Marvel Entertainment

www.marvel.com

Marvel Entertainment, LLC is an American entertainment company formed from the merger of Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. and Toy Biz, Inc.

A corporate predecessor traces its origins to the May 1933 publication of Western Supernovel magazine. That magazine was only published for one issue before the title was changed to Complete Western Book magazine in July 1933.[citation needed] The company’s oldest character is Ka-Zar, introduced in 1936. In 1939, the company began publishing comic books as Timely Publications with Marvel Comics #1.

On December 31, 2009, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment, Inc. for $4.24 billion. It has been a Limited Liability Company (LLC) since then. Disney has stated that their acqusition of the company, will not affect Marvel’s products neither will the nature of any Marvel characters be transformed.

Contents

1 History

2 Units

2.1 Divisions

2.2 Subsidiaries

2.3 Former units

3 Past names

4 References

5 External links

//

History

In 1989 Ronald Perelman’s MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings group of companies bought the Marvel Entertainment Group, the parent company of Marvel Comics, from New World Entertainment for $82.5 million.

“It is a mini-Disney in terms of intellectual property,” said Perelman. “Disney’s got much more highly recognized characters and softer characters, whereas our characters are termed action heroes. But at Marvel we are now in the business of the creation and marketing of characters.”

Boosted by a massive merchandising effort, an increase in Marvel comic prices, and an overall boom in the comic book industry, Marvel’s profits spiked. Perelman later added the baseball card and basketball card companies Fleer Corporation and SkyBox International, Italian sticker manufacturer Panini Group, and comic book publishers Welsh Publishing and Malibu Comics to Marvel’s holdings for a combined total of $700 million. Investors around the world recognized his efforts and generated $80 million for Perelman when he issued Marvel’s initial public offering. He later added a significant stake in Toy Biz to Marvel’s holdings. His luck was not to last. Marvel’s attempt to distribute its products directly led to a decrease in sales and aggravated the losses which Marvel suffered when the comic book bubble popped, the 1994 Major League Baseball strike massacred the profits of the Fleer division, and Panini was hobbled by poor showings at the box office by Disney (Licensing Disney characters provided a major source of revenue for Panini, so when the movies performed poorly Panini performed poorly). A major bondholder, Carl Icahn, fought to take control of the company from Perelman. Both men failed as Toy Biz owners Ike Perlmutter and Avi Arad snatched Marvel from Perelman and Icahn in order to protect their own financial interests. Estimates of his profit on the deal vary widely. Chuck Rozanski estimates that Perelman made $200400 million off Marvel; Forbes thinks he made nothing; and the judge in the Marvel bankruptcy trial estimated he made $280 million plus various tax advantages. In December 2003, Marvel Entertainment acquired Cover Concepts from Hearst Communications, Inc. On March 15, 2007, Stan Lee Media filed a lawsuit against Marvel Entertainment for $5 billion, claiming that the company is co-owner of the characters that Lee created for Marvel. Additional, a lawsuit over the Ghost Rider Character ownership was filed On March 30, 2007 by Gary Friedrich and Gary Friedrich Enterprises, Inc.

On August 31, 2009, The Walt Disney Company announced a deal to acquire Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion, with Marvel shareholders to receive $30 and about 0.745 Disney shares for each share of Marvel they own. The voting occurred on December 31, 2009 and the merger was approved. The acquisition of Marvel was finalized hours after the shareholder voted, therefore, giving Disney full ownership of Marvel Entertainment. The company was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange under its ticker symbol (MVL), due to the closing of the deal.

Units

The company’s operating units include:

Divisions

Marvel Toys (formerly Toy Biz): a toy company owned by Isaac Perlmutter since the 1990s.

Spider-Man Merchandising, L.P.: A joint venture of Marvel and Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc. that owns the rights to Spider-Man movie related licensed products.

