Disney purchases Marvel

[ZariusTwo]

Stan Lee shills just about anything.

This is the man who, when he ISNT backing anything Marvel do, he's suing them

[Archon_Turtle]

Eventually I could see "crossovers" in more of the mashup style Disney uses for Star Wars. Stuff like this, but with Marvel. You get the idea.

[That Matt Guy]

Originally Posted by Barkworm

Errr... at least in Germany Marvel Comics WERE available at every newsstand and bookshop. It was in the mid-90s. It was a fad and it was over rather quickly.

Yeah, even in the US back then. I remember buying comics at gas stations.

[Barkworm]

Do people really still care about what Stan Lee has to say?

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by Barkworm

Do people really still care about what Stan Lee has to say?

Considering he revived Spider-Man's marraige in the newspaper strip,..yes. He clearly still knows what a HERO actually is. And he has more of an ironic sense of humour that Marvel's current crop of hacks PRETEND to have. I'd still read something from him even if it'd be a tad melodramatic.

This is what's wrong with comic fans of today. No respect for the people that brought them all the heroes they want beating each up and acting like seedy douchebags rather than bail anyone out of a fire or a collapsing building. THIS is how Marvel have gotten so succesful the last ten years. Moraless vacuam shock value and an emphasis on hack writers indulging in playground politics

[Brodie]

I sure will miss the Punisher MAX line.

[Spike Spiegel]

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

This is what's wrong with comic fans of today. No respect for the people that brought them all the heroes they want beating each up and acting like seedy douchebags rather than bail anyone out of a fire or a collapsing building. THIS is how Marvel have gotten so succesful the last ten years. Moraless vacuam shock value and an emphasis on hack writers indulging in playground politics

I feel the same way more or less...I've seen way too many "universe shattering events" on both the Marvel and DC sides thes past few years,i.e.:

One More Day
Batman R.I.P
Infinite Crisis
Secret Invasion
Civil War
Back in Black (cheap gimmick)
Identity Crisis
52

[Magneto]

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

Considering he revived Spider-Man's marraige in the newspaper strip,..yes.

Did Stan actually revive the marriage? Or simply left it alone with the newspaper strip by ignoring the whole "deal with the devil" the Marvel comics chose to go with?

I've never read the Spider-Man newspaper strip, but I always thought it was the latter, rather than the former.

As far as the Disney buying Marvel story, I don't see it affecting the comics in any way at this point. Films and especially merchandising, yes. Exposure? Yes. But the comics are really just a small drop of water in the big money river Disney has. So, no. I can't see that being toyed with to the extent some are fearing.

[Raph's Girl]

Nuff said

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by Superman \S/

Did Stan actually revive the marriage? Or simply left it alone with the newspaper strip by ignoring the whole "deal with the devil" the Marvel comics chose to go with?

He sort of snubbed BND by having Peter wake up from a dream to find he was still married. The last six months before that storyline had been a "flashback" to when he dated MJ just to plug BND. The fact he wakes up a nightmare is intended to imply everything in BND is something Stan would rather ignore.

Really, the only Spidey continuity worth a damn in terms of growing the characters and giving them new responsibilities is Tom DeFalco's MC2 canon..which, like the newspaper strip, has lasted eleven years despite three cancelations. Disney marketing Spider-Girl towards it's female audience would be a boost for that character. It's obvious her time has come, but alas, I think it will remain the undervalued classic it's always been. The irony of this is that Joe Quesada is a fan of the title and gives it more chances than he ever does with Exiles to be a success. Some argue Tom needs to pass the torch to another writer so it can have more range, others are protective of how Tom views the character, but I think if he had creative control and a fresh talent (in particular a bigger "name", which alas, DeFalco has never been, despite Roger Stern calling him Spidey's best writer besides Stan) DID have a shot, it could potentially boost sales better.

The newspaper strip is notoriously hard to find due to it's declining circulation in Newspapers, but it has remained in publication for thirty years regardless, it has also been gaining considerable success on the internet over the last few years by either being parodied or having the original versions hosted online.

