Marvel Comics

:(This article is about fandom surrounding Marvel comics. For fandoms centered on movie versions of Marvel properties, see X-Men Movieverse, Iron Man Movieverse, Captain America Movieverse, Thor Movieverse, Spider-Man: Homecoming and The Avengers Movieverse. See also The Avengers, Hulk, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and X-Men.)
Marvel Comics has had an active fandom since its early issues, although it's presence in fan zines was not as prevalent as other media, like TV and film. The fandom expanded exponentially with the onset of the internet; existing primarily on mailing lists, message boards and individual fansites. One of the largest sites, CFAN, was maintained from approximately April 1999 to June 2003CFAN on the wayback machine . The most popular characters and series in early internet fandom were related to the X-Men and Spider-Man. Later, the fandom moved to LiveJournal where it was common to find communities focused on specific characters, pairings or teams. 
Marvel comics fandom is now much smaller than it was in its heyday, although the X-Men films and the MCU have brought many media fans, who were not previously comics fans, into the fandom. The MCU films have especially boosted interest in the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and other series, which were not as popular in early internet fandom. Some media fans were also brought into the fandom by Joss Whedon's writing stints on Astonishing X-Men and Runaways.
==Outside Mainstream Continuity==
:See List of Marvel Universes‎
Popular mini-fandoms that are published by Marvel, but are not part of their mainstream continuity include Marvel 1602 and Supreme Power.
The Marvel Ultimate Universe is an imprint that was launched in 2000. It basically "reset" many of Marvel's key titles from the beginning, starting over with a clean slate and showing the characters in high school and college, gaining their powers and encountering each other and antagonists for the first time. 
However, this was not just a simple re-telling; many changes were made as the stories progressed, resulting in a truly alternate version of the Marvel universe. Some changes were made in order to simplify confusing canon, such as Spider-Man's Clone Saga. Some characters were altered to create greater diversity; the Ultimate version of Nick Fury is African-American and Piotr Rasputin is gay. Other changes were more like complete re-imaginings of the characters, such as Orson Scott Card's work on Ultimate Iron Man.
==Fandom==
===Popular Pairings===
====On LiveJournal====
Popular pairings in livejournal-based Marvel fandom currently include:
* Steve Rogers/Tony Stark (this pairing gained popularity during the Civil War series)
* Pepper Potts/Tony Stark (this pairing gained popularity after the Iron Man movie)
* Clint Barton/Phil Coulson (this pairing gained popularity due to the Marvel Movies)
* Clint Barton/Natasha Romanova (gained popularity after The Avengers film)
* Thor/Loki (popularity gained during Thor and The Avengers films)
* Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier 
* Xavin/Karolina Dean (of Runaways; this is a canon pairing between a shapeshifter and a lesbian character)
* Teddy Altman/Billy Kaplan (of Young Avengers; this is a canon gay pairing)
* Cable/Deadpool
Pairings that were popular in the past have included:
* Gambit/Rogue (hugely popular for some time, thanks to a UST filled on-again-off-again canon relationship)
* Wolverine/Rogue (a pairing which owes most of its popularity to the first three X-Men movies)
* Rictor/Shatterstar (The New Mutants, X-Force)
* Northstar/Iceman (this pairing gained popularity after Northstar, a canonically gay character, admitted he had a crush on Iceman)
Other popular Marvel pairings include Scott/Jean, Scott/Emma, Tony Stark/James Rhodes, Kitty Pryde/Piotr Rasputin, Kitty Pryde/Pete Wisdom, Peter Parker/Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker/Matt Murdock, Peter Parker/Wade Wilson, Matt Murdock/Foggy Nelson, Tony Stark/Whoever Tony Stark Wants, Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes.
