The history of Marvel Part I

The Golden Age

Marvel Comics was founded in 1939 by Martin Goodman under the name Timely Publications.  Previous to Timely, Goodman published his first western comic book as early as 1933. Three years later, he published a comic book featuring a jungle lord similar to Ka-zar (who would appear years later). [1]   Their first publication Marvel Comics: Action, Mystery and Adventure, which formally debuted The Human Torch and The Sub Mariner.  The Human Torch, created by Carl Burgos was an android and The Submariner, by Bill Everett was an undersea prince by the name of Namor.  Interestingly enough, Namor was an anti-hero whose appearance predates DC Comic’s anti-hero known as Batman.  Namor, an often disgruntled character who struggles to do what he feels is right, represented the direction Marvel Comics would take their characters in during the sixties under Stan Lee.

Jack Kirby and Joe Simon’s Captain America arrived unto the comic scene in March of 1941.  Having a centralized theme of American patriotism, Captain America was an instant hit. The Second World War definitely helped the success of Marvel Comics.  Alongside The Human Torch and The Submariner, the “big three” were involved in numerous stories battling Nazis and the Japanese.  Together they formed a strong combination that would survive until 1954. [1]   With the enormous popularity of Disney and Warner Brother’s animation studios, comic book publishers strived to tap into this resource.  Marvel Comics’s attempt came in the form of Super Rabbit and the duo of Ziggy Pig and Silly Seal.  Plus, Basil Wolverton’s Power Pepper was featured for some flavoring. [2]

  During the 1950’s, Marvel Comics went under the name Atlas Comics.  With the Second World War ending at least five years before, the super heroes that were once revered were declining in popularity.  The U.S. involvement in the Korean War only resulted in a popular surge of war Comic books.  Marvel Comics’ Battle No. 1 came from this popularity. [2] It wasn’t long before superhero comic books were falling being not only war titles, but Western, crime, humor, romance and spy fiction Comic books as well.

Marvel Comics tried to make adjustments by publishing many Romance titles.  By the end of the 40’s, many Marvel titles, such as Human Torch and Submariner changed into romance titles.  The foremost being My Romance which featured writing by Stan Lee. Soon Western titles such as The Two Gun Kid, Annie Oakley, Tex Morgan and Kid Cold Outlaw emerged.