Marvel Characters B.V. (The Netherlands)

MVL International C.V. (The Netherlands)

Marvel International Character Holdings LLC (Delaware)

Marvel Entertainment International Limited (United Kingdom)

Marvel Property, Inc. (Delaware)

Marvel Internet Productions LLC (Delaware)

Marvel Toys Limited (Hong Kong)

MRV, Inc. (Delaware)

MVL Development LLC (Delaware)

Marvel Film Productions LLC (Delaware)

Subsidiaries

Marvel Characters, Inc.: intellectual property holding company;

Marvel Publishing, Inc.: publisher of Marvel Comics;

Marvel Studios: a film and television production company;

MVL Film Finance LLC: holder of Marvel’s Movie debt and theatrical film rights to the ten characters as collateral.

Marvel Animation: Subsidiary charge with oversight of Marvel’s animation productions.

Film Slate Subsidiaries

MVL Rights, LLC: subsidiary holding movie rights of all Marvel Characters with some on contract with MVL Film Finance

Iron Works Productions LLC: subsidiary holding debt to finance the Iron Man movie.

MVL Productions LLC: an indirect wholly owned a film development subsidiary

Incredible Productions LLC (Delaware): subsidiary holding debt to finance the Incredible Hulk film

MVL Iron Works Productions Canada, Inc. (Province of Ontario)

MVL Incredible Productions Canada, Inc. (Province of Ontario)

Asgard Productions LLC (Delaware)

Green Guy Toons LLC (Delaware)

Squad Productions LLC (Delaware)

Former units

Fleer Corporation

Malibu Comics

Marvel Productions (1981 to 1997)

Panini Group: Italian sticker manufacturer

SkyBox International

Welsh Publishing: comic book publishers

Past names

Marvel Enterprises, Inc.

Toy Biz, Inc.

Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc.

References

^ http://www.enewsi.com/news.php?catid=190&itemid=15744

^ Raviv, Dan (2002). “Comic Wars”. Random House. http://www.webcitation.org/5OlTv7USa. Retrieved 2007-01-27. 

^ a b Chuck Rozanski is a very well-known purveyor of comic books and had a walk-on role in the Marvel fiasco. Chuck Rozanski. “Perelman’s Team Nearly Destroyed the Entire World of Comics”. Mile High Comics. http://www.webcitation.org/5OlTv7USk. Retrieved 2007-01-27. 

^ A minority of dissidents maintain there was never a bubble in the first place. Rozanski, Chuck. “The Vicious Downward Spiral of the 1990s”. Tales From the Database. Mile High comics. http://www.webcitation.org/5OlTv7USu. Retrieved 2007-01-27. 

^ Lott, Jeremy (2002). “Smash! Pow! Bam!”. Reason Magazine. http://www.webcitation.org/5OlTv7UT4. Retrieved 2007-01-27. 

^ a b c Raviv, Dan (2002). Comic Wars: Marvel’s Battle For Survival. Sea Cliff: Heroes Books. pp. 3839. ISBN 0-7679-0830-9. http://www.webcitation.org/5OlTv7UTD. 

^ Miller, Matthew (2005). “Don’t Mess With Me”. The Forbes 400. Forbes Publishing. http://www.webcitation.org/5OlTv7UTM. Retrieved 2007-01-29. 

^ “Marvel Acquires Cover Concepts to Extend Demographic Reach; Acquisition Extends Reach of Marvel’s Publishing Operations to 30 Million Public School Children”. BNet. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2003_Dec_18/ai_111376112. Retrieved 2008-05-14. 

^ “Stan Lee Media Sues Marvel”. Archived from the original on 2007-09-22. http://strange.commongate.com/post/Stan_Lee_Media_Sues_Marvel_5B. 

^ “”Ghost Rider” creator sues over copyright”. http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN1037146020070410. 

^ “Disney to acquire Marvel Entertainment for $4B”. Marketwatch. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/disney-to-acquire-marvel-entertainment-for-4b-2009-08-31. Retrieved 2009-08-31. 

