Marvel was started in 1939 by Martin Goodman as Timely Comics, and by 1951
had generally become known as Atlas Comics. 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, Captain America,
the Hulk, Thor, Wolverine,
Ant-Man, the Wasp, Black Widow,
Hawkeye, Captain Marvel, Black Panther,
Doctor Strange, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver,
She-Hulk, the Vision, the Falcon,
the Winter Soldier, Ghost Rider, Blade,
Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist,
Ms. Marvel, Miles Morales, the Punisher,
Shang-Chi and Deadpool.
Superhero teams exist such as the Avengers, the X-Men,
the Fantastic Four and the Guardians of the Galaxy.