Category — Comics

Time Warner has been one of Disney’s largest rivals, which in today’s world of media and communications means they have both competed against each other and helped each other. Their films compete with each other at the box office, and their broadcast and cable television networks compete with each other for viewers, yet each company produces content that is distributed by the other. Just think of how many times you have noticed a Harry Potter movie (Time Warner) appearing on ABC Family (a Disney-owned cable channel), and how many of you watch The Disney Channel on Time Warner Cable.

After growing larger and larger in the last couple of decades, in part through mergers/acquisitions, Time Warner has been shrinking through spin-offs and sales, and now in the news is talk of the “Time” portion of the corporation being jettisoned (see this Reuters story by Jessica Wohl.) The same source talks about the corporation making more acquisitions in “core” businesses, but publishing used to be one of those!

Time Inc’s magazines include popular titles such as People and Sports Illustrated. In the second quarter, revenue at Time Inc publishing, the largest U.S. magazine publisher, fell 22 percent to $915 million due to a 26 percent decline in advertising revenue.

While Crawford did not name specific acquisition targets, he did say there would be a “winnowing process” during which weaker companies in the sector would be gobbled up.

I mentioned Time Warner Cable – that was spun already spun off in March of this year. Warner Music Group was sold in March 2004.  The Time Warner Book Group was sold in March 2006.

Warner Communications, Inc. and Time Inc. merged in 1990. The company acquired Turner Broadcasting System in 1996, and then was purchased by AOL in 2001, to become AOL Time Warner, although the “AOL” portion of the company name was later dropped, and, if the parties had only waited a little while, Time Warner could have bought AOL instead. There has been talk of spinning off AOL for a while now.

The corporation currently owns a wide range of brands and media companies, including New Line Cinema, HBO, The CW Television Network (with CBS), Cartoon Network, CNN, and DC Comics.

I could see Disney, owner of ESPN, being interested in acquiring Sports Illustrated.

With Disney buying Marvel Entertainment, Time Warner is moving to make better use of Marvel rival DC Comics. Alex Dobuzinskis reports in this Reuters story.

In its reorganization of DC Comics, Warner Bros changed the division’s name to DC Entertainment Inc and named movie executive Diane Nelson as president of the unit, with the goal of using DC’s characters across film, television, video games and consumer products, Warner Bros said.

Nelson manages the studio’s “Harry Potter” movie franchise.

Claudia Eller and Ben Fritz report on the story in the Los Angeles Times.

“This is the structural iteration of what we have been trying to accomplish for a long time,” said Warner Bros. Chairman Barry Meyer. “We think it is important for Warner Bros. to exercise appropriate control over these properties, because they are highly valued assets of our company.”

For the four decades that Warner has owned DC, the publisher of such classic comics as “Superman,” “Batman” and “Wonder Woman,” the New York publisher has operated largely independently of the studio.

It looks good on paper, but will it pay off? Check out the whole article for more.

I had to check my calendar to make sure it wasn’t April Fools when the news of The Walt Disney Company’s latest acquisition rolled across my screen. Disney is now the proud owner of Marvel Entertainment at a cost of a cool $4 billion. That quickly adds 5000 new characters to Disney’s cast including some of the most famous and hot properties in the market today – Iron Man, Spiderman, Thor, Captain America, and the X-men.

With Stan Lee, the creator of much of Marvel’s super hero cast, working closely with Disney for about a year now. I guess he’s had plenty of time to sow Bob Iger’s ear with how valuable a product this would be for Disney. At $4 Billion it is practically a steal compared to Pixar and Pixar has turned out to be a good buy for the Mouse House. Frankly, many analysts wondered why Disney just didn’t acquire Marvel at the same time it acquired Lee’s POW entertainment. No sense making up new superheroes when those with strong existing brands are there for the taking. Plus this might put Stan Lee back in a position of power at Marvel, which is where he belongs.

News reports indicate that there are no immediate plans to have Mickey and Ms. Marvel co-habiting at any of the theme parks or other properties. But at the same time Iger admits that Disney is now in a position of power to renegotiate all the deals that its competitors, like Sony, hold in regards to Disney. There is also ‘Marvel Island’ over at Islands of Adventure Universal Orlando. Wonder when the license agreement runs out on that (Aside: Can you say fifth gate Walt Disney World fans? WDW might finally get its thrill park. Let that sink in.) It also puts Disney head to head with Warner Brothers in the comic book to movie market place.

