Superhero Leadership with Peter Cuneo Episode 4 - When Titans Clashed: The Battle for Marvel
Dec 22, 2025
Discover Marvel's fascinating journey from its Great Depression origins to its near-collapse in the 1990s. Explore the rise of iconic characters like Captain America and the collectibles boom that turned into a bust. Learn about the intense corporate battles involving giants like Ronald Perelman and Carl Icahn. Delve into the challenges of high-yield debt and poor acquisitions that led to bankruptcy. Plus, hear about the pivotal role of Peter Cuneo in Marvel's turnaround.
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From Depression Escape To IP-Driven Business
- Comic books grew from Depression-era escapism into a major media IP business dominated by characters, not physical assets.
- Marvel's core value lay in intangible intellectual property that later enabled multimedia expansion.
Societal Crises Shape Hero Creation
- Historic cultural crises like the Depression and WWII shaped demand for escapist entertainment and specific characters like Captain America.
- Broader social events influenced which characters resonated and became long-lasting IP.
The 1960s Creative Burst That Built Marvel
- Stan Lee and his editors built Marvel's A-list roster between 1961 and 1965, creating Spider-Man, Hulk, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Iron Man.
- These creations became the long-term foundation for Marvel's media and licensing successes decades later.