Marvel kicks off 75th anniversary celebration with teaser video

March 10, 2014 | 11:32 a.m.

It’s an auspicious year for the Avengers, the X-Men, Spider-Man and more as Marvel Entertainment celebrates the 75th anniversary of the comic book that launched the Marvel Universe.

“Marvel Comics” No. 1, released in 1939, marked the beginning of what has become one of the most successful brands in comics, film, television and toys. That issue, edited by Timely Publications’ Martin Goodman, debuted the Human Torch and the Angel, as well as featuring Namor the Sub-Mariner, Ka-Zar the Great, the Masked Raider and more. The comic was a smash hit, selling out and prompting a second printing. The success led to the beginning of Marvel Comics as we know it.

To kick off its yearlong anniversary celebration, Marvel has released a trailer, narrated by the publisher’s editor in chief, Axel Alonso. The trailer (watch it above) teases Marvel.com/75, the website that will host articles, podcasts, galleries and more celebrating the anniversary and each decade of the comic company’s history.

Meanwhile, Marvel characters are enjoying blockbuster success on the big screen, with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” slated for release this year. And 2015 is expected to bring “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Ant-Man” and an as-yet-untitled Fantastic Four film to theaters.

Read more about Marvel movies and comics here.

– Noelene Clark | @NoeleneClark | Google+

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