Is this a good deal? Well time will tell. But Disney has always been about ‘Story’ and Marvel Entertainment has some great stories to tell. So, that’s a good sign if you ask me. With Spielberg’s production company, aka Dreamworks, now on board with Disney I have to think the possibilities are endless.

I’m just waiting for the first Condorman / Spiderman crossover. You?

A recent Swedish edition of a Donald Duck comic book was caught shilling for the recording industry printing an anti-file sharing message in the book.

The moral message in the short episode could easily be interpreted that illegal downloading is wrong and that the artists need to get paid. It is also said that the original version of a CD is better than the copy since pictures and other material follow.

This is seen as propaganda by the Swedes who consider themselves a bit more enlightened about the matter.

Donald Duck is known as Kalle Anka in Sweden. See you learn something new everyday.

(via Stockholm News)

This one is for Disney fans who spent countless hours watching Disney Afternoon cartoons like Duck Takes instead of doing homework or having a social life. It’s the latest from CollegeHumor.com

When the SLG comics published Disney branded fizzled out after six issues I figured that was it for a while for Disney in the comics publishing biz. But really, Disney was just switching gears and publishers. Boom! Studios is getting reading to release three new comics with a Disney (or in this case Pixar or Muppets) theme.

Cars (two covers)

Cars fans, start your engines! Before the big Dinoco 400 race, rookie sensation Lightning McQueen is interviewed by Darrel Cartrip. Full of braggadocio, McQueen reveals his scrappy origins as “Bulldozer” McQueen–a local short track racer who dreams of the big time…and recklessly plows his way through the competition to get there! Writer(s): Alan J. Porter, Artist(s): Albert Carreres

Incredibles (collect all four covers)

America’s favorite family of superheroes finally returns, courtesy of legendary scribe Mark Waid (Kingdom Come, The Flash)! The Incredibles face terrifying new villains…and friendly new neighbors, all while Mr. Incredible hides a troubling secret from his costumed clan. Four connecting cover variants by acclaimed artist Michael Avon Oeming!

The Muppet Show (two covers)

The incomparable Roger Langridge (Fred The Clown) brings his absurdist humor to The Muppet Show stage! Longing for the swamp, Kermit forlornly plucks his banjo, while Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo and the entire gang tries to jolly him out of his funk. Packed full of madcap skits and gags, The Muppet Show is sure to please old and new fans alike.

Look for more titles coming in the future, but you can pre-order these first issues now through a store such as Mailordercomics.com and save a bit off the newsstand price.

It must be San Diego Comic-Con because suddenly there’s plenty of news about Disney, Pixar, and Comics. Today BOOM! Studios and Disney Publishing Worldwide announced a partnership to move many of Pixar’s titles into the comic book format.

Following on the heels of THE INCREDIBLES comic book release, BOOM! will be publishing all new stories featuring favorite Pixar characters from TOY STORY, CARS, FINDING NEMO and MONSTERS INC. New stories featuring this summer’s blockbuster hit WALL-E will follow shortly thereafter.

“It’s nothing short of an honor to work with Disney Publishing Worldwide and Pixar for this project,” said BOOM! Studios co-founder Ross Richie. “We found kindred spirits in the creative counterparts we have at both companies, and have just really had a fantastic time finding the right writer and artist combinations to do the source material justice. I think young and old alike are going to love these books!”

I can’t wait. The SLG Comics that came out over the last few years have been great! Meanwhile pick up the preview book if you’re at SDCC or eBay, if you’re not.

Thelma Keane, who was in the inspiration for the mother in the “Family Circus” comics, has passed away.  Her husband, Bil, created the comic and Thelma managed the business, in addition to providing inspiration and a whole bunch of children.  One of their sons, Jeff, now works with Bil to keep the series going.  In addition to Neal, Gayle, and Christopher, the family also includes prolific Disney animator Glen Keane.

The series was one of the first that caught my eye as a kid, and I remember at least one animated holiday television special.  To this day, whenver I open a newspaper, I look for it.