http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/marvel-universe.jpg
->''None of this is really happening. There is a man. With a typewriter. This is all part of his crazy imagination.''
-->-- {{Deadpool}}, of course.

[[BigApplesauce New York City]].

What, there's more than that?

The world as portrayed in Marvel Comics, especially under StanLee, Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby. As in TheDCU, Marvel heroes form teams and CrossOver occurs frequently, with many [[ContinuityNod Continuity Nods]]. (In fact, you could argue that Marvel ''invented'' the ContinuityNod.) Many of these comic books have been the basis for movies, TV series or both.

Many TV series and movies set in the MarvelUniverse take place in and around New York. The original architects of the world put most of the heroes there, as a subversion of the then-dominant trope of NoCommunitiesWereHarmed and as an excuse for {{Cross Over}}s.

The Marvel Universe's defining characteristics include a general trend toward [[SlidingScaleOfRealisticVersusFantastic realism mixed with the fantastic]], a little more CivvieSpandex than TheDCU, and a strong undercurrent of [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism cynicism]] among the local populace who are anything from skeptical to distrustful of superpowered beings aside from charismatic mega-celebrities like IronMan and the FantasticFour. Of course, it varies from writer to writer; in some eras Marvel have more explicitly tried to root their Universe in 'the real world', while at other times there have been entire mutant ghettos covering large areas of New York City. Even consistency between titles is often only an ideal.

For some reason, live-action TV versions of Marvel properties have been far more likely to suffer egregious AdaptationDecay than their counterparts from TheDCU. Film versions have, in general, fared better (except, perhaps, for the 1989 version of ''The Punisher'' and the long-buried ''Captain America''). It has just recently been announced that two anime series will be made in Japan based on the Marvel characters of Tony Stark and Wolverine.

Recently acquired by [[DisneyAnimatedCanon Disney]] (pending approval from shareholders and competition authorities); a striking parallel to Time Warner owning both DC and Disney's old rival WarnerBros.

Series in this universe:
* ''Comicbook/{{Spider-Man}}''
** ''{{Spider-Man}}'', a 1967 [[AnimatedAdaptation cartoon version]], with an ExpositoryThemeTune that many baby-boomers can still sing from memory.
** ''The Amazing {{Spider-Man}}'', a 1977 live-action series, cancelled due to ExecutiveMeddling when CBS decided they were running too many SuperHero series.
** ''Supaaida-Man'', a 1978 Japanese {{Toku}} series that featured Spider-Man piloting a HumongousMecha and was one of the inspirations for ''SuperSentai''/''PowerRangers''.
** ''Spider-Man'', a 1981 cartoon version with an early animated example of {{Story Arc}}s.
** ''{{Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends}}'', a 1981 cartoon that teamed him up with Iceman of the ''Comicbook/{{X-Men}}'' and Firestar, an original character that eventually became a CanonImmigrant. Still considered as definitive as the 1960s series.
** ''[[SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries Spider-Man]]'', a 1994 cartoon with more focus on {{Story Arc}}s and CharacterDevelopment.
** ''Spider-Man Unlimited'', a short-lived 1999 cartoon where Spidey is transported to AnotherDimension. Originally intended to be based on ''Spider-Man 2099''... a comic book title many fans argue Bruce Timm ripped off when developing ''BatmanBeyond''.
** ''Spider-Man: The New Animated Series'', a 2003 MTV computer-animated series based loosely on the movie continuity.
** ''{{Film/Spider-Man}}'', a 2002 big-budget movie, considered to be (along with ''X-Men'') one of the causes of the current superhero movie boom. Has had two sequels, in 2004 and 2007.
** As well, he showed up in segments of ''TheElectricCompany'', where he taught reading to kids by having adventures while speaking only in word balloons.
** ''TheSpectacularSpiderMan'' the 2008 animated adaption on TheCW is the most recent one.

