Disney buys comic giant Marvel

Bosses at entertainment powerhouse Walt Disney have agreed a multi-billion dollar deal to buy Marvel Entertainment - giving the company the rights to superheroes including Iron Man, Spider-Man and the X-Men .

Through the agreement, valued at around $4 billion, the company will take on the extensive library of over 5,000 Marvel Comics characters, which also include the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Thor and Captain America.

Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, says, "We believe that adding Marvel to Disney's unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation. We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney."

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