Icons Unearthed: Marvel

In the decades preceding the current Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel struggled through box office flops like "Howard the Duck," corporate skullduggery, and a bankruptcy.

Marvel risks everything betting it all on a second-tier character called Iron Man. Kevin Feige takes control of the fledgling Marvel Studios, hoping to build up to “The Avengers.”

The Incredible Hulk seemed like a safe bet but struggles between actors and the studio threatened to derail the MCU.

Kevin Feige assembles his team and maps out the road to the Avengers. Marvel must figure out how to integrate Thor into the world of Iron Man as well as creating a worthy villain.

Only one superhero story remained to get to the Avengers—Captain America. The studio had to convince star Chris Evans to return to the world of superhero movies.

The Avengers was underway but with new corporate leadership under Disney, Feige’s plan would be put to the test.

Emboldened by their against-the-odds success, Marvel ventured onto new terrain with a little-known space fantasy title even most hard-core comic book fans didn’t know.

Ant-Man’s original writer and director, Edgar Wright, departs from the project months before filming, taking his department heads with him.