*''Comicbook/{{X-Men}}''
** ''Pryde of the X-Men'', a failed 1989 PilotMovie.
** ''{{X-Men}}'', a 1992 cartoon version.
** ''Generation X'' was a failed PilotMovie from 1996, featuring the characters of the ''X-Men'' comic-book SpinOff who attended Xavier's mutant school.
** ''{{X-Men Evolution}}'', a 2000 cartoon with it's own continuity. X-23, a CanonImmigrant, originated here.
** ''[[Film/XMen X-Men]]'', a 2000 big-budget movie. Had two sequels, in 2003 and 2006. A 2009 ''Wolverine'' prequel has been released and a ''Magneto'' one is in development. Each center around a single character.
** ''WolverineAndTheXMen'', a 2008 cartoon series, is the latest adaptation. It dives straight into a spinoff of the comics continuity, so in tone it's closest to the 1992 cartoon (but in art it's more like ''Evolution''). Scheduled for airing in the United States in 2009.

*''The Comicbook/FantasticFour''
** ''Fantastic Four'', a 1967 cartoon produced by HannaBarbera.
** ''Series/TheFantasticFour'', a 1978 cartoon with the Human Torch replaced by the robot H.E.R.B.I.E.
** ''Series/FantasticFour'', a 1994 cartoon shown with the contemporary ''Iron Man'' cartoon as part of the "Marvel Action Hour".
** ''The Fantastic Four'', an unreleased 1994 RogerCorman film, infamous around the fandom for its low quality.
** ''Film/FantasticFour'', a 2004 big-budget movie with a 2007 sequel, ''Fantastic Four: Rise of the SilverSurfer''.
** ''[[FantasticFourWorldsGreatestHeroes Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes]]'', A 2006 cartoon version with heavily [[{{Animesque}} anime-influenced art]], based loosely off the movie continuity.
** Additionally, the Thing got his own [[ThreeShorts mini-show]] as part of ''FredAndBarneyMeetTheThing''.

*''Comicbook/IncredibleHulk''
** ''TheIncredibleHulk'', a 1978 TV series with a WalkingTheEarth[=/=]SternChase plot, and three {{Made For TV Movie}}s based on it.
** A 1982 cartoon version.
** A 1996 cartoon version.
** ''Hulk'', a big-budget 2003 movie, which polarized critics and viewers alike.
** ''The Incredible Hulk'', a 2008 do-over with much better results. And {{crossover}}s.
** ''HulkVs'', a 2009 {{OVA}} wherein he causes numerous headache for Wolverine and Thor.

*''CaptainAmerica''
** A 1944 theater serial with heavy AdaptationDecay.
** A pair of 1970s {{Made For TV Movie}}s, again with heavy AdaptationDecay, featuring a LegacyCharacter version who rides a motorcycle.
** A 1990 [[http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0103923/combined theatrical movie]] so bad the production company never released it and denies it existed. It was finally released on home video in 1992.
** A big-budget film version is under development.

*''IronMan''
** A 1994 cartoon version, shown with the contemporary ''Fantastic Four'' cartoon as part of the "Marvel Action Hour" (the show was actually about the West Coast Avengers, but Shellhead was the main draw)
** A 2007 {{OAV}}, ''The Invincible Iron Man'', with a fair amount of AdaptationDecay.
** ''Film/IronMan'', a 2008 big-budget movie.
** ''[[IronManArmoredAdventures Iron Man: Armored Adventures]]'', a 2009 CGI animated TV show which has a sassy teen Stark as quipping Spidermanesque incarnation of Iron Man.

