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Marvel

companyactive55 mentionsFirst seen Oct 13, 2010Last seen Feb 14, 2026

Profile

Marvel is a major media and entertainment company that serves as an intellectual property licensor for the pinball industry, primarily partnering with Stern Pinball to create licensed games based on franchises including Avengers, X-Men, Deadpool, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Venom. As IP licensor, Marvel exercises significant creative control over pinball adaptations, requiring artist approvals, character vetting, voice actor sign-offs, and adherence to brand guidelines. The company has evolved its licensing approach across multiple game generations, from early 2010s Avengers titles to recent releases like Uncanny X-Men and digital Pinball FX platforms.

Aliases

No aliases

Relationships

  • affiliated_withDeadpoolDeadpool is licensed from Marvel Comics and features the Marvel character Deadpoolmedium
  • affiliated_withVenomVenom is a licensed Marvel Comics-themed pinball machinemedium
  • affiliated_withIron ManIron Man is a licensed Marvel character propertymedium
  • appears_inGuardians of the GalaxyGuardians of the Galaxy is licensed from Marvel IPmedium
  • affiliated_withAvengers Infinity Quest

Facts

  • achievementLicensed 11-table pack to Pinball FX for day one launchhighfrom 2023-02
  • achievementSold X-Men film rights to Fox at low valuation, then developed Avengers as replacement A-teammedium
  • achievementApproved 20+ Symbiote characters for use in Venom pinball gamehighfrom 2024
  • affiliationIP licensor for Guardians of the Galaxyhigh
  • affiliationIP licensor for Venom characterhigh
  • affiliationIP licensor for Deadpool characterhigh
  • affiliationIP rights holder for Star Wars comics

Claims (2)

  • predictionmedium

    Doctor Strange is an underrated B-tier Marvel character that will trend toward A-tier within 2 years due to Multiverse of Madness sequel

    Source: Host (A Pinball Podcast)Where Does Pinball Go From Here? $30,000 JJP POTC CE - Do Themes Matter? (Ep. 47)
  • factualhigh

    Marvel required approval of sample artwork (Groot and Rocket drawings) before hiring Franchi for Guardians project

    Source: Christopher FranchiEpisode 38 – Christopher Franchi Hexagon Threesome + Mrs Pin!

Recent Mentions (55)

  • IP licensor for Avengers Infinity Quest theme and character elements

    Avengers Infinity Quest Pinball v1.00 GameplayMar 6, 2021
  • Licensor partner for Avengers pinball machine; coordinated announcement and marketing with Stern; 90+ million social followers

    Ep 19: Fight NightOct 21, 2020
  • IP licensor for Avengers: Infinity Quest machine

    Marvel & Stern Pinball Assemble for the Avengers: Infinity Quest Stern Heads-Up Pinball InvitationalMar 2, 2021
  • Licensor with whom Stern has long relationship; multiple licensed titles; weapons restricted to fantasy blasters; has developed trust in Stern over time

    Ep 137: Gomez! Lots of Gomez!May 11, 2024
  • Upcoming Stern pinball game releasing in August; designed by Jack Danger; critical sales importance after John Wick underperformed

    Episode 984: "The Pinball Letter of the year is -M-"Aug 12, 2024
  • IP licensor for Avengers pinball; negotiated compressed schedule with Jeremy; rejected initial scheduling requests; approved artwork without revisions.

    Ep 45: Year of the Yeti with Jeremy Packer

Contradictions

  • Existing: Marvel is described as IP licensor for Star Wars comics (mention 12)vsConflicting: Star Wars is owned by Lucasfilm; Marvel may hold publishing rights to Star Wars comics but not the underlying IP rights that would create licensing complications for pinball
    Resolved
    kept_existing · Mar 2, 2026

Related Glossary Terms

No linked glossary terms

Avengers Infinity Quest is a licensed Marvel game
medium
  • affiliated_withStern Pinball Inc.Marvel licenses IP to Stern Pinball for multiple pinball game titles including Avengers, X-Men, Deadpool, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Venommedium
  • ownsAvengers: Infinity QuestMarvel is the IP licensor for this Stern Pinball gamemedium
  • ownsDeadpool PinballMarvel is the IP licensor for this pinball gamemedium
  • ownsVenom PinballMarvel is the IP licensor for this Stern Pinball gamemedium
  • high
  • affiliationIP licensor for Avengers franchisehigh
  • affiliationIP licensor for X-Men franchisehigh
  • attributeRequired actor approvals for Avengers voice work in pinball gameshigh
  • attributeLicenses pinball games to Stern Pinball with straightforward licensing requirementsmedium
  • Oct 3, 2020
  • IP license theme appearing in the teaser with multiple Avengers characters (Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, etc.)

