Marvel Comics began as Timely Comics in 1939. It became Atlas Comics in 1951 and changed to its current name in 1961.
Years of comic book releases are not precise, as comic book cover dates are sometimes listed in the early months of the following year.
1930s 1936 Martin Goodman begins publishing the Ka-Zar magazine, introducing a character of the same name inspired by Tarzan.
1938 Martin Goodman publishes Marvel Science Stories #1. This is the first of several periodicals to include "Marvel" in the title.
1939 Martin Goodman founds Timely Comics on January 12. He collaborates with Funnies Inc. to produce his earliest comic books. Marvel Comics #1 is published on August 31. The first Timely comic about superheroes, it introduces the Angel, the Human Torch android, Ka-Zar, the Masked Raider, and Namor The Sub-Mariner. Marvel Comics is renamed Marvel Mystery Comics, beginning with issue #2. Joe Simon becomes editor-in-chief of Timely Comics.
1940s 1940 Jack Kirby, a longtime collaborator with Joe Simon, is hired at Timely Comics. Alex Schomburg begins working as the main cover artist at Timely, beginning with Marvel Mystery Comics #3 and Daring Mystery Comics #1. Martin Goodman hires his wife's cousin, Stanley Lieber, as an assistant to Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Lieber is allowed to help write at Timely. Not wanting to associate his name with comic books, seen as low art, Lieber adopts the pen name Stan Lee. Marvel Mystery Comics #8 features a fight between Namor and the Human Torch, marking the first time that two Timely superheroes met. Daring Mystery Comics #1 and Red Raven Comics #1 are published. Red Raven is the first Timely character to have a titular comic book. Red Raven Comics is then renamed Human Torch Comics and features Human Torch stories instead of Red Raven. In his first standalone issue, Human Torch is given a teenage sidekick, Toro. Captain America Comics #1 introduces Captain America, featuring cover art depicting him punching Adolf Hitler in the face. Mystic Comics #4 introduces Thin Man and Claire Voyant, and Marvel Mystery Comics #13 introduces Aarkus (Vision).
1941 The Sub-Mariner Comics #1 and All Winners Comics #1 are published. Captain America Comics #7 introduces its first major supervillain, Captain America's nemesis Red Skull. A different character called Red Skull had appeared in issue #1. Captain America Comics #4 introduces a group of child superheroes, the Sentinels of Liberty. They are renamed as the Young Allies and given their own series, Young Allies Comics. Daring Mystery Comics #7 introduces Blue Diamond and Fin, U.S.A. Comics #1 introduces Jack Frost and Whizzer, Captain America Comics #6 introduces Father Time, and Mystic Comics #6 introduces the Destroyer. "The World Faces Destruction" is published in The Human Torch #5, created by approximately one dozen writers and artists. Joe Simon and Jack Kirby leave Timely Comics. Stan Lee becomes editor-in-chief at 18 years old.
1942 Much of Timely's staff leaves to serve in World War II. Vincent Fago briefly serves as editor-in-chief while Stan Lee is away. Timely enters the market of comedy comic books with Joker Comics #1 by Basil Wolverton, introducing Powerhouse Pepper. Daring Mystery Comics shifts to comedy stories beginning with issue #9 and is renamed Comedy Comics. Timely begins creating animal characters reminiscent of theatrical animated shorts. Krazy Komics #1 introduces Ziggy Pig and Silly Seal, created by Al Jaffee. It also licenses Terrytoons characters and begins publishing Terry-Toons Comics. Timely begins publishing an eight-issue Miss Fury series by reprinting the character's Sunday comic strips.
1943 Otto Binder writes Kid Komics, featuring Captain Wonder, but it lasts only two issues. Comedy Comics #14 introduces Waffles the Super Rabbit, combining the superhero and cartoon animal genres. Super Rabbit becomes one of Timely's most popular characters of the decade. All Select Comics begins publication, featuring Captain America, Human Torch, and Namor stories. Marvel Mystery Comics #49 introduces the Captain America pastiche Miss America. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Gabriele, she is Timely's first original female superhero.
1944 The film serial Captain America is released as the first adaptation of a Timely character. Directed by John English and Elmer Clifton, the serial is released across 15 episodes by Republic Pictures beginning in February 1944. Besides the title and imagery, no elements of Captain America's story or character were retained. Miss America Comics #1 is published featuring Miss America. Its title is changed to Miss America Magazine in issue #2, and it then becomes a general magazine marketed toward girls without the Miss America character. The second issue introduces Patsy Walker and her supporting cast, who become the central characters in Timely's teenage humor comics. Gay Comics is created by Basil Wolverton and Harvey Kurtzman. The character Tessie the Typist receives her own comic series with Tessie the Typist #1. Comic Capers and Ideal Comics begin publication, both featuring Super Rabbit. Krazy Komics is renamed Animal Funny Tunes and Daring Mystery Comics is renamed Daring Comics.
1945 Timely moves away from superhero comics as sales decline, and it begins marketing itself primarily toward young girls. Captain America's U.S.A. Comics is canceled after 17 issues. Stan Lee returns from World War II and resumes his position as editor-in-chief. Animated Movie-Tunes and Funny Frolics begin publication, featuring Timely's animal cartoon characters. Patsy Walker #1 is published, featuring the character Patsy Walker. Millie the Model and Nellie the Nurse begin publication.
