Disney to Acquire Marvel

[NiX]

So, uh, yeah. Didn't see this coming.

[caladein]

Yeah... can't seem to find anything on this apart from the wire services.

[schild]

If only they'd hand the license for everything straight over to Junction Point and yank it away from every other gaming company in existence.

[schild]

Also, this strikes me as dumb.

[NiX]

Yeah... can't seem to find anything on this apart from the wire services.

I'm sure it's tentative pending all the legal stuff and the stocks.

[Trippy]

I think he meant a proper press release like this one:

http://corporate.disney.go.com/news/corporate/2009/2009_0831_disney_and_marvel_entertainment.html

[NiX]

I figured since it was being sourced from the AP it didn't really matter. But, fine, be that way Trippy.

[stray]

Everything about it is fine except that Disney will probably insist on casting it's Mouseketeer/Highschool Musical/Hannah Montana kids as future Marvel superheroes.

edit: Oh, and include such things in their comics.

[UnsGub]

Disney is gambling to stay alive, not that there is much else for them to do.

[eldaec]

Also, this strikes me as dumb.

From whose perspective?

Industrial logic is solid. Think of all those Disney stores that right now can only sell shit to girls.

It's a good deal for Marvel, at 8 times earnings in what is probably a peak for Marvel with superheroes being all the shit right now.



I don't think it will do any good for the comics in the long run ofc.

[IainC]

I don't understand the 'this will save Disney' stuff. I may have missed something but I was under the impression that Disney had its shit solidly in place when it came to aggressively monetising everything. If anyone knows how to extract cash from a fairly broad demographic then it's Disney. Marvel on the other hand is huge in some segments and non-existent to the rest of the world. Sure, people liked Iron Man and X-Men but how many people bought comics on the back of a summer popcorn movie?

This makes a lot of sense if you realise that Disney wants to keep its kid-friendly brand but also wants to diversify into areas where the Disney logo wouldn't be appropriate. They did this already with movies when they created Touchstone Pictures, Marvel looks to be the print equivalent of that.

[slog]

Ian, saving Disney refers to saving Disney's growth rate.  There is a perception that they are tapped out when it comes to new revenue opportunities.

[Grimwell]

I think there is a lot they can do with this, and they don't have to incorporate Marvel into mainstream Disney. They own a few film companies that are not "Disney" in terms of output, so Marvel can be expanded upon as is and driven into new markets and merchandise opportunities. It's a good opportunity for Disney and a potentially good thing for Marvel.

It could blow all up, but Disney does good things with most of their business. They have quite the ability to target an audience and take all it's money. :)

[UnsGub]

It could blow all up, but Disney does good things with most of their business.

I making digital content to make money a good thing heading into the future?

Do they give the digital way and just make it back on the hard goods?

[Sky]

Ian, saving Disney refers to saving Disney's growth rate.  There is a perception that they are tapped out when it comes to new revenue opportunities.

This is the kind of bullshit that is slowly killing this country.

[Murgos]

Disney is gambling to stay alive, not that there is much else for them to do.

What the fuck are you talking about?

[Murgos]

I making digital content to make money a good thing heading into the future?

Do they give the digital way and just make it back on the hard goods?

Is this written by a bot?  It makes no sense.

Edit: I have this image in my head of the comic book guy from the Simpsons frothing at the mouth while posting this.  It's like when someone gets so mad that they can't even talk.

[slog]

Ian, saving Disney refers to saving Disney's growth rate.  There is a perception that they are tapped out when it comes to new revenue opportunities.

This is the kind of bullshit that is slowly killing this country.

It's not a new concept.   In fact, it's pretty much economics 101.  When a companies' future growth opportunities diminish,  the current stock price goes downl.  There many publicly traded companies that are perfectly fine with this.  (your local public utility)

 Disney, on the other hand, still wants to grow.

[HaemishM]

I don't think it will do any good for the comics in the long run ofc.

Yeah, this. But then again, Marvel hasn't been about making money selling comics for a long goddamn time. The comics business itself has become about ultra-hyping the next big event comic that "CHANGES THE STATUS QUO FOREVERZ!!!!" in order to boost sales just long enough for the next big event to change everything again. Oh and building brands for movies where the real filthy money is.