^ Marvel Shareholders OK Disney Acquisition, Marketwatch, December 31, 2009

^ Disney Completes Marvel Acquisition, Fox Business, December 31, 2009

^ “Marvel Launches Independent Film Slate”. superherohype.com. http://www.superherohype.com/news.php?id=3456. Retrieved 2007-11-26. 

^ “Marvel Promotes Eric Rollman To President, Marvel Animation”. AWN Headline News. http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=search&range=all&search=Eric+Rollman&newsitem_no=23001. Retrieved 2008-05-06. 

^ “MARVEL ANIMATION, INC.”. Division of Corporations Entity database. https://sos-res.state.de.us/tin/GINameSearch.jsp. Retrieved 2008-05-06. 

^ “Marvel”. EDGAR Online. http://excite.brand.edgar-online.com/EFX_dll/EDGARpro.dll?FetchFilingHTML1?SessionID=QMkBWYDXZIxw6YB&ID=5162934-62603-112596. Retrieved 2008-05-07. 

^ “FORM 8-K SEC File 1-13638″. SEC Info. http://www.secinfo.com/d122g8.v29k.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-07. 

^ “Form 10-K 2/28/08 EX-21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant”. SEC Info. http://www.secinfo.com/d122g8.ted.c.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-07. 

External links

Official website

v  d  e

Marvel Entertainment

Board of Directors

Morton E. Handel, Chair Peter Cuneo, Vice Chair Isaac Perlmutter, Vice Chair Sid Ganis

Executives

Isaac Perlmutter, CEO Alan Fine, CEO, Publishing & Toy Divisions; CMO, Characters

Publishing

Marvel Publishing, Inc. Cover Concepts

Films

Marvel Studios Marvel Animation MVL Film Finance LLC MVL Productions LLC

Licensing

Marvel Characters, Inc. Spider-Man Merchandising, L.P. (J.V. w/Sony) MVL Rights, LLC

Other

Marvel Toys

Annual Revenue: 139.8 Million USD  Employees: 255  Parent: The Walt Disney Company Web site: Marvel.com

v  d  e

The Walt Disney Company

Company officials

Company founders

Walter Elias Disney  Roy Oliver Disney

Board of Directors

Susan Arnold  John Bryson  John S. Chen  Judith Estrin  Robert Iger (President, CEO)  Steve Jobs  Fred Langhammer  Aylwin Lewis  Robert Matschullat  John E. Pepper, Jr. (Chairman)  Sheryl Sandberg  Orin C. Smith

Walt Disney

Studio Entertainment

Walt Disney

Motion Pictures Group

Disneynature  Hollywood Pictures  ImageMovers Digital  Miramax Films  Pixar Animation Studios  Touchstone Pictures  Walt Disney Animation Studios  Walt Disney Pictures

Disney Music Group

Hollywood Records  Lyric Street Records  Mammoth Records  Walt Disney Music Company  Walt Disney Records  Wonderland Music Company

Other studio holdings

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment  Walt Disney Studios (Burbank)  Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures  Walt Disney Theatrical Productions

Disney-ABC

Television Group

ABC Network

ABC  ABC News  ABC News Now  Live Well HD Network

ABC-owned TV stations

KABC-TV  KFSN-TV  KGO-TV  KTRK-TV  WABC-TV  WJRT-TV  WLS-TV  WPVI-TV  WTVD  WTVG

Cable TV channels

ABC Family  A&E Television Networks (37.5%)  Disney Channel  Disney Family Movies  Disney Cinemagic  Disney XD  ESPN (80%) (see navpage)  Jetix  Jetix Play  Lifetime Entertainment Services (50%)  Playhouse Disney  SOAPnet

Radio & TV distribution

ABC News Radio  Disney-ABC Domestic Television  Disney-ABC International TV  Radio Disney  Radio Disney Latin America

TV production

ABC Studios  Greengrass Productions  Walt Disney Television   Walt Disney Television Animation

