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Publishers & history

A short history of Marvel Comics: Timely, Atlas and Marvel

Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Sep 14, 2026 · 1 min read

Short answerMarvel began in 1939 as Timely Comics, publisher Martin Goodman's comics line, whose first issue, Marvel Comics #1 (October 1939), introduced the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner. Through the 1950s the company published as Atlas, mostly genre comics. It became Marvel Comics with the superhero revival led by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko from Fantastic Four #1 (November 1961). Marvel was bought by The Walt Disney Company in a deal completed on 31 December 2009.

Timely (1939–1950)

Goodman, a pulp publisher, entered comics with Marvel Comics #1, produced by the Funnies, Inc. studio: Carl Burgos's Human Torch and Bill Everett's Sub-Mariner. Joe Simon and Jack Kirby's Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941) was the company's wartime hit. Stan Lee, Goodman's relative by marriage, joined in 1939 as an assistant and became editor in 1941. Timely books are the Golden Age Marvel keys; see the Timely Comics publisher page.

Atlas (1950s)

After superheroes faded, the company published Westerns, war, horror, romance, humour and science fiction under the Atlas globe logo (Atlas was Goodman's distribution company). Titles such as Journey into Unknown Worlds, Strange Tales and Journey into Mystery began as Atlas anthologies and later housed the Silver Age debuts. A distribution collapse in 1957 nearly ended the company; it survived on a limited schedule distributed by its rival, DC. See the Atlas Comics publisher page.

Marvel (1961–)

Fantastic Four #1 (November 1961) began the run of creations that defines the company: Hulk, Spider-Man and Thor (1962); Iron Man, Doctor Strange, the X-Men and the Avengers (1963); Daredevil (1964); the Silver Surfer, Galactus and Black Panther (1966). Lee's editorial voice, Kirby's design and Ditko's oddness made "the Marvel Age". Every one of those first appearances has a character page on this site.

Ownership

Goodman sold the company to Perfect Film & Chemical in 1968. It passed through Cadence Industries, New World, and Ronald Perelman's MacAndrews & Forbes, and Marvel Entertainment Group filed for bankruptcy protection in December 1996 after the speculator crash. The company reorganised as Marvel Enterprises, built its film business, and was acquired by Disney in a deal announced in August 2009 and completed on 31 December 2009.

Distribution

Marvel was distributed exclusively by Diamond from 1995 until it moved to Penguin Random House on 1 October 2021. See How Marvel and DC changed distribution in 2020–2021.

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Written by the Rare Comics Collectors grading team. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.

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Key issueLast copy

Marvel Comics · Silver Age

Tales of Suspense #39

CGC 8.0 · Universal Blue

First appearance and origin of Iron Man (Tony Stark)

(6)
$65,000
Key issueLast copy

Marvel Comics · Silver Age

Avengers #1

CGC 8.5 · Universal Blue

First appearance of the Avengers (Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Ant-Man, Wasp)

(9)
$95,000
Key issueLast copy

Marvel Comics · Silver Age

X-Men #1

CGC 9.0 · Universal Blue

First appearance of the X-Men and Magneto

(7)
$225,000
Key issueLast copy

Marvel Comics · Silver Age

Incredible Hulk #1

CGC 6.0 · Universal Blue

First appearance of the Hulk (Bruce Banner) — original grey Hulk

(5)
$155,000

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