Marvel Entertainment’s impact on America Marvel Entertainment began as Timely Comics in 1939 in New York City and has blossomed under Marvel’s chief editors, which includes Marvel’s most well-known comic book creator Stan Lee. Since its inception, Marvel Entertainment, a company that has had many periods of financial success, has showcased important American social and political events and trends through its characters and storylines that are still relevant today. Since its start Marvel has had times of fiscal success, and fiscal downfall. Some of their most successful endeavors have been the movies that have been based on Marvel comics. From 1986 to 2014 thirty-six of the most famous Marvel based movies were produced. In 1986 Howard the…show more content… When the Civil Rights movement was happening Marvel took a political stand and began developing African American superheroes such as Black Panther and The Falcon who paved the way for other minority superheroes. Marvel also provided commentary on wars and other major political events. During the Cold War Russian soldiers inspired comic book villains, such as the Crimson Dynamo and crises like nuclear war became frequently used in comic issues. One of the biggest events that impacted not only Marvel comics, but also America as a whole was 9-11. In a particular issue of The Amazing Spider-Man superheroes were viewed aiding firefighters and police in the Twin Towers rescue effort while the villains were seen mourning in the distance. 9-11 also inspired a mini comic series that put firefighters, police officers, and other emergency workers as the heroes. And not only has Marvel integrated political events into its comic book issues, but it they have also integrated political figures into them as well. These political figures include Presidents like Barack Obama, Richard Nixon, and George W. Bush and each President were given a twist, for instance, Richard Nixon was a comic book…show more content… During the civil rights movement Marvel created The X-Men, a team of mutants with super abilities who were hated by regular humans. In this comic book series teenage mutants joined together to protect mankind and they became a symbol of minorities facing prejudice. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, two important human rights activists, inspired the main mutant leaders, Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto. In 1972 the company took a stand against drugs when they released an anti-drug Spider-Man comic series. And in the August of 2012, after New York legalized gay marriage, Marvel produced an issue of The Astonishing X-Men in which two homosexual superheroes married in Manhattan surrounded by fellow heroes. Marvel has also incorporated mythology into its comics. Heroes such as Thor the God of Thunder and villain such as Ares, Loki, and Morgana Le Fay have come from Greek and Norse mythology as well as the legends of King Arthur. The company also took a stand on feminism, they produced female characters who weren’t just damsels in distress, they produced super heroines, such as Black Widow and Invisible Woman, as well as female super villains, like Mystique and Enchantress. And when Ann Nocenti was offered the job of writing Spider-Woman comics, editor and writer Mark Gruenwald told her,” No female character has been written regularly by a female writer
