Created by: Marvel Comics, which was originally founded as Timely Publications in 1939. It was later rebranded as Marvel Comics in the 1960s.
Key Figures: Some of the most notable creators include Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and many others who shaped its rich history.
Key Characters
Spider-Man (Peter Parker): A teenage superhero with spider-like abilities, known for his agility and web-shooting.
Iron Man (Tony Stark): A genius billionaire who creates a powered armor suit to fight crime.
Captain America (Steve Rogers): A super-soldier from World War II who fights for justice and freedom.
Thor: The Norse God of Thunder, known for his enchanted hammer, Mjolnir.
Hulk (Bruce Banner): A scientist who transforms into a powerful, green-skinned behemoth when enraged.
Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff): A highly trained spy and assassin with ties to S.H.I.E.L.D.
Key Teams
The Avengers: A team of superheroes including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and more. They unite to tackle global threats.
The X-Men: A group of mutants with extraordinary abilities who fight for peaceful coexistence between mutants and humans. Key members include Wolverine, Cyclops, and Jean Grey.
The Fantastic Four: A family of superheroes with unique powers, including Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and The Thing.
Notable Villains
Thanos: A cosmic villain known for seeking the Infinity Stones to achieve ultimate power.
Loki: The Norse God of Mischief and Thor's adoptive brother, often causing trouble for the heroes.
Magneto: A powerful mutant with the ability to control metal and a recurring adversary of the X-Men.
Key Concepts
Infinity Stones: Powerful artifacts that grant control over fundamental aspects of existence like Time, Space, Reality, and more.
Multiverse: The Marvel Universe includes multiple dimensions and alternate realities, leading to various versions of characters and different timelines.
S.H.I.E.L.D.: A secretive government agency dealing with superhuman threats and espionage, often associated with Nick Fury.
Media Adaptations
Comics: The primary medium for Marvel stories, starting from the Golden Age of Comics to the present day.
Movies: Marvel Studios, part of Disney, has created a massive cinematic universe (MCU) with interconnected films like "Iron Man," "The Avengers," and "Black Panther."
TV Shows: Series such as "Daredevil," "Jessica Jones," and "WandaVision" expand on the Marvel Universe.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
Launch: Started with "Iron Man" in 2008, establishing a shared universe of films.
Phases: The MCU is divided into phases, with each phase encompassing a series of interconnected films and shows.
Expansion: The MCU continues to grow, incorporating new characters, stories, and exploring different genres.