===Challenges===
:For a full listing of Fanlore articles on Marvel challenges see :Category:Marvel Challenges
Marvel fandom has always had a basis for community fanwork challenges, that has only expanded since the creation of the MCU, some examples being:
*Avengers Reverse Big Bang
* marvel_cinekink link
* MARVEL KINK MEME link
* Marvel Multiverse Kink link
*Marvel Universe Big Bang
*X-Men Big Bang
There were also other challenges such as gift exchanges, fanweeks, fests and kink memes. For perspective on the depth of past, and current, challenges see the List of Marvel Challenges
==Fanworks==
===Examples===
 Some non-Steve Tony and non-Avengers examples should be added
===Fics===
*Regenerate by doesnotloveyou - In the dead of winter, a mutant child escapes the underground testing facility at Alkali Lake. Decades later, she returns with a lifetime on her shoulders seeking closure, only to reunite with the man who helped her escape. (Marvel, 2015)
*All That Remains‎ by kijikun - Tony becomes the guardian of a nine-year-old girl who has spent her short life being trained as a weapon. As he learns to be a father he has to deal with the repercussions of the SHRA and the unexpected return of Steve Rogers.See jane_elliot in epic_recs. All That Remains by Kijikun (NC-17), 22 June 2010. (Accessed 07 June 2012) Kidfic set post-Civil War in a universe where Secret Invasion never happened. (Marvel 616, 2008/2009)
*A Meeting of Minds by CrimsonQuills - telepathic bond. (Marvel 616, 2008)
*Resurrection, Reconstruction, and Redemption by Elspethdixon & Seanchai. First novel-length Steve/Tony fic. A fix-it Civil War fic. (Marvel 616, 2007)
*Secrets of a Successful Marriage by valtyr - Tony Stark is secretly the supervillain known as Iron Man and doesn't know that his husband Steve is Captain America. (Marvel 616 AU, 2011)
*When the Lights Go On Again by Elspethdixon & Seanchai - novel length story with a strong plot and use of canon. (Marvel 616, 2008-2009)
*The Steel Handshake by DarkMark (Avengers and X-Men - 616) - What happens when Colossus, a Russian super-hero, meets Iron Man, the sworn enemy of Communism?
*Cinderella Vindication by DarkMark (Screaming Mimi (Songbird) and Shanna the She-Devil - 616) - Back before she became Songbird in the Thunderbolts, Mimi Schwartz was Screaming Mimi, sometime super-villain and full-time professional wrestler. In this story, she faces off against Shanna the She-Devil after helping with a case.
*A Prize For Three Empires by DarkMark (Ms. Marvel/Binary/Warbird - 616) - An epic 29-part story about Carol's trials and tribulations as several galactic empires come for her.
* (Thor Odinson/Steve Rogers) by kehinki
===Vids===
*If I only could by TheMadMoro (1:40). Tony Stark's reaction to death of Captain America. (10/2011)
*Sleepwalker by pencilnecklace (3:30). Civil War slash vid. (07/2011)
*A Marvel Comics Tribute by Depth Charge Fan Vids (06/2016)
*Little Lion Man (Avengers vid) a Steve/Tony vid by aheartthen (03/23/2012).
*I Just Had Sex (Thor) by mresundance (12/01/2011)
*Clint and Darcy - A Trailer by puffabilly (09/22/2022)
*Darcy and Steve - A Trailer by puffabilly (10/12/2022)
*Breath of Life (Marvel vid) by theredsoxfan18 (12/26/2014)
=== Tumblr ===
* Bland Marvel Headcanons
* Marvelous Marvel Ladies Month
=== Arts and Crafts ===
* Fannish Cross Stitch
* Ze Ball Breaker Micro-Heros Site - multifandom doll site
==Art Gallery==
* The Hawkeye Initiative
File:Wurf.jpg|Cover art of the zine Wurf! by Pyracantha (1983), featuring Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Daredevil
Image:blackboltmedusa.jpg|Inhuman Wedding by Pyracantha (1985), illustrating the wedding of Medusa and Black Bolt 
File:She-hulk and doctor doom.jpg|She-Hulk and Doctor Doom by kevinwada (2014)
== Usenet ==
* rec.arts.comics.marvel.universe - for discussion of all Marvel comics, although X-Men conversation was steered to racmx.
* RACMX - rec.arts.comics.marvel.x-books, a usenet for discussion of the X-Men comics books, active from around 1992 until 2012.
* ACFF - alt.coms.fanfiction, a usenet list devoted to comics fanfic, active from around 1994-1999.