Walt Disney

Parks and Resorts

Adventures by Disney  Disney Cruise Line  Disneyland Resort  Disneyland Paris  Disney Regional Entertainment  Disney Vacation Club  Hong Kong Disneyland Resort  Tokyo Disney Resort  Walt Disney Creative Entertainment  Walt Disney Imagineering  Walt Disney World Resort

Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Animation  Marvel Characters, Inc.  Marvel Comics  Marvel Studios  Marvel Toys

Disney Interactive

Media Group

Walt Disney Internet Group

ABC.com  ABCNews.com  Disney.com  ESPN.com  Go.com

Disney Interactive Studios

Avalanche Software  Black Rock Studio  Disney Interactive Studios  Fall Line Studios  Junction Point Studios  Propaganda Games  Wideload Games

Radio stations

Radio Disney

KALY-AM  KDDZ-AM  KDIS-AM  KDIS-FM  KDZR-AM  KDIZ-AM  KIID-AM  KKDZ-AM  KMIC-AM  KMIK-AM  KMKI-AM  KMKY-AM  KMUS-AM  KPHN-AM  KRDY-AM  KWDZ-AM  WBWL-AM  WBYU-AM  WCOG-AM  WDDY-AM  WDRD-AM  WDWD-AM  WDZY-AM  WDYZ-AM  WFDF-AM  WGFY-AM  WHKT-AM  WKSH-AM  WMKI-AM  WMYM-AM  WQEW-AM  WRDZ-AM  WRDZ-FM  WSDZ-AM  WWCS-AM  WWMI-AM  WWMK-AM

ESPN Radio/Deportes

KESN-FM  KNIT-AM  KSPN-AM  KZMP-AM  WEAE-AM  WEPN-AM  WMVP-AM

Other station(s)

WRJR-AM

Miscellaneous

assets

Buena Vista  CrossGen   Golden Oak Ranch  Hulu (27%)  Hyperion Books  FamilyFun   The Muppets Holding Company  The Prospect Studios  Reedy Creek Energy  Times Square Studios  Buena Vista International India  Walt Disney Consumer Products

Notes: 1. Operated by Birach Broadcasting, controlled by Disney under an LMA.

2. Disney manages and operates this station owned by James Crystal Radio under an LMA.

3. Disney manages and operates this station owned by Liberman Broadcasting under LMA

Annual Revenue: $35.5 billion USD (2007)  Employees: 137,000 (Mar 2008)  Stock Symbol: NYSE: DIS  Website: corporate.disney.go.com

Categories: Marvel Comics | Entertainment companies of the United States | Companies established in 1933 | Companies based in New York City | Disney franchises | Walt Disney Company subsidiariesHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from October 2008
About the Author

I am a professional writer from China Hardware Suppliers, which contains a great deal of information about halogen cable lighting , halogen flood lamps, welcome to visit!

Nintendo DSi ArmorStore Case $9.99 The Mad Catz ArmorStore Case for the Nintendo DSi provides convenient storage and protection for 3 DS games, 3 SD cards and an extra stylus. The durable, impact-resistant polycarbonate case permits access to all buttons and ports of the DSi, allowing unhindered gameplay. The easy-to-install design will have your DSi protected and ready for travel in a matter of minutes, making the ArmorStore Case the ideal game storage solution for the gamer on the go. Product Features: Transparent impact-resistant polycarbonate case Play-and-protect case allows access to all DSi buttons Storage for 3 games, 3 SD cards & an extra stylus

