ITASCA, Ill., Feb. 17, 2006 -- OfficeMax®, one of the nation's largest office supply distributors, joins TeachersCount and Marvel Entertainment in asking middle school students to nominate their favorite teacher to become the "OfficeMax Super Hero Teacher of the Year" in a nationwide contest recognizing outstanding teachers.

Students in grades six through eight can nominate a teacher by writing an essay in 200 words or less describing "Why My Teacher Is a Super Hero" and submitting their nomination before March 17. Both the grand-prize winning teacher and the nominating student will make an illustrated cameo appearance in a Marvel comic book as well as in a special-edition comic book honoring teachers. The grand-prize winning teacher will receive $6,000 in prizes for school and personal classroom supplies and for continuing education support. The student who nominates the winning teacher will earn a $500 OfficeMax gift card. Five first-prize winning teachers and students will win $100 OfficeMax gift cards and will also be featured in the custom, teacher-themed comic book featuring well-known super heroes in the Marvel Universe.

"OfficeMax has a long-standing tradition of supporting teachers and education through our MaxPerks for Teachers program and our Teacher Appreciation events," said Sam Duncan, chairman and chief executive officer, OfficeMax. "This contest showcases America's teachers as the real-life heroes they are, overcoming difficult challenges every day to help educate our nation's children."

Contest details are available at participating OfficeMax stores and at http://www.officemax.com, http://www.teacherscount.org, http://www.coverconcepts.com or http://www.marvel.com. Contest entry forms are available at participating OfficeMax stores and at http://www.teacherscount.org/contest. Completed entries must be dropped off at OfficeMax stores by Friday, March 17 or mailed with a postmark no later than March 17 to TeachersCount, a non-profit organization committed to garnering recognition and benefits for teachers.

"We believe teachers can be heroes, and that's what this contest is all about -- reminding the public that teachers count in a big way and deserve to be recognized," said Diana Burroughs, executive director, TeachersCount.

The winning OfficeMax Super Hero Teacher of the Year will be announced on National Teacher Day -- Tuesday, May 9. A judging committee comprised of representatives from OfficeMax, TeachersCount, Marvel Entertainment, the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers will select the winners.

"Marvel is delighted to create this special comic book for the dedicated men and women who truly shape the future by teaching our youth," said Robert Sabouni, vice president, Marvel Entertainment's Custom Publishing and Cover Concepts. "We have been partnering with teachers for a very long time, and have always known that they are our true heroes. We couldn't think of a more appropriate way to recognize that fact."

About OfficeMax Incorporated
OfficeMax Incorporated is a leader in both business-to-business office products solutions and retail office products. OfficeMax delivers an unparalleled customer experience -- in service, in product, in time savings, and in value -- through a relentless focus on its customers. The company provides office supplies and paper, print and document services, technology products and solutions, and furniture to consumers and to large, medium and small businesses. OfficeMax customers are served by approximately 40,000 associates through direct sales, catalogs, the Internet and nearly 900 superstores. OfficeMax trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol OMX. To find the nearest OfficeMax, call 1-877-OFFICEMAX. For more information, visit http://www.officemax.com.

About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world. More information about Marvel can be found at http://www.marvel.com.

About Marvel's Cover Concepts
Cover Concepts, a division of Marvel Entertainment, is America's largest resource for free materials in the classroom, reaching 30 million kids grades K-12 in 43,000 schools nationwide. Cover Concepts recently expanded its network to include daycare centers, public libraries and summer camps in an effort to provide for as many kids as possible. Cover Concepts works in tandem with administrators and directors to distribute free, sponsored materials such as textbook covers, lesson plans, posters, bookmarks, samples, and other fun educational materials. Teachers and administrators interested in receiving free materials for their schools can join Cover Concepts nationwide network at http://www.coverconcepts.com.

About TeachersCount
TeachersCount is a national, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with two main objectives: (1) to improve the public's perception of the teaching profession using public service announcements and related initiatives designed to recognize the accomplishments of teachers, and (2) to provide services, resources, and information to teachers, prospective teachers, and others interested in education and the teaching profession. For more information, visit http://www.teacherscount.org.