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Publisher: Marvel
Years in Operation: 1939 - ?
Disclose Detail
Country: Flag United States Web Site: http://marvel.com Brands: 151 Indicia Publishers: 119 Series: 10013 Printings: 87483 (53674 Issues) Disclose Notes: Marvel was started in 1939 by Martin Goodman under a number of corporation and imprint names that have collectively become known as Timely, and by 1951 had generally become known as Atlas. The "Marvel era" began in 1961, the year that the company launched The Fantastic Four and other superhero titles created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and many others. The Marvel brand, which had been used over the years, was solidified as the company's primary brand.

Marvel counts among its characters such well-known superheroes as Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Ant-Man, the Wasp, Black Widow, Wolverine, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, Blade, Daredevil, the Punisher and Deadpool. Superhero teams exist such as the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four and the Guardians of the Galaxy as well as supervillains including Doctor Doom, Magneto, Thanos, Loki, Green Goblin, Kingpin, Red Skull, Ultron, the Mandarin, MODOK, Doctor Octopus, Kang, Dormammu, Annihilus and Galactus. Most of Marvel's fictional characters operate in a single reality known as the Marvel Universe, with most locations mirroring real-life places; many major characters are based in New York City. Additionally, Marvel has published several licensed properties from other companies. This includes Star Wars comics twice from 1977 to 1986 and again since 2015.

Distribution variants:

Whitman: For issues cover dated February 1977 to around May 1979, Marvel produced non-newsstand editions that were sold mainly in packages. Some, but not all of these, were sold by Western and, because of the branding on the similar DC and Gold Key comics, are generally known as Whitman variants. For the most part they have a square diamond price and either a barcode or a white space where the barcode should be. Some issues from this time have the narrower diamond but it is not currently known if this means they were distributed differently or if it was simply because of the design of the original cover. There is definitely uncertainty between the end of the Whitman comics and the beginning of the Direct comics.

Direct: Starting with issues cover dated around April 1979, Marvel started producing non-newsstand editions to be sold in the direct market. For the most part they have a narrower diamond price and the barcode has a line through it (until February 1980 when they started putting a Spider-Man head and eventually other artwork in the UPC box area).

