Disney to Buy Marvel for $4 Billion

superman-prime · Post by **superman-prime** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:14 pm

but TPBs sell so well at B&N

400yrs · Post by **400yrs** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:55 pm

sanman wrote: I’m okay with the big annual events to a degree (many of you may know I'm totally into Blackest Night). What drives me up a tree is that monthlies are now written to be collected—that’s the real problem.

Why do you consider that a problem?

Trades are the big money makers so stories have to be written for trades. I think comics have to be written for every manner in which they will see print. The absolute MASTER of this is Kirkman. I'll use The Walking Dead as the example:

Single issues - nearly every single issue ends with a cliffhanger if it's not the end of a long arc. If it's the end of the arc, it will usually end with some kind of resolution or movement toward the next arc.

Trades - (6 issues) you can pick up a TWD trade and get a full story arc out of it. Beginning, middle, end in one big chunk.

Hardcovers - (12 issues) Same idea as a trade, but 2 arcs that fit together.

Omnibus - (24 issues) Same idea as trade, but 4 arcs that flow.

Compendium - (48 issues) Captures the entire prison story-line and reads as one giant, flowing piece of work composed of several smaller ones.

Hell, I've seen him end 5 page previews with Cliffhangers before to get people hyped.

If trades, HCs, etc. are what generates the most cash over single issues, you have to write for them.

400yrs · Post by **400yrs** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:06 am

Escaflown4 wrote:Here are some interesting insights on what Disney plans to do with Marvel....

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/15745.html

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/15746.html

This was VERY interesting:

Disney’s book distribution through HarperCollins has been very successful at getting Disney books (especially those based on Disney’s girl properties) into mass outlets, an area where Marvel is less successful. To take advantage of that opportunity, Marvel could pull its book distribution from Diamond Book Distributors to go with other Disney products through HarperCollins when the Diamond deal is up. The first three-year deal between Marvel and Diamond Book ended in October of 2007 (see “Marvel Confirms Diamond as Book Distributor”); if the renewal was for the same length, it would be up in October of 2010. Diamond declined to answer our question about the term of the agreement.

Other possibilities include a consolidation of both lines with Diamond Book, a move to a third distributor, setting up its own distribution, or keeping the lines split for book distribution purposes.

Diamond better get their *SQUEE* in gear or Disney could be the next comic distributor. I'm liking this more and more as I think about it.

superman-prime · Post by **superman-prime** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:45 am

just buy diamond or let DC do that

sanman · Post by **sanman** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:52 am

400yrs wrote:
sanman wrote: I’m okay with the big annual events to a degree (many of you may know I'm totally into Blackest Night). What drives me up a tree is that monthlies are now written to be collected—that’s the real problem.
Why do you consider that a problem?

Trades are the big money makers so stories have to be written for trades. I think comics have to be written for every manner in which they will see print. The absolute MASTER of this is Kirkman. I'll use The Walking Dead as the example:

Single issues - nearly every single issue ends with a cliffhanger if it's not the end of a long arc. If it's the end of the arc, it will usually end with some kind of resolution or movement toward the next arc.

Trades - (6 issues) you can pick up a TWD trade and get a full story arc out of it. Beginning, middle, end in one big chunk.

Hardcovers - (12 issues) Same idea as a trade, but 2 arcs that fit together.

Omnibus - (24 issues) Same idea as trade, but 4 arcs that flow.

Compendium - (48 issues) Captures the entire prison story-line and reads as one giant, flowing piece of work composed of several smaller ones.

Hell, I've seen him end 5 page previews with Cliffhangers before to get people hyped.

If trades, HCs, etc. are what generates the most cash over single issues, you have to write for them.

I understand your point but...

