
Dr.Strange was created by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee, although it was originally Ditko's idea. Ditko often drew psychedelia and surrealist influenced mystic landscapes, accompanied by vivid colours, which led former writer and then associate editor Roy Thomas to remark that the readers must think everyone at Marvel were drug-users. -
The X-Men #1 released
The X-Men were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The X-men are mutants, born with their powers (which materialize at puberty, often in large outbursts). Their stories often chronicle their experiences with prejudice from non-mutants. These events are often compared to social issues such as Homophobia and Racism. -
The Avengers #1 released
The Avengers were created as a response to DC Comics superhero team, The Justice League. The team featured the heroes created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Iron-Man, The Hulk, Thor, and Ant-Man and The Wasp. They were dubbed "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" and are famous for their battle cry of "Avengers Assemble!". -
Daredevil #1 released
Daredevil was created by Stan Lee and Bill Everett and has an origin story of gaining heightened senses and a sonar like vision after being blinded by radioactive chemicals. He originally had a yellow and red suit, but it was changed into all red later on. His nickname is "The Man without Fear". -
Hulk reappears in Tales to Astonish #60
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The Inhumans appear in Fantastic Four #45
The Inhumans are a gentically modified species of Homo-sapiens created by the alien Kree, after their realiziation of Homo sapiens' genetic potential. Though a succsesful experiment, the Kree later abandoned them because of a prophecy fortelling their destruction at the hands of an Inhuman. The Inhumans now live in complete seclusion from the rest of the human race and founded their own society. -
The Silver Surfer appears in Fantastic Four #48
The Silver Surfer debuted as an unplanned addition to Fantastic Four #48 and was designed by Jack Kirby to be the herald of the planet eating Galactus. He rode a surf board because Kirby was tired of drawing space ships. Stan Lee overcame his inital skepticism after learning of the Surfer's noble intentions (turning on his master to save earth) and began adding characterization. The Silver Surfer the became a key charcter in the unfolding story. -
Black Panther appears in Fantastic Four #52
Black Panther was the first black super hero in comics and appeared in a story in which he, T'challa, ventured from his African nation of Wakanda, to join the Avengers in New York City. -
Captain Marvel appears Marvel Super-Heroes #12
When Fawcett comics lost their trademark on the Captain Marvel name after a lawsuit from DC, Marvel quickly jumped on the oppurtunity by creating Captain Marvel. Created by Stan Lee and Gene Colan, Marvel (who's given name is Mar-Vell) was revealed to hail from the alien race of the Kree, and came to earth as a spy, until he began communicating with his human neighbours. Although Gene Colan was credited as co-creator, he has often states his dislike of Marvel's orginal green and white costume. -
Tales to Astonish retitled The Incredible Hulk after issue #102
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Captain Marvel #1 released
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Martin Goodman sells Marvel comics to Perfect Film and Chemicals Corperation
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Bronze Age of Comics begins
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Stan Lee writes 3 part Spider man story about drug use, appears in Amazing Spider Man #96-98
Early in 1970, The Nixon Administration's Department of Health, Education and Welfare asked Stan Lee to publish an anti-drug story in one of Marvel's top selling titles. However, The Comics Code forbade depictions of drugs in comics, even negativley. The story featured Peter's friend Harry osborn becoming addicted to pills. SpiderMan later fights the Green Goblin and defeats him with the reveal of Harry's drug addiction. The story was sold without the CCA's aprroval and became a best seller. -
Marvel begins to "pull ahead" of rival DC Comics
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Marvel holds it's on Convention, Marvelcon '75
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Jack Kirby returns to Marvel
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Captain Britain Weekly #1 released
Captain Britain was originally created to be the British equivalent of Captain America, and was endowed with special powers by the wizard Merlyn and his daughter Roma, in order to uphold the laws of Britain. His costume was based after British military uniforms. -
