Company: Marvel Entertainment Inc

Popular brands don’t always stay popular, but some that fall out of favor return to the marketplace in better positions than they held before being written off. See the brands that defied conventional wisdom and came back after everyone counted them out.

The superhero contest – at least at the box office – is upping the ante with new installments of comic-book adaptations for the big screen, as well as adding new franchises to the mix. After "The Avengers," more are on the way.

Whether it's running a multinational company or a family business, being the CEO requires a special set of skills. The demands are even greater for those taking the helm at a struggling company.