I don’t terribly mind the long story when I’ve committed to a particular title. However, in reference to the casual reader or a title I may be only curious about the 6+ issue commitment makes sampling difficult. And let’s not forget that comics cost 2.99 – 3.99 today.

superman-prime wrote: between dc and marvel there are very few comics that have self contained stories now a days and I think it hurts the medium as a whole

I totally agree with him. The collected style is making it hard for new folks (and readers with less disposable cash) to jump in. Kinda reminds me of the TV show Lost. I hear that it’s a great show but one has to know so much continuity to watch it—so why bother. My guess that’s the same with The Walking Dead but I haven’t read an issue.

So for the committed adult, yes, trades, hardcovers, omnibus, and compendiums are fantastic. However for introducing kids to comics—not really. When I first discover comics in the 80’s I could go to a gas station and sample different titles. Because they were cheap and mostly self contained I would buy them as I had extra money. Furthermore had I not enjoyed comics as a kid I probably would not own one now.

Kids today don’t have that option and with other competing forms of entertainment such as video games, iTunes down loads, etc. they’re not carrying on the tradition. There’s a reason why on a Wednesday most of the people at LCSs are adults.

Are comics entertaining for us? Absolutely. However, without new readers the industry is going to continue to implode and the long format is not very welcoming.

Jaknife · Post by **Jaknife** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:21 pm

noooooooooooooooooooooooooo

ian_house · Post by **ian_house** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:27 pm

Jaknife wrote:

noooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Ha ha, I'd like to see a straight swap. Belles beast fighting sentinels whilst Hank McCoy romances Belle!

Jaknife · Post by **Jaknife** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:43 pm

it would probably be a better switch. marvel beast is educated, can probably dance, and loves to read. disney beast is violent.

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:09 pm

ian_house wrote:
Jaknife wrote:

noooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Ha ha, I'd like to see a straight swap. Belles beast fighting sentinels whilst Hank McCoy romances Belle!

Hank already had Dazzler all hotted-up for him, remember...

-slym

geocarr · Post by **geocarr** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:53 pm

At my age and maturity (or lack thereof if you know me that well), I'll take trades and the longer stories any day now over the monthlies even if they did offer sel-contained stories.

I think the trade/HC market has alot of potential to expand to expand and bring on new readers with the right marketing, exposure, and distribution which is just what Disney does best.

I think monthlies with self-contained stories should only be written for the 5-19 age bracket in order to cultivate new readers, and, again, I think Disney is probably best suited to target and reel them in for reasons stated above.

X-O HoboJoe · Post by **X-O HoboJoe** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm

Disney can fight Diamond. And win.

BloodOfHeroes · Post by **BloodOfHeroes** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:40 pm

But could they defeat WalMart? Like two falls out of three?

Cyberstrike · Post by **Cyberstrike** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm

400yrs wrote:
Escaflown4 wrote:Here are some interesting insights on what Disney plans to do with Marvel....

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/15745.html

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/15746.html

This was VERY interesting:

Disney’s book distribution through HarperCollins has been very successful at getting Disney books (especially those based on Disney’s girl properties) into mass outlets, an area where Marvel is less successful. To take advantage of that opportunity, Marvel could pull its book distribution from Diamond Book Distributors to go with other Disney products through HarperCollins when the Diamond deal is up. The first three-year deal between Marvel and Diamond Book ended in October of 2007 (see “Marvel Confirms Diamond as Book Distributor”); if the renewal was for the same length, it would be up in October of 2010. Diamond declined to answer our question about the term of the agreement.

Other possibilities include a consolidation of both lines with Diamond Book, a move to a third distributor, setting up its own distribution, or keeping the lines split for book distribution purposes.
Diamond better get their *SQUEE* in gear or Disney could be the next comic distributor. I'm liking this more and more as I think about it.

IF and the key word here is IF Disney were to set up another distributor for Marvel only then it chances are it would be a disaster similar to when Marvel bought Heroes World back in the 90s. If Disney were to set up another distributor that would also distribute comics published by DC, IDW, DH, and everybody else that wanted to go them then you have something great that could happen.

