Episode 26: Marvel
Acquired - A podcast by Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal
Join the Acquired Limited Partner program! https://kimberlite.fm/acquired/ (works best on mobile)
Topics covered include:
- Marvel’s corporate origins as "Timely Publications”, created in 1939 by pulp magazine publisher Martin Goodman in NYC, with the publication of Marvel Comics #1
- Creation of enduring characters such as Captain America, the Fantastic 4, Spider Man, The X-Men, Iron Man, Thor, The Hulk and more
- Adoption in 1961 of the "Marvel Comics” brand, and writer-editor Stan Lee’s transition of the company towards focusing on edgier characters and stories targeted at older audiences
- Marvel’s first sale in 1968 to the Perfect Film and Chemical Corporation (later Cadence Industries)
- The company’s “turbulent” corporate history through the 1980’s and associated mergers, acquisitions and lawsuits
- Marvel’s reinvention as a film-focused media company in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s with the launch of Marvel Studios
- Disney’s ultimate acquisition of the company for $4.2 billion in August 2009, during the depth of the great recession
- Marvel's—and in particular Marvel Studios’—performance since the acquisition
Followups:
Hot Takes:
- Shoutout to Hightower & VTS merging
The Carve Out:
