Forget the humor inherent in Wolverine showing up in Kingdom Hearts, or a Howard the Darkwing Duck consolidation (let alone Mickey doing cameos in Deadpool,) I want to address the absolute perfection of this merger:
Both companies have iconic characters as their stock-in-trade. And the characters are so iconic they stop being characters. In fact, they stop being interesting. Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man are both franchises, like Tony the Tiger or the Pillsbury Dough-boy. When was the last time any of them got lasting character development? And by lasting I mean “didn’t get stripped away with the last reset.”
Answer: DECADES.
So… Marvel and Disney have always shared a certain measure of business philosophy in this regard. Now they can share business practices, HR departments, and script doctors, too. What will change? Marvel will get more efficient, Disney will get bigger, and super-hero comics will remain utterly staid and boring.
It really is the perfect merger. Unless you were hoping that comics would get more interesting.
As far as the comics go, I agree with you. The thing I am wondering about is what will happen with Marvel Studios. Will Disney try to assert control over them? Marvel Studios finally broke free of other studio control, now will this merger kill that?
The deal made with Marvel is almost the same deal Disney made with the Jim Henson company a few years ago – all of Marvel’s current contracts with other companies will stay in place until they expire. Thus, Disney won’t actually score certain film or theme park franchises for a decade or two. They’re thinking REALLY long-term with this deal.
As far as the comics go, I agree with you. The thing I am wondering about is what will happen with Marvel Studios. Will Disney try to assert control over them? Marvel Studios finally broke free of other studio control, now will this merger kill that?
The deal made with Marvel is almost the same deal Disney made with the Jim Henson company a few years ago – all of Marvel’s current contracts with other companies will stay in place until they expire. Thus, Disney won’t actually score certain film or theme park franchises for a decade or two. They’re thinking REALLY long-term with this deal.
This was my reaction…
This was my reaction…
Marvel has kept on some character experimentation with their (largely) non-canon spinoffs series. Think Marvel Zombies, for example.
I think this experimentation is going to stop or subside, and new titles will be few and far between, except for the rare idea that an in-house writer gets that he can sell to execs.
On the bright side, I think that the independent comics sector will get a stream of talent leaving Marvel.
Marvel has kept on some character experimentation with their (largely) non-canon spinoffs series. Think Marvel Zombies, for example.
I think this experimentation is going to stop or subside, and new titles will be few and far between, except for the rare idea that an in-house writer gets that he can sell to execs.
On the bright side, I think that the independent comics sector will get a stream of talent leaving Marvel.
I have to ponder how this will effect the comic industry in terms of business practices. Soon copiers will be made illegal, because they can be used to copy comic books. But before that Disney will try installing impenetrable copyright protection directly into the comic books themselves. As a sample, here’s the first two pages of the upcoming Wolverine / Ducktales crossover:
Pshaw. Clearly, the solution to this problem is more technology—on-line-only comic distribution which installs a hidden Windows service allowing the content to be displayed only over an encrypted HDMI link. As an unfortunate side effect of its all-encompassing protections you can no longer take screenshots, at all, but that won’t stop people buying the comics.
Also, they’ll refuse to display if you have Photoshop installed. Just in case.
I have to ponder how this will effect the comic industry in terms of business practices. Soon copiers will be made illegal, because they can be used to copy comic books. But before that Disney will try installing impenetrable copyright protection directly into the comic books themselves. As a sample, here’s the first two pages of the upcoming Wolverine / Ducktales crossover:
Pshaw. Clearly, the solution to this problem is more technology—on-line-only comic distribution which installs a hidden Windows service allowing the content to be displayed only over an encrypted HDMI link. As an unfortunate side effect of its all-encompassing protections you can no longer take screenshots, at all, but that won’t stop people buying the comics.
Also, they’ll refuse to display if you have Photoshop installed. Just in case.
Does M-day not count as development? They haven’t retconned that yet; some, but nowhere near all.
Also, they nay have retconned Spidey’s marriage, but I think the fact Spidey made a DEAL with THE DEVIL to cause that retcon also counts as character development.
Captain America is not dead but not in the main continuity anymore.
Development.
Understandably, someone who doesn’t like superhero comics in the first place might not notice 😛
DC is far worse than Marvel with the resets. They’ve had some non-ret’d-continuity recently too; especially Bats.
Does M-day not count as development? They haven’t retconned that yet; some, but nowhere near all.
Also, they nay have retconned Spidey’s marriage, but I think the fact Spidey made a DEAL with THE DEVIL to cause that retcon also counts as character development.
Captain America is not dead but not in the main continuity anymore.
Development.
Understandably, someone who doesn’t like superhero comics in the first place might not notice 😛
DC is far worse than Marvel with the resets. They’ve had some non-ret’d-continuity recently too; especially Bats.