1946 Timely moves away from cartoon animals amid declining popularity and changes its cartoon comics to teen comedies. Ideal Comics is replaced by Willie Comics, and Animated Movie-Tunes is briefly renamed Movie Tunes Comics before it is replaced by Frankie in its fourth issue. Gene Colan begins working as a penciller at Timely. Harvey Kurtzman begins writing "Hey Look!", a one-page humor comic strip appearing in several Timely publications. The All-Winners Squad is introduced in All-Winners Comics #19, featuring Bucky Barnes, Captain America, the Human Torch, Miss America, Namor, Toro, and the Whizzer. Written by Bill Finger, the team is retired after a second appearance in issue #21. All Select Comics #11 introduces the Blonde Phantom, and the series is renamed Blonde Phantom Comics in the following issue. She will be a major character for the remainder of the 1940s.
1947 Timely stops branding its comics as "Timely Comics". A few issues are branded as "A Marvel Magazine" and "Marvel Comic", but these are short-lived. Timely begins publishing crime comics as the genre becomes more popular. Sub-Mariner Comics is replaced with Official True Crime Comics and Wacky Duck is replaced with Justice. Marvel Mystery Comics #82 introduces Namor's partner Namora, created by Ken Bald and Syd Shores. The characters Ziggy Pig and Silly Seal are retired.
1948 Stan Lee hires John Buscema as an artist. Timely begins publishing editorials to rebut the arguments of Frederic Wertham and other anti-comics activists. Stan Lee creates several female superheroes to market the genre toward girls. Sun Girl receives a three-issue series and became the Human Torch's sidekick in another four. The Sea Beauty Namora runs for three issues as a standalone series for Namora. Venus #1 introduces the character Venus. This series also features the company's first adaptation of the Norse gods Thor and Loki. Timely begins publishing Western comic books. Two-Gun Kid, created by Syd Shores, introduces the Two-Gun Kid as a singing cowboy. A second Western series, Kid Colt, Hero of the West, introduces the character Kid Colt; the series is renamed Kid Colt, Outlaw with its third issue. Timely begins publishing romance comics with My Romance.
1949 Timely increases its output of romance comics. The superhero comics The Blonde Phantom, The Human Torch, and Sub-Mariner Comics are replaced by Lovers, Love Tales, and Best Love, respectively. Timely begins publishing the romance comics Actual Romances, Cupid, Faithful, Love Adventures, Love Dramas, Love Secrets, Love Trials, Molly Manton's Romances, My Diary, My Love, Our Love, Romance Tales, and Young Hearts. The company also begins publishing the romance westerns Cowboy Romances, Romances of the West, Rangeland Love, and Western Life Romances. Captain America is renamed Captain America's Weird Tales in issue #75. Instead of Captain America, the issue features an anthology of unrelated mystery-horror stories. The series is then discontinued. This is recognized as the end of Timely's superhero comics. Marvel Mystery Comics, the company's first comic series, is renamed Marvel Tales beginning with issue #93. Timely creates two new western comics: Best Western and True Western. The former is renamed Western Outlaws and Sheriffs after two issues. Harvey Kurtzman stops freelancing with Timely, and his "Hey Look!" comic strip ends.
1950s 1950 As World War II era paper rations are lifted, Martin Goodman implements a strategy of producing numerous publications based on whatever genre was trending at the time until it floods the market. Two-Gun Western #5 introduces Apache Kid. The character then receives his own series when Reno Browne, Hollywood's Greatest Cowgirl is renamed Apache Kid with issue #53. The series is one of the few western genre publications of the time to portray distinctions between Native American tribes. Marvel Boy #1 introduces Marvel Boy.
1951 Timely creates several war genre publications in response to the Korean War. In addition to anthology series, Combat Kelly #1 introduces Combat Kelly as its main character. Marvel Boy is renamed Astonishing with issue #3. Marvel Boy remains a character through issue #6, after which it becomes a horror series. The monster horror series Strange Tales begins publication. Timely Comics rebrands itself as Atlas Comics. While this is officially the name given to Martin Goodman's distribution company when he founds it in December, it becomes the informal name of the publisher and appears on the covers of its publications.
1952 Atlas publishes nearly 400 issues in one year, setting a record that will last until the 1990s. Many short-lived series are created and then discontinued. Several genres are given multiple publications, including war, romance, horror, crime, western, and teen comedies. The war genre dominates the lineup as the Korean War continues, which also brings about comics about Cold War espionage. Apache Kid and Venus both end. The monster horror series Journey Into Mystery begins publication. Patsy and Hedy begins publication as Patsy Walker's first spinoff series. The character Super Rabbit is retired as Timely phases out its cartoon animal characters.
1953 Atlas moves away from war comics as the Korean War ends. Young Men On the Battlefield reverts to its previous name Young Men with issue #21. Martin Goodman then decides to revive the Timely superheroes after the television series Adventures of Superman brings new attention to the genre. Young Men #24 reintroduces the android Human Torch. Atlas publishes a short series of anti-communist Captain America stories. These are later redefined through retroactive continuity to be about another character—William Burnside—acting as Captain America. Wild Western #26 introduces Ringo Kid. Patsy and Her Pals becomes the second spinoff series for Patsy Walker. Lorna The Jungle Queen begins publication, featuring the jungle girl character Lorna.