The Amazing Marvel Brand
The Amazing Marvel Brand
Marvel is certainly one of the most iconic and popular brands at present and the string of recent blockbuster movies inspired by Marvel’s most-loved creations has only served to further cement the status of this hugely successful trademark. It seems that almost every product that is touched by the Marvel brush is sure to become an instant hit with fans of the franchise and in this article we take a look at some of the merchandise and products that have benefited from their affiliation with the brand.
The Marvel Universe
Whether you were introduced to the Marvel universe through the medium of comic books or the cinema, there is no denying the extent to which the characters from the Avengers, the X-Men or the Guardians of the Galaxy have captured our imaginations and infiltrated popular culture. The rate at which the Marvel Cinematic Universe expands is matched by our growing superhero mania. The number of LARP groups dedicated to re-enacting major scenes from their favourite Marvel comic book series attests to the influence this franchise has cultivated. The intersecting plotlines that characterise the Marvel universe allow the filming side of the franchise to continue to churn out blockbuster movies, while the merchandise side of the company flourishes. While we wait in anticipation to see what Tony Stark, Thor, the Hulk and Captain America get up to in the Avengers: Age of Ultron, let’s take a look at some of the gadgets, apps and games that you can play or buy to help keep you connected to the Marvel universe.
Marvel Apps, Gadgets and Merchandise
There are marvellous varieties of Marvel merchandised products available to help lessen the discomfort of those who simply can’t bear the wait until the next instalment of their favourite Marvel movie. Apart from clothing items such as classic superhero hoodies, T-shirts and alluring Spiderman knickers, fans can also find comfort in household items such as Marvel branded salt & pepper shakers, creative lighting designs featuring Iron Man’s head, Spiderman themed carpets and X-men bedding. Of course, staple merchandised products such as lunchboxes, action figures, jewellery and costumes are also readily available online and at most comic book stores.
For comic books lovers there is a great app available on Apple devices that allows you to download and enjoy numerous comic books on-the-go. Pretend to work on your iPad while you peruse your favourite instalments of the Avengers, Wolverine, Thor, Iron Man and many more.
Marvel Console and Casino Games
It seems that console gaming is one of the few domains where recent Marvel offshoots have met some resistance. Players found the console games inspired by blockbuster Marvel films Iron Man 2, Thor: God of Thunder and Captain America: Super Soldier hugely underwhelming. It is apparently for this reason that an Avengers console game is yet to surface. Then again, the Lego: Marvel Super Heroes console game has become a firm favourite amongst the console gaming community.
Producers of casino software have also jumped at the opportunity to secure Marvel’s branding rights. Playtech is one such company. By procuring the rights to brand their online slots with images and video clips from hit Marvel movies, this leading supplier of casino software has ensured a growing fan base. Gamblers who adore the Marvel universe can play video slots that are inspired by their favourite superhero films, including Iron Man 2, X-men, The Incredible Hulk and Thor the Mighty Avenger, among others. Imagine the temptation: you are given the chance to relive you favourite scenes from the movies while you play to win large amounts of money. All of these Marvel tribute online slots include special features inspired by plot elements of the movies and all of these video slots form part of a Playtech progressive jackpot network that offers 4 different progressive jackpots.
With fans already counting down the months until the release of the Avengers: Age of Ultron and the eagerly anticipated Ant-Man, it is clear that Marvel’s supremacy within the world of superheroes is still secure and it is likely that this powerhouse brand’s popularity will continue to increase.