Star Wars #1 released
Prior to the release of Star Wars, Lucasfilm propositioned Stan Lee with a series marketed to the film's likely audience. Lee declined until the movie was released and it became one of Marvel's best selling series' in 1979 and 1980. -
Jim Shooter becomes new Editor in Chief
Although a controversial personality when introduced, Shooter ultimatley cured many of Marvel's procedural ills, such as missed deadlines. During his tenure, Chris Claremont and John Byrne's run on the Uncanny X-Men and Frank Miller's run on Daredevil became critical and commercial successes. He also introduced company-wide crossover story arcs Contest of Champions and Secret Wars; -
Contest of Champions crossover event begins
The Grandmaster, an elder of the universe, challenges a hooded female called the unknown (later revealed to be death) to a game for the life of the Collector, a fellow elder who was killed. Superheroes from Earth are used as pawns in order to collect four pieces of "The Golden Globe of Life". -
Star Comics Imprint founded
Star comics was an imprint founded by Marvel to publish children's comics and published comics until 1991. it's signature titles were Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham, and Heathcliffe, it's longest running title. -
Secret Wars crossover event begins
The Cosmic entity known as the Beyonder observes the Marvel Universe, and is fascinated by the prescence and potential of Earth's Superheroes. He picks groups of heroes and villans and teleports them to "Battleworld", a planet he created in a distant galaxy, stocked with alien weapons and technology. He then declares: "I am from beyond! Slay your enemies and all that you desire shall be yours! Nothing you dream of is impossible for me to accomplish!" -
The Modern Age of Comics begins
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Secret Wars 2 crossover event begins
The sequel to Secret Wars, In which the Beyonder travels to Earth seeking personal enlightenment, and inevetably comes into conflict with the superheroes of Earth and the marvel universe's other cosmic entities. -
Marvel sold to New World Entertainment
New World Pictures changed it's name to New World Entertainment and purchased Marvel Comics, as well as planning to purchase toy companies Mattel and Kenner Products, although that never happened. -
Marvel sold to MacAndrews and Forbes
Within three years of New World Entertainment purchasing marvel, they were sold to MacAndrews and Forbes. -
Spider Man #1 released; cover art by Todd McFarlane
This Spider Man was concieved as a showcase for Todd McFarlane, who had been only an artist up until that point. This series was pencilled, inked and written, all by McFarlane himself. The series was a sales successs, with 2.5 million copies sold. -
Inifinity Gauntlet crossover event begins
Thanos, having collected the Infinity Gems, mounts them on his gauntlet, creating the Infinity Gauntlet, with each gem giving him control over a part of the multi-verse (Time, Space, Mind, Soul, Reality, and Power). Being all powerful and wanting Death's affections, he erases hallf of all sentient life in the universe. The remaining heroes then band together to defeat him. -
Marvel 2099 imprint founded
The 2099 imprint began in 1992, and explores a possible future of the Marvel Universe. it was originally titled The Marvel World of Tomorrow, and was meant to be a single issue. -
Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, Rob Liefield, Mark Silvestri, Jim Valentino and Whilce Portatio leave to form Image Comics
Image Comics was created by Artists that had left Marvel Comics. it was created so they could create their own characters without giving up the copyrights (creator owned). It was almost immediatley successful, and is still one of largest comic book publishers in North America. Famous for Comics such as Spawn, the Walking Dead, Invincible and Saga. -
Marvel goes public
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Infinity War crossover event begins
Adam Warlock takes possesion of the Infinty Gauntlet, and becomes a completley logical being by expeling his good and evil aspects. This allows him to wisley use the gauntlet. However this releases the incarnation of his evil, The Magus, who desires revenge upon Him and Thanos. Using Cosmic Cubes, he traps the entity Eternity, creating an interdimensional realm full of evil doppelgangers of Earth's heroes. -
Spider man 2009 #1 released
Miguel O'Hara is a brilliant geneticist living in New York in the year 2099 A.D. who is attempting to recreate the abilities of the original Spider-Man in other people and later suffers a related accident that causes half his DNA to be re-written with a spider's genetic code. O'Hara is the first Latino character to assume the identity of Spider-Man. -
