Marvel Toys | |
Formerly | Charan Toys, Toy Biz |
Founded | 1988Montreal, Quebec, Canada | , in
Defunct | 2007New York City, New York, United States | , in
Fate | Closed by Marvel Entertainment |
Key people | Isaac Perlmutter Avi Arad (toy designer) |
Products | Games, toys and children's vehicles; dolls and stuffed toys |
Owner | Marvel Entertainment Group |
Toy Biz, Inc. (later known as Marvel Toys) was a toy manufacturer, originally founded in Montreal, Quebec as Charan Toys. The company is best known for holding the Marvel Comics toy license from 1990 to 2006.
In 1993, Marvel Entertainment Group acquired a minority stake in Toy Biz.[1] In 1998, Toy Biz merged with Marvel Entertainment Group to bring it out of bankruptcy, with the two merged companies becoming Marvel Enterprises. Toy Biz would continue as the name of its toy manufacturing division.
In 2005, the division would start to use the name Marvel Toys, as well as Toy Biz, to reflect the Marvel Cinematic Universe.[2] In January 2006, Hasbro acquired the Marvel Comics toy license, to release its first products in January 2007. The division attempted to continue with non-Marvel licenses, but became inactive by fall 2007.[3][4]