Direct Edition: In July 1993, Marvel started putting a barcode on the issues sold to the Direct market. They included the words "Direct Edition" in the barcode box.
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Indicia Publisher Name Years in Operation Printings (Issues)
Flag20th Century Comic Corp. 1943 - 1957 151 (154)
Flag20th Century Comic Corporation 1943 - 1944 1
FlagA.P.N.G. Enterprises, Inc. Disclose
Note: A.P.N.G. Enterprises, Inc. is the copyright holder for the New-Gen comics. There is no publisher listed in the indicia.
2008 - 2013 3 (4)
FlagAnimated Timely Features, Inc. 1965 - 1968 26
FlagAnimirth Comics, Inc. Disclose
Note: Specific start and end dates unknown at this time.
1943 - 1956 158 (161)
FlagAtlas Magazines, Inc. 1955 - 1968 280 (249)
FlagAtlas News Co. Inc. 1955 - 1957 22 (27)
FlagAtlas News Company, Inc. ? - 1957 95 (92)
FlagBard Publishing Corp. 1945 - 1968 200 (196)
FlagBard Publishing Corporation 1945 - 1968 6
FlagBroadcast Features Publications, Inc. ? - 1956 83
FlagCadence Comics Publications Disclose
Note: Cadence Comics Publications existed from October 31, 1973 to December 4, 1975. According to the Gazette officielle du Québec, 15 décembre 1973, Page 41 http://collections.banq.qc.ca:81/jrn03/goq/src/1973/p_1/12/15/116364_1973-p_1-12-15.pdf#page=41 and Gazette officielle du Québec, 20 décembre 1975, Page 55 http://collections.banq.qc.ca:81/jrn03/goq/src/1975/p_1/12/20/116364_1975-p_1-12-20.pdf#page=55 and the magazine's indicia, it was located at 1010 St. Catherine Ste. West in Montreal Suite 640 of the Dominion Square Building. The same building as the Montreal Gazette. The Suite 640 address is derived from the Gazette officielle du Québec but the magazine’s indicia give a suite number of 110 which is not listed in the Gazette officielle du Québec nor is it listed in Lovell’s city directories. An examination of the Lovell’s city directories of Montreal from 1973- 1975 found no listing for a Cadence Comics Publications. Although in the 1972- 1973, 1973- 1974, 1974- 1975 and 1976 directories the firm of Klein, Schecter & Roth, Advocates are listed as occupying suite 640. This is interesting as the lawyer representing Cadence Comics Publications at its surrender of its charter is a Milton L. Klein. CADENCE COMICS PUBLICATIONS INC. Notice is hereby given that "CADENCE COMICS PUBLICATIONS INC. "A corporation incorporated under the Companies Act and having its registered office in the city of Montreal, will speak to the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Cooperatives and Financial Institutions in the Province of Quebec for leave to surrender its charter under the provisions of the Companies Act." Dated at Montreal, this December 4, 1975. The prosecutor of the company, ie 62884 Milton L. Klein, QC (above provided by Michael Grabois) Why the Montreal location for what looks like a standard Marvel Magazines of the time period? Mike Nielsen commented: "Nothing more than speculation, but I wonder if Canadian newsstand/subscriptions were handled by an office in Montreal for tax/mail cost reasons.  Has this been seen anywhere but the b&w magazines?   And Jim Stangas suggested; "This is way out of left field and probably has nothing to do with Marvel's actions, but a "newsprint strike" in 1973 resulted in a paper shortage in the U.S.  Maybe a Montreal office was opened to take advantage of available paper from the Canadian mills? A March '74 publication date means the mags were likely printed in late '73. The paper shortage was something that affected a lot of publishers -- I remember my local newspaper having to print the Sunday comics temporarily in black & white in a much reduced size."
1973 - 1975 7
FlagCadence Publications, Inc. 1974 - 1
FlagCanam Publishers Sales Corp. 1952 - 1968 349 (282)
FlagChipiden Publishing Corp. Disclose
Note: Chipiden derives from the first names of publisher Martin Goodman's children, Chip (Charles) and Iden.
1943 - 1959 129
FlagClassic Detective Stories, Inc. 1949 - 1957 20
FlagClassic Publishing Corp. 1957 - 1
FlagClassic Syndicate, Inc. 1950 - 1957 104
FlagComedy Publications, Inc. ? - 1946 21 (26)
FlagComic Combine Corp. 1948 - 1956 97
FlagComplete Photo Story Corp. 1942 - 1948 60
FlagCornell Publishing Corp. ? - 1957 90
FlagCornell Publishing Corporation 1945 - 1
FlagCrime Bureau Stories, Inc. 1948 - 1949 10
FlagCrime Files, Inc. Disclose
Note: Known to be in use during 1948.
1948 - 2
FlagCurrent Detective Stories, Inc. 1943 - 1957 120
FlagDaring Comics, Inc. Disclose
Note: Dates unconfirmed, but publisher was in operation for at least these years.
1943 - 1947 12
FlagEmgee Publications, Inc. Disclose
Note: Emgee possibly refers to Martin Goodman's initials, M. G.
1956 - 1957 16
FlagEpic Comics 1987 - 1995 472 (421)
FlagEpic Comics, Inc. 1988 - 1989 38 (30)
FlagEuclid Publishing Company, Inc. 1944 - 1945 3
FlagExclusive Detective Stories, Inc. ? - 1968 3
FlagEye Publishing Corp. Disclose
Note: Only known use is during 1949.
1949 - 1949 1
FlagFantasy Comics, Inc. 1946 - 1947 1
FlagFantasy Comics, Incorporated ? - 1968 9
FlagFoto Parade, Inc. 1951 - 1959 62
FlagGem Publications 1945 - 1959 1
FlagGem Publications, Inc. Disclose