It's fun, accessible, and still features Peter and MJ acting more or less in-character and in refreshingly positive and mature roles. It's a delight to read and I would rather count these rather than the last ten years of character derailment that has destroyed not just those two, but every member of the Spider-Man supporting cast whose name isnt Norman Osborn

I go with what the guy who created (or co-created depending on your view of Lee/Ditko's collaberations together) the character rather than what the company wants. Sales for ASM are in the s*itter and the character would be on the brink of sheer irrelevancy if it werent for Marvel succesfully branding their products

As far as the Disney buying Marvel story, I don't see it affecting the comics in any way at this point. Films and especially merchandising, yes. Exposure? Yes. But the comics are really just a small drop of water in the big money river Disney has. So, no. I can't see that being toyed with to the extent some are fearing.

The rise in the level of moralles filth on both sides is attrocious and DOES need to be addressed by a corproate intervention in the same way the Comics Code was initiated...it's not happening anytime soon, but to say it will never happen is a little short-sighted.

Originally Posted by Spike Spiegel

I feel the same way more or less...I've seen way too many "universe shattering events" on both the Marvel and DC sides thes past few years,i.e.:

One More Day
Batman R.I.P
Infinite Crisis
Secret Invasion
Civil War
Back in Black (cheap gimmick)
Identity Crisis
52

it's hard to judge Batman R.I.P since everyone knew it was just Bruce taking a break for a few years, and because it's part of a longer story that hasnt finished yet, but I agree with everything else listed.

[Magneto]

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

He sort of snubbed BND by having Peter wake up from a dream to find he was still married. The last six months before that storyline had been a "flashback" to when he dated MJ just to plug BND. The fact he wakes up a nightmare is intended to imply everything in BND is something Stan would rather ignore.

Really, the only Spidey continuity worth a damn in terms of growing the characters and giving them new responsibilities is Tom DeFalco's MC2 canon..which, like the newspaper strip, has lasted eleven years despite three cancelations. Disney marketing Spider-Girl towards it's female audience would be a boost for that character. It's obvious her time has come, but alas, I think it will remain the undervalued classic it's always been. The irony of this is that Joe Quesada is a fan of the title and gives it more chances than he ever does with Exiles to be a success. Some argue Tom needs to pass the torch to another writer so it can have more range, others are protective of how Tom views the character, but I think if he had creative control and a fresh talent (in particular a bigger "name", which alas, DeFalco has never been, despite Roger Stern calling him Spidey's best writer besides Stan) DID have a shot, it could potentially boost sales better.

The newspaper strip is notoriously hard to find due to it's declining circulation in Newspapers, but it has remained in publication for thirty years regardless, it has also been gaining considerable success on the internet over the last few years by either being parodied or having the original versions hosted online.

It's fun, accessible, and still features Peter and MJ acting more or less in-character and in refreshingly positive and mature roles. It's a delight to read and I would rather count these rather than the last ten years of character derailment that has destroyed not just those two, but every member of the Spider-Man supporting cast whose name isnt Norman Osborn

I go with what the guy who created (or co-created depending on your view of Lee/Ditko's collaberations together) the character rather than what the company wants. Sales for ASM are in the s*itter and the character would be on the brink of sheer irrelevancy if it werent for Marvel succesfully branding their products

Joe Q has made no bones about his thoughts on the marriage between Peter Parker and Mary Jane for years now. So it wasnt too surprising to see it being retconned out, but it's quite unfortunate that it was done in such a shoddy way (deal with the devil? eh). Stan Lee, to his credit, is very much aware of the dissatisfaction a good number of fans have had with this decision, and he's basically giving Spider-Man fans the best of both worlds. If they prefer Joe Q's version, there you go. If you prefer the Ultimate line, there you go. And if you prefer the marriage intact, apparently the newspaper strip is .. well .. the way to go. Even if the strip plays no role in Marvel 616 continuity, making it .. I'm sure ... bittersweet to some fans who enjoy it for what it is.

Personally, I've enjoyed some of the stuff that has come down the pike since BND, but I could do without OMD, much like the horrid Sins Past.

The rise in the level of moralles filth on both sides is attrocious and DOES need to be addressed by a corproate intervention in the same way the Comics Code was initiated...it's not happening anytime soon, but to say it will never happen is a little short-sighted.