[Sky]

It's not a new concept.   In fact, it's pretty much economics 101.  When a companies' future growth opportunities diminish,  the current stock price goes downl.  There many publicly traded companies that are perfectly fine with this.  (your local public utility)

Yeah, no shit. You realize my local public utilities are bought out by conglomerates, putting hundreds out of work? It's an old concept that gets harder to maintain the longer you try to live by it, until the whole thing turns into a giant ball of shit because you can't sustain growth forever and companies put growth and stockholders in front of sound business decisions, because the stock becomes the over-riding business decision, often at the detriment of the business itself.

[slog]

It's not a new concept.   In fact, it's pretty much economics 101.  When a companies' future growth opportunities diminish,  the current stock price goes downl.  There many publicly traded companies that are perfectly fine with this.  (your local public utility)

Yeah, no shit. You realize my local public utilities are bought out by conglomerates, putting hundreds out of work? It's an old concept that gets harder to maintain the longer you try to live by it, until the whole thing turns into a giant ball of shit because you can't sustain growth forever and companies put growth and stockholders in front of sound business decisions, because the stock becomes the over-riding business decision, often at the detriment of the business itself.

Unfortunately for the those people, increased efficiency and lower costs usually means they get laid off.  Our system in the USA is pretty ruthless about this.  While our embrace of natural selection in business has made the USA the largest economy in the world, it does have it drawbacks.

[Velorath]

I'm looking forward to an eventual Kingdom Hearts game including Marvel characters.  Maybe they can do a Marvel/Incredibles crossover.

[Bzalthek]

Oh hey, now.  Kingdom Hearts could be fucking awesome with some Marvel thrown in.  Maybe they can even make some of them likable! 

Don't get me wrong, I'm a long time marvel fan, but I would like a little bit more depth once in a while.

[Arnold]

Marvel has had its ass thoroughly kicked by DC in the animation department.  Maybe Disney can get that part of the business up to speed.

[Slyfeind]

Are we going to get an Iron Man ride at Disneyland now?

[Bzalthek]

Animatronic Wolverine

"Snikt Bub bub bub snikt snikt bub bub snikt"

[Merusk]

Are we going to get an Iron Man ride at Disneyland now?

They'd have to move it over from Universal Studios wouldn't they?   

There's a question, how much of Marvel's stuff is part of the UA parks?  Anyone been before?  Will this be a, "Whoops, there goes that chunk of attractions." or a "Meh, nobody really cares" like when Hanna-Barbara was no longer a part of King's Island.

[taolurker]

[Velorath]

In accordance with Marvel's rules and regulations, expect Wolverine to join the Power Rangers, G-Force, and the Muppets.

[Bzalthek]

And he'll be replacing Kennedy on the senate.

[Aez]

I don't know if it's the blogpost Mickey/Wolverine pic but this specific thread seems to be loading infinitely.

[UnSub]

Disney, friend of the IP lawyer, is taking over Marvel for all of that sweet sweet IP. I kinda think they're doing it after the peak of Marvel's movie popularity, but perhaps the output from Marvel Studios will prove me wrong.

OTOH, part of me thinks this will just see more mediocre Marvel movies come out as Disney seeks to justify their purchase. Or more cruddy kid-friendly fare. I could see a Power Pack movie being done.

[Velorath]

OTOH, part of me thinks this will just see more mediocre Marvel movies come out as Disney seeks to justify their purchase. Or more cruddy kid-friendly fare. I could see a Power Pack movie being done.

I'd prefer to see them do a Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius animated series.

[Abagadro]

The Motley Fool guys were touting Marvel heavily back when it was in the single digits in the early 2000s. Wish I would have taken the plunge but I don't buy individual stocks.

[stray]

Ironically, I think Stan Lee is the closest (American at least) equivalent to Walt Disney. His target demographic was different, but his creations are almost as iconic.

Not that he has anything to do with Marvel anymore.. Just saying. There's not much to add to this thread.