Note: Used until the end of 1958 (last cover-date: Feb 1959)
1945 - 1959 117
FlagHercules Publishing Corp. 1947 - 0
FlagHercules Publishing Corp. 1947 - 1960 75
FlagHercules Publishing Corporation ? - 1964 68
FlagHumorama, Inc. Disclose
Note: Published numerous gag cartoon magazines.
1954 - 1981 449 (459)
FlagInterstate Publishing Corp. 1949 - 1966 115 (116)
FlagJaygee Publications, Inc. ? - 1957 8
FlagJest Publishing Co., Inc. 1943 - 1946 18
FlagJest Publishing Company, Inc. 1941 - 1942 7
FlagLeading Comic Corp. 1948 - 1952 77
FlagLeading Magazine Corp. ? - 1968 175
FlagLegendary Comics, LLC; Marvel Worldwide,Inc. Disclose
Note: Joint publication of Legendary Comics and Marvel.
2013 - 1
FlagLion Books, Inc. ? - 1968 1
FlagLondon Publishing Corp. 1946 - 1947 1
FlagLondon Publishing Corporation 1945 - 5
FlagMagazine Management Co. Disclose
Note: Used in 1969 and for many, if not all, of the black and white magazines that Marvel published in the early to mid 1970's.
1969 - 1977 122 (102)
FlagMagazine Management Co., Inc. 1969 - 1978 1904 (1468)
FlagMagazine Management Company 1967 - 1969 8 (5)
FlagMagazine Management Company, Inc 1969 - 1976 33 (31)
FlagMagazine Management, Inc. Disclose
Note: Used in 1969, on Cartoon Laughs (Marvel, 1963 series).
? - 1978 0
FlagMale Publishing Corp. 1952 - 1967 189 (195)
FlagMalibu Comics Entertainment, Inc. 1995 - 1996 93 (83)
FlagManvis Publications, Inc. 1943 - 1959 99 (103)
FlagMargood Publishing Corp. 1945 - 1956 26
FlagMargood Publishing Corporation 1946 - 1957 24
FlagMarjean Magazine Corp. Disclose
Note: Marjean very likely derives from the first names of publisher Martin Goodman and his wife, Jean.
1948 - 1957 74
FlagMarvel / Epic Comics 1992 - 1992 0
FlagMarvel Characters, Inc. 1996 - 1998 12
FlagMarvel Comics Disclose
Note: Replaced "Marvel Comics Group" mostly starting with issues cover-dated June 1987, although at least one May 1987 issue was published on this indicia publisher. Replaced by "Marvel Publishing, Inc." around February 2006, although at least one January 2006 issue already has the new company listed.
1987 - 2006 19079 (13043)
FlagMarvel Comics Group Disclose
Note: Appears only infrequently after 1987.
1973 - 1994 13459 (7318)
FlagMarvel Comics Group and DC Comics Inc. 1982 - 2 (1)
FlagMarvel Comics LTD 1988 - 1995 16 (20)
FlagMarvel Comics UK Ltd Disclose
Note: Used for the Marvel Comics UK series published in the US in the first half of the 1990s.
1992 - 1995 140 (144)
FlagMarvel Comics, Inc. Disclose
Note: End date uncertain at this time. Used continuously from 1944 at least into the mid to late 50's, and again in the late 60's. No known uses after the 60's. Note that "Marvel Comics", without the "Inc." was used for quite some time in the 80's, 90's and 00's but is considered a distinct company.
1944 - 1969 155 (154)
FlagMarvel Enterprises, Inc. 1999 - 2010 32 (24)
FlagMarvel Entertainment Group, Inc. 1987 - 2008 207 (186)
FlagMarvel Entertainment Group, Inc. and DC Comics Inc. 1991 - 1
FlagMarvel Entertainment, Inc. Disclose
Note: Last used in March 2010 and replaced by Marvel Entertainment, LLC
? - 2010 58 (42)
FlagMarvel Frontier Comics 1993 - 1994 6
FlagMarvel Interactive 1998 - 1
FlagMarvel Music Disclose
Note: Listed in full as "Marvel Music, an imprint of Marvel Comics."
1994 - 2
FlagMarvel Publishing, Inc. Disclose
Note: A subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. Replaced "Marvel Comics" on most series with issues cover date February 2006, although there is at least one January 2006 issue with this indicia publisher. Replaced by "Marvel Worldwide, Inc." mostly with issues cover-dated April 2010, but for at least one series with the May 2010 issue.
2005 - 2010 5829 (4395)
FlagMarvel Worldwide, Inc. Disclose
Note: A subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, LLC.
2005 - ? 25949 (13943)
FlagMedalion Publishing Corp. Disclose
Note: Dates unconfirmed, but the publisher existed for at least these years. "Medalion" (with one "l") is the correct spelling.
1943 - 1957 55 (57)
FlagMiss America Publishing Corp. 1944 - 1959 88 (95)
FlagMiss America Publishing Corporation 1945 - 1947 26
FlagMohawk Publications Corporation 1944 - 1
FlagMutual Magazine Corp. 1949 - 1957 30
FlagNewsstand Publications, Inc. 1943 - 1968 155 (142)
FlagNon Pareil Pub Corp 1961 - 1961 1
FlagNon-Pareil Publishing Co. 1945 - 1965 19 (18)
FlagNon-Pareil Publishing Corp. 1946 - 1972 228 (178)
FlagOfficial Comics, Inc. 1947 - 1955 6 (7)
FlagOfficial Magazine Corp. 1953 - 1968 69
FlagOlympia Publications, Inc. 1956 - 1968 105 (81)
FlagPerfect Film & Chemical Corp. Disclose
Note: Only appears in November 1968 through February 1969 issues.
1968 - 1969 43 (40)
FlagPostal Publications, Inc. 1948 - 1957 82
FlagPrime Publications, Inc. 1948 - 1957 104
FlagRed Circle Magazines Corp. 1948 - 1949 0
FlagRed Circle Magazines, Inc. ? - 1959 78
FlagSelect Publications, Inc. Disclose
Note: Actual periods of use: 1942-1943; 1949-1950
1942 - 1950 27
FlagSkyline Publications, Inc. ? - 1957 17
FlagSnap Publishing Co., Inc. Disclose
Note: Only used on the Spring 1943 - Winter 1946-47 issues of The Human Torch.
1943 - 1946 15

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