Last June, Disney bought up the rights to Stan Lee's company, POW Entertainment. Today, it was announced that, pending antitrust review and shareholder approval, Disney was now going to buy the publisher that Stan "The Man" was associated with for most of the last 40 years, Marvel Comics.
If approved, this potentially changes a lot of things on many fronts.
For example, after various existing agreements expire, Disney can have first crack at the lucrative movie franchises Marvel has been building since the advent of the Spider-Man movies with Tobey Maguire, eventually including the X-Men movie series, and their work in progress, the Avengers.
Next, there's the possibility of animation--this IS Disney, after all. Can you imagine the potential of new animated series featuring the vast array of Marvel characters? Even if they do as in the last X-Men series and recycle plots from the comics without crediting the original writers (and I hope they do not sink so low), there's a lot to work with.
Then there's what I believe will be the upcoming demise of Universal Studios theme park. They can talk all they want to about Scooby-Doo, or Popeye, but most people were more interested in Spider-Man and the Hulk. I'd say there's zero chance of any licensing agreements being renewed when Disney is almost literally next door.
And, finally, the comic books. Almost all the Disney characters are languishing in publishing oblivion, plus the defunct Crossgen line, and the recently acquired POW Entertainment. All they needed was someone who know how to publish comics. And the outside chance to possibly re-associate Stan Lee with Marvel.
If they do revive Crossgen, will they be able to get the various creative teams back together, at least to finish storylines in progress at the time of the company's demise?
For Disney, this marriage is made in heaven. They can expand the Disney brand through the Marvel brand and vice versa. It also might make them the world's biggest comics publisher.
Now, keep in mind, I'm NOT saying any of this will happen. I'm not in the loop and have no idea whatsoever of the short or long term plans of any of the companies mentioned. This is just me thinking about what might happen, if a lot of things go a certain way. It is conjecture, not fact.
But it is interesting that these deals are coming together a lot like a couple of years ago, when Danny Ainge made subsequently larger deals that ended up with the Boston Celtics becoming NBA Champions at the end of that year. Disney might be looking for similar results on the world entertainment stage.
It just might become the House of Mouse Ideas.
Mike
Showing posts with label Dark Avengers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dark Avengers. Show all posts
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Deodato Summer Sale
Thanks to the generosity of Mike Deodato, we're running a Deodato Summer Sale! All Mike Deodato art at our online store, www.artandcomicsstore.com is on sale!
I couldn't let this pass without showing you some samples of the oodles of cool artwork he's done!
As always, click on the graphic to see a larger version. All of these are for sale at the time of posting.
This is a re-creation of the cover to Amazing Spider-Man 514.
Speaking of Amazing, here's a painting by Deodato of your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man!
From Dark Avengers 2, page 12, Morgana LeFay goes toe to mystical toe with Doctor Doom!
Just in case you didn't think the Spider-Man painting was dynamic enough, here's Deodato's painted rendering of the Incredible HULK, on canvas!
Danger, Will Robinson! This is the cover to Lost In Space 15, part of the "Voyage to the Bottom of the Soul" storyline!
Perhaps you'd like something more new? How about this double page spread of pages 20 and 21 from New Avengers 19?
Of course, it's not just the good guys that make a story, as the sultry Princess Python demonstrates on page 6 of Punisher War Journal 4!
Ok, who's going to volunteer to give Jen her rabies shot after this cover to She-Hulk 35?
Everyone, say it with me--you know you want to..."BWA-HA-HA!"
From Thunderbolts 112, page 22.
Here's a double page spread of what Wolverine did on pages 26 and 27 of Wolverine Annual 2 ("Roar")!
And, because it's good to end with a bang, here's pages 17 and 18 from X-Men: Legacy 212!
If you enjoyed these--and would like to buy them--they're all on sale at our online store, Art and Comics, along with many more cool pages! Deodato, like all the artists there, has his own section!
Mike
I couldn't let this pass without showing you some samples of the oodles of cool artwork he's done!
As always, click on the graphic to see a larger version. All of these are for sale at the time of posting.
This is a re-creation of the cover to Amazing Spider-Man 514.
Speaking of Amazing, here's a painting by Deodato of your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man!
From Dark Avengers 2, page 12, Morgana LeFay goes toe to mystical toe with Doctor Doom!
Just in case you didn't think the Spider-Man painting was dynamic enough, here's Deodato's painted rendering of the Incredible HULK, on canvas!
Danger, Will Robinson! This is the cover to Lost In Space 15, part of the "Voyage to the Bottom of the Soul" storyline!
Perhaps you'd like something more new? How about this double page spread of pages 20 and 21 from New Avengers 19?
Of course, it's not just the good guys that make a story, as the sultry Princess Python demonstrates on page 6 of Punisher War Journal 4!
Ok, who's going to volunteer to give Jen her rabies shot after this cover to She-Hulk 35?
Everyone, say it with me--you know you want to..."BWA-HA-HA!"
From Thunderbolts 112, page 22.
Here's a double page spread of what Wolverine did on pages 26 and 27 of Wolverine Annual 2 ("Roar")!
And, because it's good to end with a bang, here's pages 17 and 18 from X-Men: Legacy 212!
