Editing Marvel Comics (section)

=== Marvel Entertainment Group ownership ===
In 1986, Marvel's parent, [[Marvel Entertainment Group]], was sold to [[New World Communications|New World Entertainment]], which within three years sold it to [[MacAndrews and Forbes]], owned by [[Revlon]] executive [[Ronald Perelman]] in 1989. In 1991 Perelman took MEG public. Following the rapid rise of this stock, Perelman issued a series of [[junk bond]]s that he used to acquire other entertainment companies, secured by MEG stock.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/11/business/marvel-reaches-agreement-to-emerge-from-bankruptcy.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607193918/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/11/business/marvel-reaches-agreement-to-emerge-from-bankruptcy.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Marvel Reaches Agreement to Emerge from Bankruptcy |work=The New York Times |date=July 11, 1997 |page=D3 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Marvel Comics 1990 logo.svg|thumb|left|Marvel's logo, {{Circa|1990s}}]]
Marvel earned a great deal of money with their 1980s children's comics imprint [[Star Comics]]{{citation needed |date=October 2023}} and they earned a great deal more money and worldwide success during the comic book boom of the early 1990s, launching the successful [[Marvel 2099|2099]] line of comics set in the future (''[[Spider-Man 2099]]'', etc.) and the creatively daring though commercially unsuccessful [[Razorline]] imprint of [[superhero]] comics created by novelist and filmmaker [[Clive Barker]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clivebarker.com/html/visions/bib/comics/ |title=Clive Barker official site: Comics |publisher=Clivebarker.com |date=November 28, 1999 |access-date=August 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513233839/http://www.clivebarker.com/html/visions/bib/comics/ |archive-date=May 13, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/r/razorlin.htm |title=Independent Heroes from the USA: Clive Barker's Razorline |publisher=Internationalhero.co.uk |access-date=August 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004070553/http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/r/razorlin.htm |archive-date=October 4, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1990, Marvel began selling [[Marvel Universe Cards]] with trading card maker [[SkyBox International]]. These were collectible trading cards that featured the characters and events of the Marvel Universe. The 1990s saw the rise of [[variant cover]]s, cover enhancements, [[Marvel Swimsuit Special|swimsuit issues]], and company-wide crossovers that affected the overall continuity of the [[Marvel Universe]].

[[File:Spiderman1cover.jpg|thumb|''[[Peter Parker: Spider-Man|Spider-Man]]'' #1, later renamed "Peter Parker: Spider-Man" (August 1990). Cover art by [[Todd McFarlane]].]]
In early 1992, seven of Marvel’s prized artists—[[Todd McFarlane]] (known for his work on ''[[Peter Parker: Spider-Man|Spider-Man]]''), [[Jim Lee]] (''[[X-Men]]''), [[Rob Liefeld]] (''[[X-Force]]''), [[Marc Silvestri]] (''[[Wolverine (character)|Wolverine]]''), [[Erik Larsen]] (''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]''), [[Jim Valentino]] (''[[Guardians of the Galaxy (1969 team)|Guardians of the Galaxy]]''), and [[Whilce Portacio]] (''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'')—left to form [[Image Comics]]<ref name="TCJ">{{cite journal |title=Bye Bye Marvel; Here Comes Image: Portacio, Claremont, Liefeld, Jim Lee Join McFarlane's New Imprint at Malibu |journal=[[The Comics Journal]] |number=48 |date=February 1992 |pages=11–12}}</ref> in a deal brokered by [[Malibu Comics]]' owner [[Scott Mitchell Rosenberg]].<ref name="MULLIGAN">{{Cite news |title=Holy Plot Twist : Marvel Comics' Parent Sees Artists Defect to Rival Malibu, Stock Dive |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-02-19-fi-2444-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=February 19, 1992 |access-date=February 1, 2016 |issn=0458-3035 |language=en-US |first=Thomas S. |last=Mulligan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510195922/http://articles.latimes.com/1992-02-19/business/fi-2444_1_marvel-comics |archive-date=May 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Three years later, on November 3, 1994, Rosenberg sold Malibu to Marvel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9805E2DF173EF932A25752C1A9619C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1|title=Phenomenon – Comic Genius?|author=Ehrenreich, Ben|date=November 11, 2007|work=[[The New York Times]] magazine|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807071154/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9805E2DF173EF932A25752C1A9619C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1|archive-date=August 7, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Reynolds, Eric. "The Rumors are True: Marvel Buys Malibu", ''The Comics Journal'' #173 (December 1994), pp. 29–33.</ref><ref>"News!" ''Indy'' magazine #8 (1994), p. 7.</ref> In purchasing Malibu, Marvel now owned computer coloring technology that had been developed by Rosenberg,<ref name="Wizard World">{{cite web |title=Scott Rosenberg |url=http://www.wizardworld.com/scottrosenberg.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111003/http://www.wizardworld.com/scottrosenberg.html |website=Wizard World |access-date=October 14, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> and also integrated the [[Ultraverse]] line of comics and the [[Protectors (comics)|Genesis Universe]] into Marvel's [[Multiverse (Marvel Comics)|multiverse]].<ref name="Webber 2019">{{cite web | last=Webber | first=Tim | title=The Ultraverse: How Marvel Absorbed the Malibu Comics World | website=[[Comic Book Resources]] | date=November 12, 2019 |url=https://www.cbr.com/ultraverse-marvel-malibu-comics-world/ | access-date=June 27, 2022}}</ref> Earlier that year, the company secured a deal with [[Harvey Comics]], whereas Marvel took on the publishing and distribution of Harvey's titles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marvel allies with Harvey Comics - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/05/13/Marvel-allies-with-Harvey-Comics/4445768801600/ |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=UPI |language=en |archive-date=September 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928023308/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/05/13/Marvel-allies-with-Harvey-Comics/4445768801600/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In late 1994, Marvel acquired the comic book distributor [[Heroes World Distribution]] to use as its own exclusive distributor.<ref name="DuinCC">Duin, Steve and [[Mike Richardson (publisher)|Richardson, Mike]] (ed.s) "Capital City" in ''Comics Between the Panels'' ([[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse Publishing]], 1998) {{ISBN|1-56971-344-8}}, p. 69</ref> As the industry's other major publishers made exclusive distribution deals with other companies, the ripple effect resulted in the survival of only one other major distributor in North America, [[Diamond Comic Distributors Inc.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.milehighcomics.com/tales/cbg131.html |last=Rozanski |first=Chuck |title=Diamond Ended Up With 50% of the Comics Market |publisher=MileHighComics.com |date=n.d. |access-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716200256/http://www.milehighcomics.com/tales/cbg131.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="bNet">{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_July_26/ai_18526328 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525104325/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_July_26/ai_18526328 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 25, 2012 |title=Diamond Comic Distributors acquires Capital City Distribution; Comic distribution industry stabilized by purchase |publisher=bNet: Business Wire via Findarticles.com |date=July 26, 1996 |access-date=April 27, 2010 }}</ref> Then, by the middle of the decade, the industry had slumped, and in December 1996 MEG filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11]] bankruptcy protection.<ref name="NYT"/> In early 1997, when Marvel's Heroes World endeavor failed, Diamond also forged an exclusive deal with Marvel<ref>"Hello Again: Marvel Goes with Diamond", ''The Comics Journal'' #193 (February 1997), pp. 9–10.</ref>—giving the company its own section of its comics catalog ''Previews''.<ref name="DuinDiamond">Duin, Steve and [[Mike Richardson (publisher)|Richardson, Mike]] (ed.s) "Diamond Comic Distributors" in ''Comics Between the Panels'' ([[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse Publishing]], 1998) {{ISBN|1-56971-344-8}}, p. 125-126</ref>

