Marvel Entertainment Group is seeking new licensees in the apparel, jewelry and accessories categories for its roster of comic book hero characters.

The licenses have become available after Toy Biz, which had handled these product areas for Marvel, decided to focus exclusively on Marvel’s toy line. Current licensing will be done through Marvel Characters.

Activity in this area is currently limited to specialty categories such as hats and underwear. The company is negotiating with several manufacturers and hopes to have contracts signed by the end of this month. Time constraints may limit retail opportunities for the fall of 1996, when an animated version of its property The Incredible Hulk debuts on UPN. Marvel hopes to have a full line of apparel licenses running at full speed. After Hulk, the next big property to move to an animated series will be Silver Surfer in the fall of 1997.

The available licenses will give manufacturers access to new and classic Marvel characters including Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, The Fantastic Four and Iron Man.