Spider-Man’s character development (in the comic book) is actually fascinating. He oscillates between getting radical changes in his background and reverting to the status quo, correlated with how much exposure he gets in the media outside of comics. When a movie or a new cartoon comes out, he gets pushed back towards the status quo by editors who want to attract new fans who are rediscovering the comic. During the lag points in between, he gets new developments based on writers who want to do something more than the character.
Spider-Man’s character development (in the comic book) is actually fascinating. He oscillates between getting radical changes in his background and reverting to the status quo, correlated with how much exposure he gets in the media outside of comics. When a movie or a new cartoon comes out, he gets pushed back towards the status quo by editors who want to attract new fans who are rediscovering the comic. During the lag points in between, he gets new developments based on writers who want to do something more than the character.
Disney can get good use out of the Marvel universe, but they have to be careful WHERE they do it. Scary thought: Wolverine in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle freaking out four year olds… >_< Let's not let the Marvel stable get anywhere NEAR Disneyland or WDW, or sales of Brain Bleach will go through the roof...
Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim or Disney Studios in Florida might work as a temporary venue. But they are still a bit close for comfort IMHO.
Universal Florida has some Marvel character based ride and attraction contracts running at Islands of Adventure, and Disney said they’ll let existing Marvel contracts run their course, so Disney can’t really do much with Marvel at WDW (or anywhere east of the Big Muddy) for a while.
But the West Coast is pretty much wide open, and Disney owns that big chunk of vacant land on the southeast corner of Harbor and Katella just waiting for them to decide what the “Third Theme Park” is going to be. They all but ruled out a Water Park since Knotts already has one next door, and the old “Disney’s America” plans they originally drafted for Virginia. So the land has been in limbo, used for a parking lot.
With this acquisition they could do something quite interesting centered around the Marvel Universe in 50-plus acres. And being separate parks they don’t have to worry as much about an under-age audience.
Oh, and Marvel is already talking to Pixar about feature length movie properties that could benefit from their working together. Gotta watch that angle, too.
Disney can get good use out of the Marvel universe, but they have to be careful WHERE they do it. Scary thought: Wolverine in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle freaking out four year olds… >_< Let's not let the Marvel stable get anywhere NEAR Disneyland or WDW, or sales of Brain Bleach will go through the roof...
Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim or Disney Studios in Florida might work as a temporary venue. But they are still a bit close for comfort IMHO.
Universal Florida has some Marvel character based ride and attraction contracts running at Islands of Adventure, and Disney said they’ll let existing Marvel contracts run their course, so Disney can’t really do much with Marvel at WDW (or anywhere east of the Big Muddy) for a while.
But the West Coast is pretty much wide open, and Disney owns that big chunk of vacant land on the southeast corner of Harbor and Katella just waiting for them to decide what the “Third Theme Park” is going to be. They all but ruled out a Water Park since Knotts already has one next door, and the old “Disney’s America” plans they originally drafted for Virginia. So the land has been in limbo, used for a parking lot.
With this acquisition they could do something quite interesting centered around the Marvel Universe in 50-plus acres. And being separate parks they don’t have to worry as much about an under-age audience.
Oh, and Marvel is already talking to Pixar about feature length movie properties that could benefit from their working together. Gotta watch that angle, too.
I don’t thing anyone is seeing the big picture. This has nothing to do with editorial changes at Marvel. It will affect the film franchises, but Disney has more distribution channels than any other studio. That’s a good thing. No, what I believe is the main reason for the purchase is…
MERCHANDISING.
Disney has one specific target market they have NEVER been able to conquer, boys. They have a large chunk of the little girls market (i.e. Disney Princess and others)but they have never been able to create a franchise to reach that boys market where they could capitalize on all of their formidable financial, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution channels. If you think there’s a lot of Marvel Superheroes stuff out there now, just wait. The Mouse probably had a 10 year merchandising plan all ready to roll as part of their purchase plan.
I actually think this purchase is a good plan for Disney.
I don’t thing anyone is seeing the big picture. This has nothing to do with editorial changes at Marvel. It will affect the film franchises, but Disney has more distribution channels than any other studio. That’s a good thing. No, what I believe is the main reason for the purchase is…
MERCHANDISING.
Disney has one specific target market they have NEVER been able to conquer, boys. They have a large chunk of the little girls market (i.e. Disney Princess and others)but they have never been able to create a franchise to reach that boys market where they could capitalize on all of their formidable financial, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution channels. If you think there’s a lot of Marvel Superheroes stuff out there now, just wait. The Mouse probably had a 10 year merchandising plan all ready to roll as part of their purchase plan.
I actually think this purchase is a good plan for Disney.