Other heroes:
* ''Comicbook/TheAvengers''
** ''TheAvengersUnitedTheyStand'', a 90s cartoon that barely featured any of its three [[CaptainAmerica most]] [[IronMan famous]] [[TheMightyThor members]].
* ''TheMightyThor''
** To receive a 2011 LiveActionAdaptation, featuring the director of {{Hamlet}}, Chris Hemsworth ([[Film/StarTrek Captain Kirk]]) as Thor. The second biggest surprise, however, is the man who'll play Odin... '''[+[[BrianBlessed BRIAN BLESSED!!]]+]'''[[hottip:*: The first biggest surprise being that he was replaced so suddenly by Anthony Hopkins.]]
* ''{{Daredevil}}''
**The 2003 ''{{Daredevil}}'' movie, and the 2005 ''Elektra'' movie spun off from it.
* ''BlackPanther''
* ''{{Exiles}}''
* ''GreatLakesAvengers''
**''SquirrelGirl''
* ''GuardiansOfTheGalaxy''
* ''ImmortalIronFist''
* ''The {{IncredibleHercules}}''
* ''The NewWarriors''
* ''{{Runaways}}''
** The film adaptation has been announced, though no date has been set. The series original creator, BrianKVaughan will write the screenplay.
* ''SecretWarriors''
* ''YoungAvengers''


Other anti-heroes:
* ''{{Deadpool}}''
** Appears in the 2009 ''X-Men Origins: Wolverine'' film, played by Ryan Reynolds [[spoiler:and Scott Adkins when he is converted into Weapon XI AKA Deadpool InNameOnly]]. A spin-off movie has been discussed. [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1431045/ And is now apparently in the works.]]
* "{{Livewires}}"
* "ThePunisher"

Other Marvel Universe comic series:
* ''Comicbook/CivilWar''
* ''SecretInvasion''

Other TV adaptations:
* ''TheMarvelSuperHeroes'' was a syndicated 1966 cartoon that was the first TV appearance of the Marvel Universe. It featured CaptainAmerica, IronMan, Comicbook/TheIncredibleHulk, Thor, and Namor, the Sub-Mariner in ThreeShorts segments, with plots, dialogue and even [[ClipArtAnimation artwork]] often taken directly from the comic books.
* The ''SilverSurfer'' had a short-lived 1998 animated series, most notable for being cancelled right after a CliffHanger where the universe ceased to exist.
* ''TheSuperHeroSquadShow'', a 2009 animated MassiveMultiplayerCrossover meant for small children, featuring SuperDeformed versions of the Marvel heroes and a LighterAndSofter storyline. Based on [[MerchandiseDriven the Marvel Super Hero Squad toy line]].

Other movie adaptations:
* ''DoctorStrange'' was made into a failed PilotMovie in 1978; its demonology content allegedly prompted outcries from Christian groups that made sponsors back off from the project.
** A direct-to-DVD animated movie was released in 2007.
* A film version of ''Howard the Duck'' by GeorgeLucas was released in 1986, with AdaptationDecay aplenty.
* In 1991, a PilotMovie was made for ''PowerPack'', but was never aired. Even so, it still has an [[http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0271124/ IMDB entry]].
* None other than David Hasselhoff played the title character in ''Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D'', a 1998 MadeForTVMovie, and did a surprisingly credible job at it (though the movie failed in other respects).
**A new version of Nick Fury (this time played by SamuelLJackson) makes a cameo appearance in the aforementioned 2008 ''Iron Man'' movie after the credits.
*The ''{{Blade}}'' movies, in 1998, 2002, and 2004, featured the titular VampireHunter, who had first shown up in Marvel's ''Tomb of Dracula''. The short-lived 2006 ''BladeTheSeries'' was based on these.
*''ThePunisher'' appeared in two different movies, both telling the same story, made 15 years apart (1989 and 2004). A sequel to the latter is due for release later this year, but with a different actor playing Frank.
*The ''Ultimate Avengers'' {{OAV}}, based on the comic ''[[UltimateMarvel The Ultimates]]'', was released on DVD, February 21st, 2006. A sequel was released on August 8, 2006.
* A big-budget ''GhostRider'' film starring Nicholas Cage was released in early 2007.
* As well, Marvel Entertainment has announced that they are planning future movie projects for Comicbook/TheAvengers, Nick Fury, Black Panther, Ant-Man, Cloak & Dagger, Dr. Strange, Hawkeye, Power Pack, and Shang-Chi.
** The set-up of Comicbook/TheAvengers movie in ''IronMan'' and Tony Stark's cameo in ''Comicbook/TheIncredibleHulk'' suggest that Marvel may be trying to place the movies independantly produced by Marvel Studios into their own continuity.
** An animated ''Black Panther'' TV show is under development for BET.

