Marvel Fanboys Better Get Used to the Mouse

Disney to acquire Marvel universe in $4.3 billion deal

Mickey Mouse is one step closer to getting super powers.

On Thursday, shareholders of the comics-titan Marvel Entertainment Inc. approved a deal that would make the company a wholly owned subsidiary of the Walt Disney Co.

Marvel -- famous for characters such Spider Man, Iron Man, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four -- would bring its army of more than 5,000 characters to the Disney balance sheets.

Disney already owns Pixar, the Emeryville, Calif.-based studio well-known for its computer-animated films like Toy Story and Wall-E.

While Pixar movies appeal to young children and parents and Disney's traditional fare appeals to tweens and teenage girls, Marvel's characters are popular with teenage boys, filling out a weak spot in Disney's lineup.

Based on the closing price of Disney's common stock, the merger is valued at $4.3 billion, according to Marvel.

The deal was expected to be completed after the close of the market Thursday.

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