    New Stern Pinball Trailer Reaction and Details ConfirmedAug 29, 2020
  • Owned by Disney; produces formulaic superhero films that hosts criticize as profit-driven despite technical competence

    F*@kit Friday! Disney is the Devil!!!May 29, 2020
  • IP licensor for Avengers Infinity Quest; provides voice actors and potentially animation assets for game

    Avengers: Infinity Quest Pinball First Impressions & Gameplay (Stern Pinball, 2020)Sep 24, 2020
  • Second Arcade1Up pinball cabinet; used for quality comparison baseline

    Arcade1up Attack From Mars Pinball - RAPID REVIEW!May 17, 2021
  • IP licensor for Venom character/theme on Stern pinball machine

    Venom Pinball Gameplay Guide - Limited Edition (LE) Model - 4K PORTRAIT/VERTICAL (SDTM, 2023)Oct 18, 2023
  • IP licensor; Venom is based on Marvel's anti-hero character

    Venom Pinball Gameplay Guide - Limited Edition (LE) Model 4K (SDTM, 2023)Oct 18, 2023
  • Arcade1Up virtual pinball variant mentioned as RetroRalph's second preferred option after Attack from Mars

    Arcade1Up Star Wars Pinball - It's HERE!Dec 24, 2020
  • IP licensor providing script, voice actors, and voice work for Avengers Infinity Quest; exercises IP control over content

    Avengers Infinity Quest Pinball Reveal From Stern Pinball!Sep 10, 2020
  • IP owner; Avengers license held by Stern; part of Disney

    HOT WHEELS PINBALL MACHINE Unboxing and setup!Aug 31, 2020
  • IP licensor for Deadpool; collaborated with Stern on content approval for speech sanitization

    Deadpool Premium #Pinball from Stern Factory!Sep 6, 2018
  • IP licensor for Avengers/Infinity Saga theme and characters

    Stern Pinball Announces Avengers are Assembling.....Again.Aug 29, 2020
  • IP licensor for Avengers; their Twitch channel hosted one of the reveal streams

    Avengers Pinball is Here and I Don't Care....Yet.Sep 13, 2020
  • Licensor of Deadpool IP with full approval rights over all game elements; praised the final product

    George Gomez - Pinball Expo 2018 - Pinball NewsOct 21, 2018
  • IP licensor; host discusses dominance in pop culture and merchandise visibility

    #11 - Stern Pinball Avengers Reveal SpeculationAug 30, 2020
  • IP licensor for Avengers Infinity Quest; announced game on Facebook (33 million followers). Host credits Stern with securing strong Marvel partnership early in development.

    #13 - Avengers Infinity Quest Revealed, Elwin is the GOATSep 3, 2020
  • Intellectual property holder; Avengers, Doctor Strange licensing context; host analyzes strategic character selection

    Where Does Pinball Go From Here? $30,000 JJP POTC CE - Do Themes Matter? (Ep. 47)Mar 10, 2021
  • IP rights holder for Deadpool character licensed to Stern Pinball

    Deadpool Tutorial - Pinball GuideOct 3, 2025
  • IP licensor for Venom character and Marvel Universe elements in game

    VENOM REVEALEDJul 18, 2023
  • IP licensor for Iron Man franchise; film source material

    Iron Man LiteOct 13, 2010
  • Marvel X-Men franchises referenced as 2018 top films

    IS PINBALL’S FUTURE IN THE PAST?Apr 8, 2019
  • Licensor imposing restrictive gun imagery requirements on Deadpool and other pinball titles.