Yeah, you kinda lost me here. Pretty much the last thing that needs to happen is a big brother type program stepping in to essenti\ally regulate in terms of what has been presented in comics (especially in this decade). I mean, really. To actually ask for something of along the lines of a Comics Code Authority is a little short-sighted as well, and could very well be the equivalent of opening a can of worms.

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by Superman \S/

Joe Q has made no bones about his thoughts on the marriage between Peter Parker and Mary Jane for years now. So it wasnt too surprising to see it being retconned out, but it's quite unfortunate that it was done in such a shoddy way (deal with the devil? eh). Stan Lee, to his credit, is very much aware of the dissatisfaction a good number of fans have had with this decision, and he's basically giving Spider-Man fans the best of both worlds. If they prefer Joe Q's version, there you go. If you prefer the Ultimate line, there you go.

Quesada is the same. In one of his interviews, he admited one of the other reasons for BND was to boost sales of Spider-Girl and eventually give her some leverage with a wider audience since Peter and MJ have grown as parents in that continuity, plus it's outlasted EVERY attempt at rebooting continuity to the point it's practically definitive.

I don't mind if Marvel want to reboot the franchise, it's obvious they think they have no choice, but they could have just made the Ultimate Universe the mainstream timeline and boosted it's popularity, instead of slowly depriving it of it's dignity and relevancy.

They not only went about rebooting Spider-Man the wrong way, they have not been true to the characters at all since BND began. Combine that with the writers throwing temper tantrums at the fans online, and there's the reason why the title is slowly failing to sell.

And if you prefer the marriage intact, apparently the newspaper strip is .. well .. the way to go. Even if the strip plays no role in Marvel 616 continuity, making it .. I'm sure ... bittersweet to some fans who enjoy it for what it is.

Bittersweet? Hardly. It actually fits so well into continuity and even gives readers a chance to plug gaps with fresh continuty (not to mention seems to be bringing back long-discarded characterisation like Sandman going straight), that it makes BND look even more incompetant and dated. Reallisticly, it's not contributing to the sales decline of ASM, but it's still TRUE Spider-Man. That's something BND can barely lay claim to.

Yeah, you kinda lost me here. Pretty much the last thing that needs to happen is a big brother type program stepping in to essenti\ally regulate in terms of what has been presented in comics (especially in this decade). I mean, really. To actually ask for something of along the lines of a Comics Code Authority is a little short-sighted as well, and could very well be the equivalent of opening a can of worms.

I don't want a repeat of the "Comics Code" fiasco (which we all know Stan Lee gave the finger too, leading to comics striking back and doing whatever they wanted again). What I meant was for more "quality control" for titles that are capable of demonstrating taboo issues and those that do not based on character and format.

[Magneto]

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

Quesada is the same. In one of his interviews, he admited one of the other reasons for BND was to boost sales of Spider-Girl and eventually give her some leverage with a wider audience since Peter and MJ have grown as parents in that continuity, plus it's outlasted EVERY attempt at rebooting continuity to the point it's practically definitive.

That's a pretty shoddy reason amongst others for the idea of BND, but that's not all that terribly surprising. Under Joseph's reign as Editor-in-Chief, Spider-Man has experienced some very unsatisfying storylines come about. OMD being one, BND being another, and the previously mentioned Sins Past being yet another (just off the top of my head). Thankfully for him, he can always fall back on the Ultimate line being created under his tenure. Otherwise, he would appear pretty inept when it comes to handling Spider-Man in my estimation.

I don't mind if Marvel want to reboot the franchise, it's obvious they think they have no choice, but they could have just made the Ultimate Universe the mainstream timeline and boosted it's popularity, instead of slowly depriving it of it's dignity and relevancy.

As mentioned above, I think alot of fans find Joe Q completely inept when handling anything related to Spider-Man. He's been dead set on doing away with the marriage for years now, and if that was truly the case, which it is, you would think it wouldnt have been implemented in such a shoddy way as we saw in OMD. But whats done is done. Spider-Man franchise, and Quesada's strong feelings about having Peter single again aside, I think most fans will still take the reg 616 universe over the ultimate line anyday. Theres alot of good stuff in the regular continuity that is extremely entertaining. It really doesnt need a complete overall.