If you enjoyed these--and would like to buy them--they're all on sale at our online store, Art and Comics, along with many more cool pages! Deodato, like all the artists there, has his own section!
Mike
Thursday, March 5, 2009
eBay on Probation
Last November, eBay had begun enforcing new policies that essentially gave nearly unlimited power to buyers while discriminating against sellers.
Their most ridiculous example is in their "Seller Ratings". These ratings are done on a scale of 1-5, with 1 the lowest, and 5 the highest. Now, to anyone who wasn't comatose in math classes throughout their education, this means the 3 is average. Previously, you had to be around a 2 to face any restrictions from eBay.
Not anymore.
Now you have to average between 4 and 5 to be considered minimally acceptable. Drop below 4.3 in ANY category, and eBay buries your auctions at the bottom of searches. Go below 4.1 and you can't list any new items until the old bad rating drops off--which can be over 30 days.
This means you, as a Seller, have to not only be nearly perfect, but you are at the mercy of Buyers who give you an "average" rating.
Not great, not terrible, just "average", meaning you did what was expected of you as a Seller, at which time, you lose the ability to list new stuff.
That's not the worst part.
There's no oversight, nobody with ANY authority to make changes or exceptions to this idiotic turn of events. You can be in PERFECT compliance with all their rules and just because a Buyer isn't dazzled by this, your ability to do anything is gone.
This happened to us in November. I entered chats, wrote e-mails, and made phone calls. The only reply I got was a woman on the phone at eBay who called me names. They said, "Write to Security". I did, and haven't gotten a reply to this day. I never did get to speak to a Manager or Supervisor, despite repeated requests.
Essentially, they refused to even speak to anyone who had been discriminated against by their corporate stupidity. I made it clear to them if this was going to be how they behaved, we'd take the bulk of our business elsewhere.
I guess they thought I was kidding. A week later, I pulled over 90% of our eBay listings out, and put them in our store only. All the art from Mike Deodato, Will Conrad, Jonathan Lau and many more besides. All gone. Along with the income eBay used to get from listings and sales.
Recently, I was asked by Dave Campiti to put some items back up there, so I did. Right now, we have listings for Mike Deodato's Dark Avengers and Will Conrad's Kull. I'm leading with our best.
The auctions were buried because of eBay's continued asinine behavior. I've sold more Dark Avengers art off eBay than on it.
I've put eBay on probation and so far, it's not looking good, but I'll give it a full month and see if things improve.
I still encourage our customers to come to our store instead, as anything NOT sold at auction on eBay will be listed soon afterward in our store located at www.artandcomicsstore.com
If anyone from eBay should see this, you might still be able to salvage your chance to do business with us if you e-mail me and apologize...and remove the discriminatory anti-seller practices.
Mike
Their most ridiculous example is in their "Seller Ratings". These ratings are done on a scale of 1-5, with 1 the lowest, and 5 the highest. Now, to anyone who wasn't comatose in math classes throughout their education, this means the 3 is average. Previously, you had to be around a 2 to face any restrictions from eBay.
Not anymore.
Now you have to average between 4 and 5 to be considered minimally acceptable. Drop below 4.3 in ANY category, and eBay buries your auctions at the bottom of searches. Go below 4.1 and you can't list any new items until the old bad rating drops off--which can be over 30 days.
This means you, as a Seller, have to not only be nearly perfect, but you are at the mercy of Buyers who give you an "average" rating.
Not great, not terrible, just "average", meaning you did what was expected of you as a Seller, at which time, you lose the ability to list new stuff.
That's not the worst part.
There's no oversight, nobody with ANY authority to make changes or exceptions to this idiotic turn of events. You can be in PERFECT compliance with all their rules and just because a Buyer isn't dazzled by this, your ability to do anything is gone.
This happened to us in November. I entered chats, wrote e-mails, and made phone calls. The only reply I got was a woman on the phone at eBay who called me names. They said, "Write to Security". I did, and haven't gotten a reply to this day. I never did get to speak to a Manager or Supervisor, despite repeated requests.
Essentially, they refused to even speak to anyone who had been discriminated against by their corporate stupidity. I made it clear to them if this was going to be how they behaved, we'd take the bulk of our business elsewhere.
I guess they thought I was kidding. A week later, I pulled over 90% of our eBay listings out, and put them in our store only. All the art from Mike Deodato, Will Conrad, Jonathan Lau and many more besides. All gone. Along with the income eBay used to get from listings and sales.
Recently, I was asked by Dave Campiti to put some items back up there, so I did. Right now, we have listings for Mike Deodato's Dark Avengers and Will Conrad's Kull. I'm leading with our best.
The auctions were buried because of eBay's continued asinine behavior. I've sold more Dark Avengers art off eBay than on it.
I've put eBay on probation and so far, it's not looking good, but I'll give it a full month and see if things improve.
I still encourage our customers to come to our store instead, as anything NOT sold at auction on eBay will be listed soon afterward in our store located at www.artandcomicsstore.com
If anyone from eBay should see this, you might still be able to salvage your chance to do business with us if you e-mail me and apologize...and remove the discriminatory anti-seller practices.
Mike
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