MLB Starter Kit for PSP Slim $29.99 The Mad Catz MLB Starter Kit for the PSP & PSP Slim has all the essential baseball-themed accessories to enhance your handheld gaming experience. The protective EVA case complete with storage for games and other components will shield your PSP & PSP Slim from damage. A car adapter with a 6 foot reach will keep your console powered up while you?re on the go. Six unique, stackable game cases allow you to easily keep your favorite UMDs neatly organized. A useful lanyard will let you keep various items around your neck or wrist and a charm with interchangeable inserts allows you to proclaim your enthusiasm for your favorite team. The colorful microfiber cleaning cloth will keep the screen of your PSP & PSP Slim smudge free and a baseball-shaped analog stick* will enhance gameplay. Mad Catz promises innovative, quality products for all your gaming needs.*Not complatible w/ PSP Slim. Starter Kit Includes: BASEBALL CASE Durable material resists damage Keeps your PSP & PSP Slim safe and secure Storage for games and accessories CAR ADAPTER Powers up and charges your PSP Slim's battery 6-foot extension cable GAME CASES Protect your UMDs from damage Keep your games organized Stackable and connectable CLEANING CLOTH Microfiber material leaves no lint Wipes your PSP Slim's screens clean BASEBALL-SHAPED ANALOG STICK Enhances gameplay by simulating 3D analog stick Replacement analog stick for PSP 1000 LANYARD Sporty and secure 19 in. (48cm) long CHARM Interchangeable inserts for all 30 MLB teams

Wii Charging Dock $9.99 Keep the gaming juices flowing with the Mad Catz Charging Dock for the Nintendo Wii. Simply remove the battery cover and batteries from your first party Wii Remote and affix the Power Pak in its place to prepare yourself for hours of continuous game time. The rechargeable Lithium Ion battery can be used repeatedly, preventing the need to drain your expensive batteries and the lightweight design will not hinder game play. The base unit, which houses your Wii Remote and Nunchuk and has storage for two SD memory cards, allows you to recharge at your convenience, even if you have one of our SKINZ attached to your Wii Remote. Sitting flush alongside the first party Wii stand, you can also customize the look of your gaming area by using one or more units. Functionality and cost effectiveness make the Mad Catz Charging Dock the ultimate storage and power solution for your Wii accessories. Mad Catz promises innovative, quality products for all your gaming needs. Charging Dock Holds Wii Remote and Nunchuk Storage for 2 SD memory cards Charges via USB ? Wii or PC Charges without removing Wii SKINZ? Power Pak Rechargeable Wii Remote battery pack Eliminates the need to purchase costly batteries

Nintendo DSi/DSL Princess Pak $14.99 The Mad Catz Princess Pak for the Nintendo DSi and DS Lite contains an adorable assortment of accessories to enhance your handheld gaming experience. A cute, pink furry bag replete with a dedicated storage pocket for either console will help shield your investment from damage. The wrist coil allows you to tote up to 4 DS games and 4 SD cards?for a total of 8 items?right on your arm. Dual screen protectors will keep pesky smudges and fingerprints at bay and the jumbo-sized pen stylus?which stores a standard stylus inside?brings a new style of play to touch screen gaming. Product Features: FURRY BAG 4 SCREEN PROTECTORS PEN STYLUS WRIST COIL *DSi/DS Lite not included

Official Coffin Case? Stick & Mic Case $9.99 The Officially Licensed Coffin Case Stick & Mic Bag from Mad Catz lets you rest your accessories in peace. The durable exterior replete with woven nylon handles and dual zippered closure provides the means for you to transport your drumsticks, microphones, cables, games, memory cards or other essential gaming items in macabre style. Featuring a blood red diamond-stitched satin interior, two sets of strings to hang the bag from your drum kit or a nearby door, two oversized storage pockets plus two additional zippered mesh pockets. The Stick & Mic Bag has ample room to hold a horde of accessories and make them eternally grateful. Product Features: Holds drumsticks, microphones, games, cables & other accessories 2 oversized storage pockets plus 2 zippered pouches 4 top-mounted strings for hanging from drum kits or doors Blood red satin quilted interior

Mental Photography Magic Card Deck $7.25 A mentally though of card appears in a deck of blank cards.

Double Back Bicycle Deck – Red $5.5 This deck contains 52 cards. Both sides of the cards have the red rider back imprinted on it.

Penetration Card Frame $2.97 Effect:Two cards are placed on either side of this plastic frame. A pencil penetrates both cards and the frame remains unharmed.

Professional Mental Photography Card Deck – Bicycle Brand Red $7.97 A mentally thought of card appears in a deck of blank cards. Instructions included.