Bittersweet? Hardly. It actually fits so well into continuity and even gives readers a chance to plug gaps with fresh continuty (not to mention seems to be bringing back long-discarded characterisation like Sandman going straight), that it makes BND look even more incompetant and dated. Reallisticly, it's not contributing to the sales decline of ASM, but it's still TRUE Spider-Man. That's something BND can barely lay claim to.

That's exactly what would make reading such a strip bittersweet in my estimation. To read something that feels more like Spider-Man than what is currently being presented in the marvel comics (since it's very apparent that comparisons are going to be made), and to know all-too-well in the back of your mind that it will never be acknowledged in the continuity.

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by Superman \S/

That's a pretty shoddy reason amongst others for the idea of BND, but that's not all that terribly surprising. Under Joseph's reign as Editor-in-Chief, Spider-Man has experienced some very unsatisfying storylines come about. OMD being one, BND being another, and the previously mentioned Sins Past being yet another (just off the top of my head). Thankfully for him, he can always fall back on the Ultimate line being created under his tenure. Otherwise, he would appear pretty inept when it comes to handling Spider-Man in my estimation.

He also paved the way for Marvel Knights (which was ANOTHER fresh continuity that he never used, despite there being LESS reason to retell origin stories because the MK line's purpose was to tell iconic stories)

I think most fans will still take the reg 616 universe over the ultimate line anyday.

All the more ludicrous for them to prefer a continuity that has had it's chronology, beleivability, and mature characterisation of half it's superhero roster deliberatly tossed out of the window just to make money. That's what I call "rewarding stupidity".

They won't budge from 616 because Marvel itself doesnt want to jettison the 616 continuity. If they just bit the bullet and actually tried it, fans would gradually accept the changes. It's not as if the Ultimate line wasnt an initial success..indeed, at the height of it's popularity it was defining Marvel's modern mythology more than anything in 616 was doing at the time.

That's exactly what would make reading such a strip bittersweet in my estimation. To read something that feels more like Spider-Man than what is currently being presented in the marvel comics (since it's very apparent that comparisons are going to be made), and to know all-too-well in the back of your mind that it will never be acknowledged in the continuity.

It's the other way around for me. It's Marvel's current "continuity" that will never be properly acknowledged or accepted and that's why the sales are in the toilet.

[Raph's Girl]

Soo.. Kirby's heirs aren't too happy that Disney bought Marvel....and they're looking to stop it by copywrighting all the characters Kirby ever did, thus preventing Disney and their associating properties from ever using em. So much for a Fin Fang Foom movie....darn

http://www.newsarama.com/film/090920...ht-marvel.html

Heirs to comic book legend Jack Kirby sent 45 notices of copyright termination to Marvel Entertainment, prospective Marvel buyer Disney, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, and others studios that that hold licensed media rights to Marvel characters, this according to a Sunday afternoon report published on the New York Times website.

The Times reports the legal notices expressed an intent to regain copyrights to some Kirby co-creations as early as 2014, this according to a statement from Toberoff & Associates, a Los Angeles firm that helped win a court ruling last year returning a share of the copyright in Superman to heirs of the character’s co-creator, Jerry Siegel.

Mr. Toberoff declined to elaborate on the statement reached for comments Sunday by the Times. According to the newspaper, a Marvel spokesperson had no comment, but Disney replied in a statement, “The notices involved are an attempt to terminate rights seven to 10 years from now, and involve claims that were fully considered in the acquisition.” Fox, Sony, Paramount and Universal reportedly had no comment.

As the Times reports points out, Disney's acquisition of Marvel is far from a done deal and must still be approved by Marvel shareholders. Wall Street is apparently already speculating that due to a complicated array of various rights agreements, shareholders may worry that Disney will face difficulty immediately exploiting Marvel's most valuable intellectual property.

Cited in the story is the fact that Sony holds the film rights to Spider-Man in perpetuity.

