Marvel Cinematic UniverseAmerican superhero media franchiseThe Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios, based on characters from American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The franchise is owned by the Walt Disney Company and includes television series, short films, digital series, and literature.
Marvel StudiosAmerican entertainment companyMarvel Studios, LLC is an American superhero film and television production company that is the creator of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), a media franchise and shared universe based on characters from Marvel Comics publications. Producer Avi Arad founded Marvel Films in December 1993 under the Marvel Entertainment Group before forming Marvel Studios in August 1996 to gain greater oversight of its adaptations.
Marvel ComicsAmerican comic book publisherMarvel Comics is an American comic bookpublisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin Goodman as Timely Comics, and by 1951 had generally become known as Atlas Comics.
Marvel UniverseThe Marvel Universe is a fictional shared universe that serves as the setting for American comic books and other media published by Marvel Comics. Many superheros and supervillains exist within the Marvel Universe, including the Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man, Doctor Doom, Magneto, and many more.
Disney+American video streaming serviceDisney+ is an American subscription video on-demandover-the-topstreaming media service owned and operated by Disney Streaming, the streaming division of Disney Entertainment, a major business segment of the Walt Disney Company.
Lists of Marvel Comics charactersThis is a list of Marvel multiverse fictional characters which were created for and are owned by Marvel Comics. Licensed or creator-owned characters (G.I. Joe, Godzilla, Groo the Wanderer, Men in Black, Conan the Barbarian, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, RoboCop, Star Trek, Rocko's Modern Life, The Ren and Stimpy Show, etc.) are not included. Marvel-Electronic Artsvideo game characters are also included with references.
Shared universeA shared universe or shared world is a fictional universe from a set of creative works where one or more writers (or other artists) independently contribute works that can stand alone but fit into the joint development of the storyline, characters, or world of the overall project. It is common in genres like science fiction.
Superhero filmFilm genre revolving around superheroesThe superhero film is a film genre categorized by the presence of superhero characters, individuals with extraordinary abilities who are dedicated to fighting crime, saving the world, or helping the innocent. It is sometimes considered a sub-genre of the action film genre and has evolved into one of the most financially successful film genres worldwide.
Media franchiseA media franchise, also known as a multimedia franchise and often just called franchise, is a collection of related media in which several derivative works have been produced from an original creative work of fiction, such as a film, a work of literature, a television program, or a video game.
SuperheroType of character (Learn how and when to remove this message) Mary Marvel in the cover of a comic book A superhero or superheroine is a character who typically possesses superpowers or abilities beyond those of ordinary people; is frequently costumed, concealing their identity; and fits the role of the hero, typically using their powers to help the world become a better place, or dedicating themselves to protecting the public and fighting crime.
Superhero fictionSubgenre of speculative fictionSuperhero fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction showcasing the adventures of costumed crime-fighters known as superheroes, who often possess superhuman powers and battle similarly powered criminals known as supervillains. The genre primarily falls between hard fantasy and soft science fiction in the spectrum of scientific realism, often merging into science fantasy.MiniseriesA miniseries or mini-series, sometimes called a limited-run series, is a television program that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes (generally 2–12). Many miniseries can also be referred to, and shown, as a television film in several parts.
American comic bookAn American comic book is a thin periodical literary work originating in the United States, commonly between 24 and 64 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publication of Action Comics, which included the debut of the superhero Superman. This was followed by a superhero boom that lasted until the end of World War II.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.