X-O HoboJoe · Post by **X-O HoboJoe** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm

BloodOfHeroes wrote:But could they defeat WalMart? Like two falls out of three?

Dizney luvs them some Wally-World.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:22 pm

X-O HoboJoe wrote:
BloodOfHeroes wrote:But could they defeat WalMart? Like two falls out of three?
Dizney luvs them some Wally-World.

Soon they shall rule the world...bwahahahaha.....

400yrs · Post by **400yrs** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm

Cyberstrike wrote:
400yrs wrote:
Escaflown4 wrote:Here are some interesting insights on what Disney plans to do with Marvel....

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/15745.html

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/15746.html

This was VERY interesting:

Disney’s book distribution through HarperCollins has been very successful at getting Disney books (especially those based on Disney’s girl properties) into mass outlets, an area where Marvel is less successful. To take advantage of that opportunity, Marvel could pull its book distribution from Diamond Book Distributors to go with other Disney products through HarperCollins when the Diamond deal is up. The first three-year deal between Marvel and Diamond Book ended in October of 2007 (see “Marvel Confirms Diamond as Book Distributor”); if the renewal was for the same length, it would be up in October of 2010. Diamond declined to answer our question about the term of the agreement.

Other possibilities include a consolidation of both lines with Diamond Book, a move to a third distributor, setting up its own distribution, or keeping the lines split for book distribution purposes.
Diamond better get their *SQUEE* in gear or Disney could be the next comic distributor. I'm liking this more and more as I think about it.
IF and the key word here is IF Disney were to set up another distributor for Marvel only then it chances are it would be a disaster similar to when Marvel bought Heroes World back in the 90s. If Disney were to set up another distributor that would also distribute comics published by DC, IDW, DH, and everybody else that wanted to go them then you have something great that could happen.

Yep. If they only plan on distributing to Disney stores, then obviously it would only be Marvel books that are sent. Disney wouldn't give the business of shipping to Disney stores to Diamond. No way. They'd keep those costs in house.

If they decided to distribute to Marvel books to LCSs as well, I'm certain they would also distribute at least the other 3 - DC, DH, Image. If you are already shipping your books to LCSs, you've already got everything you need set up so you might as well bring in some revenues from the other comic companies.

sanman · Post by **sanman** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:41 pm

geocarr wrote: I think monthlies with self-contained stories should only be written for the 5-19 age bracket in order to cultivate new readers, and, again, I think Disney is probably best suited to target and reel them in for reasons stated above.

I don't have a problem with that--would provide a great option.

Escaflown4 · Post by **Escaflown4** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:20 am

Here's more insider information about the Disney / Marvel deal. They also have more links to other related articles that can answer many questions surrounding this deal. What's most interesting is the Universal / Disney theme parks debate over the use of the current licenses.

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/behin ... rvel-deal/

terreth · Post by **terreth** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 9:03 am

Escaflown4 wrote:Here's more insider information about the Disney / Marvel deal. They also have more links to other related articles that can answer many questions surrounding this deal. What's most interesting is the Universal / Disney theme parks debate over the use of the current licenses.

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/behin ... rvel-deal/

Thanks for the link.

hulk181man · Post by **hulk181man** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 12:20 pm

I'm waiting for The Big Bad Werewolf by Night title to come out....

X-O HoboJoe · Post by **X-O HoboJoe** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 2:22 pm

That got Little Scarlet Riding Witch in it?

superman-prime · Post by **superman-prime** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 7:30 pm

Zaphod · Post by **Zaphod** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 4:35 pm

I can't figure out how to make this first one viewable as an image, but here is the link to the post: http://hfboards.com/showpost.php?p=2094 ... stcount=31

Zaphod · Post by **Zaphod** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 4:48 pm

on topic, printed comics is a dying medium. Much like horseback warfare, the milkman delivering to your home and quality SNL broadcasts, the world moves on.

superman-prime · Post by **superman-prime** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 6:53 pm

Great posts Zap