The proposed Disney deal could give creators or their heirs new reason to exploit United States copyright law to stake a claim.

Under U.S. law, an author or his or her heirs can begin a process to regain copyrights a certain period of years after the original grant. While the report did not cite what characters were cited in the termination notices, if Kirby’s family were to gain the copyright to a co-created character like the Fantastic Four or the Incredible Hulk, they could become entitled to a share of profits from films or other properties featuring the character, or obtain the rights to sell characters independently of Marvel, Disney, or the various studios that have licensed the Marvel characters.

Seriously tho..this won't do SQUAT to effect anything. Most of Kirby's characters aren't even used anymore...except for that robot in the 12 and Fin Fang Foom. Kirby didn't create The Hulk...he created a bunch of villans....about the only major F4 thing he did was creating the Fantasti Cars. *lol* Here's a list of all his creations....Fantastic 4? Yeah.. of earth 2812! I don't think we have anything to worry about over this...unless they think of making a Devil Dinosaur movie or Fin Fang Foom...after 2014....:

http://www.marvunapp.com/list/appkirby.htm

[ZariusTwo]

As much as I want someone to pry The Hulk and the FF away from the anti-christ of comics, I agree. Chicken-feed at best is all they'll get, that, or "healthy" compensation from Disney to keep their beaks shut.

[Magneto]

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

He also paved the way for Marvel Knights (which was ANOTHER fresh continuity that he never used, despite there being LESS reason to retell origin stories because the MK line's purpose was to tell iconic stories)

Marvel Knights is alright. But I was more or less referring to Spider-Man related stuff that was created under Quesada's direction. Which obviously the best being Ultimate Spider-Man.

All the more ludicrous for them to prefer a continuity that has had it's chronology, beleivability, and mature characterisation of half it's superhero roster deliberatly tossed out of the window just to make money. That's what I call "rewarding stupidity".

I think the 616 continuity will always be preferred because it's THE continuity pretty much everyone at Marvel grew up on. There's alot of affection for that stuff, so naturally, it's still marketed. DC as of late, is following suit. Becoming MUCH more silver age in tone than it has since the 1985 Crisis on Infinite Earths event.

They won't budge from 616 because Marvel itself doesnt want to jettison the 616 continuity. If they just bit the bullet and actually tried it, fans would gradually accept the changes. It's not as if the Ultimate line wasnt an initial success..indeed, at the height of it's popularity it was defining Marvel's modern mythology more than anything in 616 was doing at the time.

I'm not sure radical changes such as a complete reboot in continuity would be accepted by fans or not. It all depends on how it's presented. And needless to say, some fans will ALWAYS prefer the way something was done in the 616 universe over whatever else is tried. Same goes for the Ultimate line. I like Ultimate Captain America and all, but Brubaker has done some amazing work on Captain America since he's been associated with the character, and I really don't feel the need to just do away with all of that. Especially if it's just for a more Ultimate like version.

As much as I want someone to pry The Hulk and the FF away from the anti-christ of comics, I agree. Chicken-feed at best is all they'll get, that, or "healthy" compensation from Disney to keep their beaks shut.

I figure this is the likely scenario with WB/DC and the Siegels as well.

[Jester]

So it dawned on me today, with Disney now owning Marvel doe this mean that Disney may air new Marvel toons like Spectacular Spider-man and Wolverine and the X-men on their channels as opposed to the NickToons Network. And what does this mean for Spidey? I mean did Weisman leave Disney back in the days of Gargoyles on decent terms?

[Cure]

Spectacular already airs on Disney XD. I dunno about the others.

[Anarky]

Originally Posted by Jester

So it dawned on me today, with Disney now owning Marvel doe this mean that Disney may air new Marvel toons like Spectacular Spider-man and Wolverine and the X-men on their channels as opposed to the NickToons Network. And what does this mean for Spidey? I mean did Weisman leave Disney back in the days of Gargoyles on decent terms?

Future cartoons are very likely to be aired on Disney channels. The past cartoons will stay where they are until contracts run out and then "go home" to the Disney channels.

Existing contracts, no matter where they are or what they concern will stay in place until the projects associated with them are done.