== Archives ==
=== CFAN ===
While comics fandom of the 1990s-2000s were dominated by the X-Men, a small but growing contingent were posting non-X fanfic and opening archives of their own. The CFAN "Non-X Marvel" section of their site directory provides a peek at this part of fandom. And like Marvel comics fandom itself, the slash and 'ship communities started small but grew over time, until it became the main focus for a lot of fans. 
Image: CFAN - Non-X Marvel 1.png|thumb|Screen shot 1 of CFAN's Non X Marvel site list. 
Image: CFAN - Non-X Marvel 2.png|thumb|Screen shot 2 of CFAN's Non X Marvel site list. 
Image: CFAN - Non-X Marvel 3.png|thumb|Screen shot 3 of CFAN's Non X Marvel site list.
=== Collaborative Fanwriting Projects ===
* Alternate Marvel
* The Ghostworks: The Official Homepage of the 2099 Underground
* Heroes Onward
* Marvel Volume One
* X-Writers
===Others===
*Marvel 616 tag at the AO3
*Marvelfanfiction.com
*Comicsfic.net
*The Lady Comic Slash Site
*Alternate Timelines
*Itty Bitty Archives
*Pumpkinhead's Toontopia Fan Fiction Page
*A Bit Of Mind
*Fortune City Marvel Comics Websites
*DarkMark's Domain II - Marvel comics gen fanfic focusing on the Golden and Silver Ages, by the late DarkMark.
== Mailing Lists ==
* Untold-L - a short-lived mailing list for comics fanfic, replaced by OTL
* Outside the LinesOutside the Lines hub (all comics based fic was allowed, but OTL was dominated by fic for Marvel, and in particular the X-Men.)
==Communities ==
===Wattpad===
*Marvel Fanfiction Archive
*Marvel Fanfiction Rec Community
===LiveJournal===
*Marvel Comics Fanfiction
*Marvel_Slash, a slash only community
*Marvel_it, a General Italian community
*Marve_icons, an Icon community
*Rare Marvel Pairs, a Rare Pairing community
*Marvel-Kink, a Kink Meme.
*Marvelkink, another Kink Meme.
*Marvelfic index, community is meant to function as a repository of links for Marvel Comics-based fic on the LJ, excluding X-Men fic. It has not been updated since January 2007.
* TowerParty: a Marvel speed challenge, Flashfiction
* Marvelcest, a Marvel incest community
* Femslash Today
===Dreamwidth===
* Marvel Fanworks, a fanworks community
* Marvel Rare Pairs, a Rare Pairing community
* Marvel Recs, a recs community
== Zines ==
* The Celestial Toybox
* Wurf!
* Mind Over Matter
* Women of Marvel
* Behind the Mask (Superhero Anthology) 
* Galactic Journey
* Doctor Strange Zine
* Classic Comics U.K. Zines
* The Marvel Tribune
==Fannish Links==
* Marvel Ladies, a defunct site that focused on providing links to sites that contain individual various Marvel Ladies.
* CFAN - the central hubsite for comics fanfiction archives from 1996-2002
* The Shipper's Manifesto - multifandom Livejournal community for the discussion of particular 'ships.
* CBFFAs - Fanfiction Awards for comic book fanfic from 1998-2003.
* Marvel FanFiction Review
* IMHO - comics fanfiction reviews
* The Marvel Database Project
* Timeline of Women in Comics Fandom
* Carol Corps
==Meta/Further Reading==
*The Poison Maiden & The Great Bitch: Female Stereotypes in Marvel Superhero Comics (1974)
* Captain America and Bucky are Just Friends (2015)
* On Shipping: What’s Disney’s, What’s Yours, and What’s Mine (2015)
* Shut The Fuck Up, Marvel by colinspacetwinks (2017)
==Resources==
*Marvel Chronology Project
*Marvel Comics Archive, a reference guide to the Marvel Universe.
*, a blog by Comicsfan that was started in 2012
*Timeline of Major Fandom Purges, Restrictions, and Hassles Regarding Fanworks and Their Content
*The Poison Maiden & The Great Bitch: Female Stereotypes in Marvel Superhero Comics - 1974 essay
==References==
#Marvel Comics