World tropes:
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer (First comic-book world to have widespread prejudice against a particular type of superhumans, the ''inventor'' of "anti-mutant paranoia". Later on, first comic-book world to have widespread fear & mistrust of ''all'' superhumans of its own free will, as opposed to being hit with orbital paranoia rays or something. Fortunately, you can sidestep all this by enlisting as an official government metahuman stormtrooper, and people will love you again. Yes, even if you're actually a known megalomaniacal psychopath.)
* BlessedWithSuck (One of Stan Lee's innovations was to write about "superheros with problems." Characters like Spider-man, the Hulk, and the Thing were early results of this.)
* ComicBookTime
* CompleteMonster (If many of the heroes themselves are damaged goods, a lot of their villains would be drinking buddies with Ted Bundy or Charles Manson. Almost every hero has at least one, ranging from the [[SpiderMan Green Goblin]] to [[{{Daredevil}} Bullseye]] to [[TheMightyThor Mister Hyde]] to [[XMen Mister Sinister]] to [[{{Sleepwalker}} Psyko]] to [[CaptainAmerica the Red Skull]].
* CrossoverCosmology (Thor, Hercules, and Amaterasu all coexist with every other God EVER)
* CutLexLuthorACheck (The Trapster, the Ringer, the Green Goblin, and many, many more. casionally subverted by villains like the Wizard, who became a zillionaire through legitimate means before getting bored and turning to crime, or 8-Ball, who only became a supervillain after he was fired from his job and blacklisted for being suspected of selling company secrets to pay his gambling debts.)
* DysfunctionJunction (Try naming '''one''' superhero ''outside'' the FantasticFour who isn't emotionally scarred, traumatized and/or an orphan. See? That's Marvel for you.)
** SquirrelGirl. That's one at least. And ''she'' happens to be a StalkerWithACrush. Oh, and she also had to watch one of her squirrel friends die a horrible death.
** Maybe Forbush Man?
*** Except when he appears in [[spoiler:{{Nextwave}}]] although that may or may not be in an alternative reality.
* DyingLikeAnimals (If it isn't a Reindeer, its a Lemming or a Jackal. The ''best'' you can hope for is that its a Bat. 99.9+% of this entire planet's population is either ready to join an anti-metahuman hate group or else so mind-bogglingly stupid that they should be put on suicide watch.)
** To be fair, every once in a while a random preacher gives a pro mutant speech, or some cop mentions how much Spider-Man has done for the city, but such moments are sadly uncommon, and recent events are only making the whole thing worse. It makes one wonder if you shouldn't just let Galactus eat the place.
* EasilyConqueredWorld
* FailPolish
* LegacyCharacter
* LeotardOfPower
* LamarckWasRight
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters (for pretty much every long-running series)
* ComicBookTime
* MetaOrigin
* {{Oubliette}}
* PersonalGainHurts (Just ask Spidey)
* ReedRichardsIsUseless
* ReptilesAreAbhorrent - with some aversions and subversions.
* RuinedForever Now that Disney Owns Marvel Entirely
* SuperHero
* SuperRegistrationAct
* TooDumbToLive - See above. In recent years in a push to make the world DarkerAndEdgier, the civilian populous has shown a desire, nay, ''eagerness'' to emphatically embrace anything and everything that curtails their civil liberties and gives as much power as possible to megalomaniacal psychopaths.
** Aside from the "megalomaniacal psychopaths" part, this is TruthInTelevision.
See also UltimateMarvel, TheNewUniverse, MarvelAdventures, CapcomVsWhatever, MarvelComics2.
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