How long have superheroes been around in the Marvel universe?

[superduperman]

So I'm kind of a Jessica Jones fan and recently got the fourth volume of Alias (completing my collection) and in it it says that Spider-Man's origin took place about 15 years earlier. This would be 15 years from the time of that story. So my question is, how long have superheroes been around in the Marvel universe? Is there any resource that specifies how long they've been around?

[Digifiend]

Since around 1940. The Fantastic Four's origin roughly 15 years ago was the start of an explosion of new heroes, forming what we now know as the Marvel Age or Heroic Age. But superheroes had been around since the emergence of Sub-Mariner, the android Human Torch, and Captain America during World War II. And even then, there was a few mystery men before that, such as Union Jack.

[Riv86672]

Since at least 1,000,000 BC…:

[Phoenixx9]

Since around 1940. The Fantastic Four's origin roughly 15 years ago was the start of an explosion of new heroes, forming what we now know as the Marvel Age or Heroic Age. But superheroes had been around since the emergence of Sub-Mariner, the android Human Torch, and Captain America during World War II. And even then, there was a few mystery men before that, such as Union Jack.

Since at least 1,000,000 BC…:

Yes, both answers are correct!

[Frontier]

I think the modern age of heroes has been, adjusting for the sliding timescale, about 13 years.

[DrNewGod]

Honestly, it's probably one of those things that's better not to give too much thought to. DC has broken itself to splinters dealing with such questions. Just roll with "quite a few years back."

[JudicatorPrime]

Honestly, it's probably one of those things that's better not to give too much thought to. DC has broken itself to splinters dealing with such questions. Just roll with "quite a few years back."

Totally agree with you. Even an ambiguous floating timeline doesn't hold up to scrutiny. Best to ignore it and go with the flow.

[ed2962]

Yes, both answers are correct!

Exactly. In the 616 Universe, the Marvel Age started roughly 15 years ago from whatever year it is in the present. Superheroes as we think of them started in the early forties. But fantasy and science fiction characters from the Kree to various demons have been present since the begining of Earth.

[Alan2099]

How do we factor time travel into this? There are a lot of modern day heroes that have had adventures, saved lives, and impacted people ages before they even got their powers chronologically.

[Holt]

If you're referring to the modern age that started when the Fantastic Four first appeared, the current take seems to be roughly 15 years ago. The Marvel's #1 says that Flash Thompson joined the Army (which happened in Amazing Spider-Man #47 after he and Peter had graduated high school) 12 years ago.

[charliehustle415]

Since at least 1,000,000 BC…:

LOL, this is exactly what I was going to post.

I mean superheroes have been around in the Marvel Universe before Earth even existed especially if you take into account all of the gods and aliens running around