Which comic-book publisher did The Walt Disney Company acquire in 2009 for about $4 billion?

The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment in 2009 for about $4 billion.

Disney announced the transaction on August 31, 2009, and Marvel shareholders approved it in December. The deal covered Marvel's characters, comic-book publishing operations, and extensive licensing interests, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Avengers.

The acquisition strengthened Disney's position in film, television, consumer products, and theme parks. Marvel Studios continued developing films, while Disney supplied broader distribution and marketing resources. The arrangement helped lead to the interconnected Marvel Cinematic Universe becoming one of the world's most successful film franchises.

A common mix-up is naming Marvel Studios as the acquired company. Marvel Studios was a major Marvel filmmaking division, but the legal acquisition involved Marvel Entertainment, the parent company. Disney separately made later deals involving other entertainment brands.