Ravage 2099 #1 released
Paul-Phillip ravage was the CEO of ECO, a subsidary of Alchemax that worked to combat polluters. He was later framed for murder after questioning the secrets of the company and it's secretive violent methods. Armed with only a blaster, a cog used as a shuriken, Ravage became a fugitive of the law. -
Doom 2099 #1 released
In the year 2099, Doom materializes in the ruins of Castle Doom in Latveria, after dissapearing 100 years before. Latveria is now under the control of Tyger Wylde, and Doom confronts him. Unable to combat his advanced technology, Doom is left for dead. He gains the assistance of his former gypsy tribe, who build him new armour. Doom becomes a freedom fighter, and strikes back against Tyger Wylde. -
Punisher 2009 #1 released
Jake Gallows, a member of the Public Eye Police Force and the Church of Thor, losses his Mother, Brother and Sister-in-Law when they were killed, on the orders of Kron Stone, the psychotic son of buisnessman Tyler Stone. Afterwards, Jake discovers The Punisher's war journal, which on the last page challenged whoever found it to carry on his work and become the new Punisher. -
Infinity Crusade crossover event begins
When Adam Warlock took control of the Infinty Gauntlet, he purged his evil side, The Magus, and became a totally logical being. But he also purged his good side, and who became The Godess. During the events of Infinity War, she steals the five Cosmic Cubes (eventually thirty) and creates a cosmic egg that can grant wishes. Using it she creates Paradise Omega and brainwashes Earth's heroes to be her army. Warlock and Thanos rally Earth's remaining hereos to defeat the Godess. -
Hulk 2009 appears in 2099 Unlimited #1
The Future Hulk is John Eisenheart, a studio executive of Lotusland Productions, who was reasearching the Knights of Banner, worshippers of the original Hulk, Bruce Banner. The Knights refused to sell their story to Eisenheart and the Police became invloved. A battle broke out, with eisenheart joining the Knights in battle and being caught in a gamma blast, turning him into the new Hulk. -
X-men 2099 released #1 released
X-Men 2099 chronicled the adventures of the X-Men team in the future, and crossed over into other 2099 titles. It lasted 35 issues and was folded into the one-shot concluding the 2099 imprint. -
Ghost Rider 2099 #1 released
This version of Ghost Rider took place in the dystopian future of 2099, and instead of the original Ghost Rider, he was Kenshiro "Zero" Cochrane, a hacker who was killed but resurrected as the Ghost Rider — his mind controlling a powerful and well-armed robot. -
Marvel aquires comic book distributer Heroes World Distribution
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Hulk 2099 #1 released
After appearing in 2099 Unlimited #1-6, Hulk 2099 later recieved his own series, which ran for 10 issues. He later appeared in 2099 AD: Apocalypse, in which he was one of several characters killed. -
X-Men: Age of Apocalypse
The psionic mutant, Legion, travels back in time to kill Magneto. However he travels back to a time in which Xavier and Magneto are still friends. Xavier ends up sacrificing himself to save and Magento, who comes to believe in Xavier's wish for peaceful co-existance between humans and mutants. Legion vanishes and a new timeline is created, with only Bishop aware of the change. Apocalypse, who was watching, decides now is the tim to begn his conquest of Planet Earth. -
X-Nation 2099 #1 released
In 2099, Doom approaches Cerebra of The X-Men, with the information that the next generation of Mutants will contain a Mutant Messiah, as deduced by a computer program he created. He then offered Cerebra the position of finding it for him, which she accepted. She then began searching for candidates and bringing them to Xavier Center. -
Fantastic Four 2099 #1 released
In 2099, The Fantastic Four find themselves in new uniforms and transported to very different Negative Zone then the one they knew. When returning home, they are pursued by SHIELD soldiers as clones of the original Fantastic Four... -
2099: World of Tomorrow #1 released
World of Tommorrow brings together many cancelled titles, and as such fieatures different plotlines. The overarching plot takes place in the Savage Land, Latveria, and Alchemax's colony on Mars. Prior to the start of the story, the polar ice caps melted, due to a planetoid entering the atmosphere, which turns out to be the Phalanx collective. This floods the world, killing 90% of its population, and forcing survivors to higher ground or onto skifs drifitng in the ocean. -
Marvel files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
