Book excerpt: The incredible 70 year story of Marvel Comics. For comic book fans everywhere, Marvel's fascinating story explored and explained, decade by decade, year by year, month by month. Everything is covered, from the company's beginnings as Timely Comics in the late 1930s to the founding of the Marvel Universe of Super Heroes in the 60s, right up to the present day. Learn all about the birth of key Marvel Super Heroes from the X-Men, Spider-Man and Hulk to The Fantastic Four. Discover all about their extraordinary comic book debuts, the geniuses that invented them, the crucial events behind their creation and their continuing influence on the world today via comic books, TV series and blockbuster movies. Packed with stunning original comic book art and covers, this is a vibrant and visually spectacular look at Marvel Comics spanning seven tumultuous decades.