Professional Mental Photography Card Deck – Bicycle Brand Blue $7.97 A mentally thought of card appears in a deck of blank cards. Instructions included.

Clearance Item – Cartoon Caper by Perry Maynard (Limited Stock) $8.5 The magician reaches into a pocket and pulls out a small leatherette wallet. Inside the wallet are three Looney Tune Playing Cards. The magician takes out the three playing cards, closes the wallet and places it aside. The magician then proceeds to show the three cards to the spectators noting, two of the cards are identical and the remaining card is different.The magician instructs one of the spectators to keep track of the odd card as he shuffles the three cards in from of him. Now the spectator is asked to point to the odd Looney Tune Card, and instantly the odd card vanishes from the packet and magically reappears back in the closed wallet.Includes leatherette wallet and all gaff cards necessary.

Invisible Quarters $18.25 Effect:Invisible quarters magically appear on top of the deck of cards covered by a clear drinking glass.

Deluxe Magic Set – 1 with 8 Different Magic Tricks $19.99 Number One in the Deluxe Magic Set series which contains, Long and Short Cards, Cups and Balls, Coin Paddle, My Favorite Rope Trick, Escape Rings, Ball and Vase, Rings and Coins, Fortune Cards. Ages 4 and up.

Wild Card $4 A classic of close-up magic!Effect:You show eight cards, all of which are the same value. One other card, the Wild Card, is of a different value. With a minimum of sleight of hand, the eight cards change in value to match the value of the Wild Card! This looks Wild!A Wild trick with a wild finish!

Elusive Joker $3.49 Effect:Three cards are shown. The center card is a Joker. The backs all match. Then the Joker disappears and another card takes its place!

Self Working Mental Magic $7.99 67 foolproof spectacular mental magic tricks that seem impossible, but are easy to perform. None of the tricks require long practice, supernormal dexterity, or complicated apparatus. Precise, easy-to-follow instructions and many helpful diagrams lead to quick mastery and effective performance of each. Perform mystifying mental magic in such categories as: Instant ESP Mind Reading with Cards, Mind Over Matter Book Tests, Psychic Secrets Slate Sorcery, Miracles with Cards Psychometry and more. Many of these tricks can be done with no prior preparation, and all involve easy-to-find materials: a deck of cards, coins, matches, dice, keys, chalk, etc.

Empire Fantastic 4 Card Magic Trick $10.5 Two sheets of cardboard are shown and rubber banded together. The card boards are placed on top of four cards and one card disappears, then reappears between the two card boards.

Professional Svengali Deck – Bicycle Brand Blue $5.5 Effect:A card is selected and returned to the pack which is then shuffled. The magician then feels the backs of the cards one at a time and is able to find the selected card by sensing which card is warmer from the spectators touch! The selected card is then shuffled into the pack again only to jump to the top of the deck. The cards are then cut once placing the selected card in the middle of the pack – but say the magic words and the selected card is on top again! This is just one of over 125 additional tricks that are possible with the Svengali deck.

Svengali Deck $1.25 Effect:A card is selected and returned to the pack which is then shuffled. The magician then feels the backs of the cards one at a time and is able to find the selected card by sensing which card is warmer from the spectators touch! The selected card is then shuffled into the pack again only to jump to the top of the deck. The cards are then cut once placing the selected card in the middle of the pack – but say the magic words and the selected card is on top again! This is just one of over 125 additional tricks that are possible with the Svengali deck.

Professional Svengali Deck – Bicycle Brand Red $5.5 Effect:A card is selected and returned to the pack which is then shuffled. The magician then feels the backs of the cards one at a time and is able to find the selected card by sensing which card is warmer from the spectators touch! The selected card is then shuffled into the pack again only to jump to the top of the deck. The cards are then cut once placing the selected card in the middle of the pack – but say the magic words and the selected card is on top again! This is just one of over 125 additional tricks that are possible with the Svengali deck.

Filed Under: Hobbies