In 1991, Ronald Perelman, whose company, Andrews Group had purchased Marvel Entertainment Group, in 1989, took the company public. Following a rapid rise in stock, he issued several junkbonds in order to purchase other entertainment companies, secured by MEG stock. In the mid-ninties, the industry had slumped, and Marvel filed for bankruptcy protection. -
Marvel Entertainment Group and Toy Biz merge to end bankruptcy, forming Marvel Enterprises
In 1997. Marvel Entertainment Group and Toy Biz merged to end Bankruptcy, forming Marvel Enterprises. With buisness partner Avi Arad, publisher Bill Jemas, and Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras, Toy Biz Co-Owner Isaac Perlmutter assissited in stabalizing the Comic book line. -
Marvel makes deal with Diamond Comic Distributors
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Marvel Knights imprint created
After marvel's bankruptcy stint, Joe Quesada was contracted to work on comics under the titles Marvel Knights. Knights moved away from long running story arcs and focused more on stand alone titles and high production values. -
2099: Manifest Destiny released
After the Phalanx Invasion, humanity begins to rebuild itself, Miguel (Spider-Man 2099) reopens Alchemax and marries Xina (his former lover). Together they reawaken Steve Rogers (Captain America) and offer him Thor's Hammer, Mjolnir. Jettisoned into space, Miguel recieves Mjolnir. Secretley added by Ghost Rider, Miguel rules for 1000 years and by 3099, Earth is a utopia ad humanity has expanded into space . Captain America is revived again and is given Mjolnir, leaving Miguel to retire. -
Ultimate Marvel imprint launched
Ultimate Comics began with Ultimate SpiderMan in 2000, and features modern day retellings of Marvel's superhero origin stories, to reflect contemporary sensibilities. The Ultimate universe ended in 2015 with Secret Wars event. The Marvel Cinematic Universe draws influence from the Ultimate Universe. -
Ultimate Spider Man #1
Ultimate Spider-Man is a modern retelling of Peter Parker's origin story. The majority of the story is the ame. merely modernized, except Peter is bitten by a genetically altered Spider, instead of a radioactive one. -
Maximum Security Crossover event begins
The Skrull ambassador files a formal complaint to the Galactic High Council, about the human race and Professor X and a band Skrull mutants interfering with the extermination of Skrull Mutants. Even though Professor X and the mutants save the council from Ego the Living Planet, the council votes against Earth. Earth's solar system is surrounded by a force field and becomes a prison for supervillians. Ego is imprisoned here and is in danger of expanding and assimilating the Earth... -
Marvel withdraws from Comics Code Authority
In 2001, Marvel withdrew from the Comics Code Authority. The CCA was created as a way to regulate comic book content. By 2001 however, publishers were bypassing the CCA, and Marvel and DC had created imprints for adult comics (MAX and Vertigo respectivley. After Marvel's split, DC parted ways in 2011. -
MAX imprint created
The Max Imprint is a Marvel imprint that specializes in R-Rated content, and was created after marvel split from the Comics Code Authority.The first series published as Alias, and other titles included Howard the Duck, Rawhide Kid, Fantomex, Wolverine, Deadpool, and Punisher. -
Ultimate X-Men #1 released
Ultimate X-Men is a modern retelling of the X-Men, and it almost completeley ignores any mystical or supernatural elements. The mutants also have no secret identities, and mutants are mistrusted and hunted down. -
The Ultimates #1 released
The Ultimates are the Ultimate Universe's version of the mainstream Marvel continuity team, The Avengers. The team is assembled by General Nick Fury of SHIELD to combat the threat of the Chitauri, a species of shape shifting aliens (the Ultimate Universe version of the Skrulls). -
Marvel Age imprint created
Marvel Age was founded, and reused classic marvel stories in modern day settings, and was released in a manga style digest format. It was later retitled to Marvel Adventures, -
Ultimate Fantastic Four released
Ultimate fantastic Four is a modern retelling of the Fantastic Four. Although the characters don't differ to drastically from their original versions, aspects have been changed. The team is younger and they gain their powers in an experimental teleporter accident instead of being hit by cosmic rays. -
Marvel Age imprint retitled as Marvel Adventures
Marvel Age was retitled Marvel Adventures, and featured stories that were independant of the mainstream Marvel Universe. The stories are all ages and all original. -
House of M #1 released
House of M acted as a follow up to the Dissasembled and Planet X storylines, in which Scarlet Witch suffers a mental breakdown, and tries to alter the fabric of relaity to recreate her lost children.