    Flip N Out With Friends: Catching Up With George Gomez (Stern Pinball) (2024)May 10, 2024
  • IP licensor with long-term collaborative relationship with Stern; dominant pinball theme supplier

    Why We See So Many Stern Marvel Pinball Machines, The Making of Venom & MoreJul 27, 2023
  • Competing IP portfolio with 11+ pinball adaptations, demonstrating market saturation vs. DC absence

    Why We Don't See More DC Comics Licensed Pinball MachinesJul 24, 2023
  • IP licensor for Venom pinball collaboration

    Stern Pinball Fully Reveals New Cornerstone Pinball Machine - VenomJul 18, 2023
  • IP licensor; multiple characters rumored in game (Hulk, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Captain America)

    Stern Pinball Venom Official Reveal Date; Pricing; New RumorsJul 11, 2023
  • Disney property; existing Stern pinball licensee

    Stern Pinball News...Insider Connected App, New Disney Theme?, Newer Music Pins?Aug 4, 2022
  • IP rights holder collaborating with Stern on X-Men pinball and accessory line

    Marvel and Stern Pinball Launch Full Line of The Uncanny X-Men Pinball Machine AccessoriesDec 2, 2025
  • IP holder for Avengers franchise; referenced in context of gem placement and character elements in game

    Beating Avengers Infinity Quest PinballSep 1, 2022
  • IP owner collaborating with Stern on The Uncanny X-Men pinball; also involved in Marvel Cosmic Invasion video game

    Stern Pinball Officially Reveals Accessories for The Uncanny X-Men; A New Marvel Beat 'Em Up; Three Musketeers Pinball PrototypeDec 2, 2025
  • Theme announced for upcoming SHUI tournament.

    Drinks with Jack* (Featuring Rebecca Hinsdale and Jody Dankberg) - Ep 8 Imoto Harney & Tim SextonNov 4, 2022
  • IP licensor for Deadpool character and theme

    The Making of Deadpool PinballOct 22, 2018
  • Deadpool IP licensor; involved in speech content vetting with Stern for appropriateness

    Episode 59 – Wayne Gillard: Pinball Distributor and MillionaireSep 10, 2018
  • IP holder; AIQ uses Marvel comic branding rather than MCU film license; theme licensing constraints discussed

    The Pinball Show Ep 30: ♫ Waiting For A Game To Drop ♫Sep 21, 2020
  • IP licensor; 11-table pack confirmed for day one launch, split into at least two releases

    Pinball FX Feb 16 Launch DetailsFeb 6, 2023
  • IP licensor; approved voice actors for X-Men characters; controls character representation and licensing terms

    Ep 147: Hands On Uncanny XmenSep 24, 2024
  • IP licensor controlling X-Men rights; sold X-Men film rights cheaply to Fox, then developed Avengers as replacement A-team

    Ep 145 X-men and AvatarSep 5, 2024
  • IP rights holder for Star Wars comics; created licensing complications for Stern's Star Wars Comic Edition due to overlap with Lucasfilm licensing

    Ep 187: Star Wars to John Wick | Inside Stern Pinball Art with Randy MartinezJan 23, 2026
  • License holder; imposed constraints preventing game from resembling films, video games, or comics

    Deadpool Pinball RetrospectiveSep 21, 2025
  • Mentioned as an example of handling duplicate IP listings in the analysis methodology

    Pokemon is the #1 media franchise in the world. Here's a look at the next 136 highest grossers.Feb 14, 2026
  • License holder for Venom intellectual property; approved use of 20+ Symbiote characters in game.

    The Making of Venom PinballFeb 22, 2024
  • Licensor of X-Men intellectual property to Stern Pinball

    The Making of The Uncanny X-MenJan 22, 2025
  • IP licensor for Avengers; required actor approvals for voice work

    Avenger's LE Pinball with George Gomez of Stern PinballDec 16, 2012
  • IP licensor for X-Men, provided asset materials and style guides to Stern

    X-MEN Pinball - Behind the Scenes at Stern PinballAug 10, 2012
  • IP licensor for Guardians of the Galaxy. Required artist approval process, vetting artwork samples, and final sign-off on design elements

    Episode 38 – Christopher Franchi Hexagon Threesome + Mrs Pin!Apr 9, 2018
  • IP licensor for Deadpool character

    Episode 56 – Scott Danesi on Game 2 + Deadpool impressionsAug 13, 2018
  • IP licensor for multiple Stern games; described as having straightforward licensing requirements

    Drinks With Jack Featuring Art Leads Jeremy Packer, Steven Martin & Chuck Ernst (Part 2)Dec 30, 2025
  • X-Men comic book franchise licensor

    The Uncanny X-Men Pinball Presented by Stern PinballSep 4, 2024
  • IP licensor for Avengers: Infinity Quest; provided limited animation assets

    The Making of Stern's Avengers: Infinity Quest Pinball!Jun 4, 2021
  • IP licensor for Avengers theme

    Making of Avengers Pinball from Stern PinballJan 6, 2013