generated: '2026-08-03'
method: probed
status: published
description: Marvel retired its developer portal. Every developer.marvel.com path
  now 302s to the marvel.com homepage, so there is no documentation, no account page
  and no way to obtain an API key. The gateway host still resolves but errors. Treat
  this API as RETIRED for new consumers — existing keys may or may not still work,
  but none can be issued.
verified: '2026-08-03'
lifecycle:
  stage: retired
  new_signups: false
  key_issuance: false
  reported_by: https://github.com/api-evangelist/marvel/issues/1
  reported_at: '2026-08-03'
deprecation:
  announced: null
  note: No deprecation notice was published at a URL we can cite; the portal simply
    redirects.
evidence:
- url: https://developer.marvel.com
  status: 200
  redirects_to: https://www.marvel.com/
  note: SOFT 404 — a 200 after redirect, which is why link checking never flagged
    it.
- url: https://developer.marvel.com/documentation/getting_started
  status: 200
  redirects_to: https://www.marvel.com/
- url: https://developer.marvel.com/account
  status: 200
  redirects_to: https://www.marvel.com/
  note: No signup or key management remains.
- url: https://gateway.marvel.com/v1/public/characters
  status: 500
  note: Gateway resolves but errors; not a usable surface.
alternatives:
- name: Comic Vine
  url: https://comicvine.gamespot.com/api/
  status: 200
  note: GameSpot-run comics database with a documented API and free keys.
- name: Superhero API
  url: https://superheroapi.com/
  status: 200
  note: Character data across publishers, free token.
- name: Metron
  url: https://metron.cloud/
  status: 200
  note: Open comics database; API returns 401 unauthenticated, so accounts exist.