By doing this, she created a completley alternate reality, with a drastically different history, similar to the Age of Apocalypse storyline. At the end, Scarlet Witch says "No more Mutants" and depowers the world's mutants, in an event later called M-Day, and the world is returend to normal. -
Annihilation crossover event begins
Richard Rider forms an Army to oppose the Annihilation Wave, led by Annihilus, that consist of part of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Ronan the Accuser, Firelord, Red Shift and Stardust.
They capture one of Annihilus' queens, who reveals that he has captured Galactus and the Silver Surfer. Believeing the Power Cosmic to be in his grasp, Annihilus orders his troops to kill the remaining former heralds of Galactus. -
Marvel Comics Wiki created
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Civil War crossover event begins
Civil War was a crossover involving all Marvel's superheroes and villains (basically everyone in the Marvel mainstream universe). The U.S. Government passes a Superhero Registration Act after the mutant Nitro destroys Stamford, Conneticut. Two sides emrge led by Ironman and Captain America, who are for the Act and against it, respectivley. -
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited launched
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Civil War: The Intiative #1 released
Civil War: The Iniative was a comic book branding and one shot comic that centered around Iron-Man and was divided into three parts. The first part involves the mutant who killed the Canadian superhero team Alpha Flight, and his atoning for his actions. The second invloves the Thunderbolt, a team of supervillians working for the government. The third invloves a meeting between Ms.Marvel and Spiderwoman, who are on opposing sides. -
World War Hulk crossover event begins
After being banished from Earth by the Illuminati, and the spaceship they used exploding and killing his pregnant wife, the Hulk returns to Earth to seek revenge on the Illuminati, with his allies, The Warbound. -
Annihilation: Conquest crossover event begins
The sequel to Annihilation, the story invloves Marvel's cosmic heroes (Nova, Quasar, Star-Lord, Wraith, Ronan the Accusuer, Moondragon, Super Skrull, Gamora, Rocket Racoon and mantis feature prominently) defending the Universe against The Phalanx, now led by Ultron. -
Secret Invasion crossover event begins
After the Kree-Skrull war, a group of superheroes form the Illuminati (Ironman, Namor, Doctor Strange, Blackbolt, Mister Fantastic and Charles Xavier) secretly confront the Skrulls, warning them against future invasions. however they are captured and studied intensely before escaping. The Skrulls then invade Earth disguised as Earth's heros. -
Dark Reign branding launched
Dark Reign was a storyline dealing with the aftermath of the Secret Invasion storyline, which resulted in a shift in power towards Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, as he becomes the director of SHIELD, which renames HAMMER. Much of this can be acredited to Deadpool, who sent the info on how to kill the Skrull Queen to Osborn instead of Nick Fury, accidentally. -
Ultimatum #1 released
The storyline involves Magneto's attemps to destroy the world after the deaths of his children, Scarlett Witch and Quicksilver, in Ultimates 3. The series was negativley recieved because of it's relying on shock value/graphic violence (one such event included cannabilism), and the art's focus on physical beauty instead of expressiveness. -
War of Kings crossover event begins
War of Kings was a storyline involving a war between the Vulcan led Shi'ar Empire and the Inhuman led Kree empire. The conflict draws in the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Nova Corps, Darkhawk, and the Starjammers, who become involved in various ways. -
Disney buys Marvel for $4 billion
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Seige crossover event begins
The storyline deals with the culmination of Dark Reign, which saw Norman Osborn becoming the primary Defense Officer of the United States, leading HAMMER and employing his own Evil Avengers. Loki also manipulated Osborn to attacking Asgard, at that time located in the U.S. Captain America and his Avengers rebelled against osborn and attacked in turn. The events of Seige led into The Heroic Age. -
The Heroic Age branding launched
The Heroic Age dealth with the aftermath of the Seige storyline, much as The Intiative dealt with Civil War's aftermath, and Dark Reign with Secret Invasion's. -
Shadowland crossover event begins
Shadowland focused on the street level superheros of the Marvel Universe, featuring Daredevil returning from Japan, wishing to use the group the Hand as a force for justice, building The Shadowland prison temple, and confronting and killing Bullseye. The other street level heros and even The Punisher begin to question Daredevil's methods... -
Chaos War crossover event begins
After the demonic dream-being Nightmare is killed by the Chaos King, an identity of the evil god Amatsu-Mikaboshi, humanity is rendered unconscious.