Marvel in the early to mid-1990s expanded their entries in other media, including [[Saturday-morning cartoon]]s and various comics collaborations to explore new genres. In 1992, they released the ''[[X-Men: The Animated Series]]'' which was aired on [[Fox Kids]], they later released ''[[Spider-Man (1994 TV series)|Spider-Man: The Animated Series]]'' on the network as well. In 1993, Marvel teamed up with [[Thomas Nelson (publisher)|Thomas Nelson]] to create [[Christian media|Christian media genre]] comics, including a Christian superhero named The Illuminator, they made adaptions of [[Christian novel]]s too, including ''[[In His Steps]]'', ''[[The Screwtape Letters]]'', and ''[[The Pilgrim's Progress]]''.<ref name="Huckabee 2021">{{cite web | last=Huckabee | first=Tyler | title=Meet the 1990s Marvel Christian Superhero Disney Doesn't Want You to Know About | website=RELEVANT | date=June 15, 2021 | url=https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/movies/meet-the-1990s-marvel-christian-superhero-disney-doesnt-want-you-to-know-about/ | access-date=May 8, 2022 | archive-date=May 21, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521115227/https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/movies/meet-the-1990s-marvel-christian-superhero-disney-doesnt-want-you-to-know-about/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=" Grand Comics Database ">{{cite web | title=GCD :: Brand Emblem :: Marvel Comics; Nelson | website=Grand Comics Database | url=https://www.comics.org/brand_emblem/3183 | access-date=May 8, 2022 | archive-date=May 8, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508135528/https://www.comics.org/brand_emblem/3183/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In 1996, Marvel had some of its titles participate in "[[Heroes Reborn (1996 comic)|Heroes Reborn]]", a crossover that allowed Marvel to relaunch some of its flagship characters such as the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] and the [[Fantastic Four]], and [[Outsourcing|outsource]] them to the studios of two of the former Marvel artists turned Image Comics founders, Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld. The relaunched titles, which saw the characters transported to a parallel universe with a history distinct from the mainstream Marvel Universe, were a solid success amidst a generally struggling industry.<ref>{{cite web |title=Capital Sale Tops Turbulent Year: The Top 10 Comics News Stories of 1996 |last=Miller |first=John Jackson |author-link=John Jackson Miller |url=http://www.cbgxtra.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1672 |publisher=[[CBGXtra]] |access-date=December 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107094202/http://www.cbgxtra.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1672 |archive-date=November 7, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>