Mikaboshi's army of enslaved alien deities then invades the underworld realms of the gods Hades and Hela, resulting in the Greek and Norse dead having to fight for their existence. The demon-lord Daimon Hellstrom finds that the personification of Death has fled, unleashing the souls of the deceased on Earth. -
Fear Itself crossover event begins
The title is a refrence to the famous quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt, and deals with Earth's heroes combating the Serpent, an Asgardian Fear deity, causing global panic on Earth, and tries to reclaim the throne of Asgard, after his brother Odin usurped him and vanquished him ages ago. -
X-Men: Schism crossover event begins
Schism deals with major disagreements between Cyclops and Wolverine on Cyclops decisions on leading the X-Men. Later titles drastically changed the status quo, establishing a defintie split between the X-Men. -
Marvel Adventures imprint discontinued
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Avengers vs X-Men #1 released
The series deals with the return of the Pheonix Force, it's coming for Hope Summers, and the Avengers and X-Men's subsequent war over her. -
Marvel rebranded into Marvel NOW!
Marvel NOW! was a comic book branding for the relaunch of several Marvel titles. it was described as a shifting following the end of the Avengers Vs. X-Men storyline. It also entitled changes to the publishing format and the universe as a way to attract new readers. It ended with the Secret Wars event in 2015. -
Disney aquires LucasFilm
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Age of Ultron crossover event begins
Age of Ultron (or AU) involves Ultron's conquest of Planet Earth. It takes place on two different Earth's. The alternate Earth where Ultron annihilated humanity is referred to as Earth-61112, and the alternate reality where Morgan le Fay took over half the world is referred to as Earth-26111. -
Infinity crossover event begins
Infinty deals with a threat towards the universe by the ancient alien race known as the builders, mysterious ailments plaguing the universe, with Earth at the center and political ramifications of this on Earth's re;ationship with the galactic community. The storyline itself involves Thanos attacking Earth while the Avengers are off-world, and the galactic community targeting Earth after the events of Age of Ultron. -
Inhumanity #1 released
Inhumanity follows the events of Infinity, when the terrigen mists where spreadthrough out Earth's atmosphere, activating dormant Inhuman genes in Humans who are descendants of them. A core title called Inhuman was launched afterwards and is a focal point of the story. -
Inhuman #1 released
Inhuman follows Medusa as she tries to lead the Inhumans following Blackbolt's disapearance, and the aftermath of Infinity, in which the terrigen mists were released into Earth's atmosphere, causing new Inhumans, or NuHumans to spring up around the world. -
Original Sin crossover event begins
Original Sin features Nick Fury and the Avengers investigating the murder of Utau the Watcher, only to suffer tramau from what they view in his eye. They also come into conflict with self appointed investigators Black Panther and the Punisher. -
Death of Wolverine crossover event begins
The storyline invloves a virus from the microverse shutting off Wolverine's healing factor, a bounty being placed on his head, his foes finally coming to kill him and ultimatley, his death. -
Avengers and X-men: AXIS crossover event begins
"From the ashes of the once proud mutant haven Genosha, the supervillain Red Skull manages to harness the abilities of the world's most powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier and the being Onslaught, to enslave thousands, amass an army and broadcasts his message of hate across the world. The fractured teams of Avengers and X-Men are now all that stands in the Red Skull's way." -
Star Wars comics license returns to Marvel
Following the announcement of a New Star Wars trilogy, the comic book publishing rights returne to marvel, and Marvel began publishing comics to tie into the new movie universe, after the Expanded Universe was deemed non-canon. -
Secret Wars crossover event begins
The storyline involves the Marvel Universe combining with various other alternate universes (including those seen in the Ultimate Marvel and Marvel 2099 imprints, the "Age of Apocalypse" storyline, the Marvel 1602 universe, and the "House of M" storyline) into Battleworld, a planet whose domains exhibit the aspects of the various universes. The planet itself is divided in many territories that are mostly self-contained and where a "pocket universe" composed of a specific storyline or universe. -
All-New, All-Different Marvel Launched
After the Secret Wars event, the entirety of the Marvel Multiverse was collapsed together into one universe. The Mainstream Marvel verse (Earth 616) and the Ultimate Universe (Earth 1610) are primarily focused upon. The relaunch features new characters taking on the roles of heroes and new heroes all together.
