Author Topic: Disney to buy comic book powerhouse Marvel for $4B (Read 6035 times)

HaRuMaN · « **on:** August 31, 2009, 09:51:14 am »

Quote

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Walt Disney Co. said Monday it is acquiring Marvel Entertainment Inc. for $4 billion in cash and stock, bringing characters like Iron Man and Spider-Man into the family of Mickey Mouse and WALL-E.

Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of 5,000 Marvel characters. Many of them, including favorites such as the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, were co-created by the comic book legend Stan Lee.

Nooooooooooooooo!

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2009, 10:29:14 am »

Well, that sucks. Hopefully they only act as a parent company and stay out the way. Yeah right.

So, now that we're stuck with it.....

Pixar Marvel movies? (Obviously the big names are tied up with other companies)

Kingdom Hearts with Square-Enix, Disney, and Marvel? I'd play that.

shardian · « **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2009, 10:31:40 am »

Quote from: Ginsu Victim on August 31, 2009, 10:29:14 am

Kingdom Hearts with Square-Enix, Disney, and Marvel? I'd play that.

Good to see I'm not the only person whose first thought was this.

Texasmame · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2009, 10:35:36 am »

Quote from: shardian on August 31, 2009, 10:31:40 am

Quote from: Ginsu Victim on August 31, 2009, 10:29:14 am

Kingdom Hearts with Square-Enix, Disney, and Marvel? I'd play that.

Good to see I'm not the only person whose first thought was this.

First thought? Hell, I don't even know what that means.

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2009, 10:36:40 am »

Six Flags has the DC rides, so I'd like to see Disneyland/world get some Marvel ones.

massive88 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2009, 10:37:20 am »

How about Marvel vs Capcom vs Disney?

Cable, Ryu, and Donald Duck would pwn.

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2009, 10:54:36 am »

When I saw that you'd posted in this thread, I knew your reply before I even saw it.

Aceldamor · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2009, 10:58:37 am »

Quote from: Ginsu Victim on August 31, 2009, 10:36:40 am

Six Flags has the DC rides, so I'd like to see Disneyland/world get some Marvel ones.

So, given that Universal Studios currently has all the Marvel rides, how is that going to work out?

ChadTower · « **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2009, 11:00:06 am »

Quote from: Ginsu Victim on August 31, 2009, 10:36:40 am

Six Flags has the DC rides, so I'd like to see Disneyland/world get some Marvel ones.

They already exist at Islands of Adventure which is a Universal park. The Spiderman 3D film/roller coaster is awesome. So is the Hulk traditional coaster.

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2009, 11:11:53 am »

Quote from: Aceldamor on August 31, 2009, 10:58:37 am

Quote from: Ginsu Victim on August 31, 2009, 10:36:40 am
Six Flags has the DC rides, so I'd like to see Disneyland/world get some Marvel ones.

So, given that Universal Studios currently has all the Marvel rides, how is that going to work out?

I thought they did, but now that Disney owns Marvel, who knows what will happen...

saint · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2009, 11:13:11 am »

Such things almost always remain since they're under existing franchise/contracts, and Disney bought those contracts when they bought Marvel. Due to the permanent nature of the structures, it's likely the existing contracts are long term (very long term) in nature. Now, merchandising may be a good question, but Disney would be stupid to stop them from selling products that go into Disney's coffers. It's not like Disney is hurting for customers even with Universal in town.

Now, Universal may not like this

That's another story. I wonder if Universal has some non-compete clause in the contract that would preclude Disney from making certain attractions.

Hopefully Disney will do what they did with Pixar, which is own them but stay the hell out of the way of creative decision making.

shardian · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2009, 11:13:42 am »

Initially, Universal will just pay their licensing rights to Disney instead of Marvel. Long term, Disney could effectively ---fudgesicle--- universal and force them to retheme much of their IoA park.

ChadTower · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2009, 11:34:52 am »

The Marvel part is actually only a small section. It would be a major effort but we're talking 10-15% probably. The Hulk coaster could just be repainted, it doesn't really have any Hulk functionality. The Spiderman ride would be a bigger effort but since all of the spiderman specific stuff is video that isn't impossible either. The Marvel section makes heavier use of people in costumes walking around than it does the licensed rides in Marvel terms.

EDIT: there's also the Popeye ride, now that I think about it, but not sure if that is Marvel or a comic strip syndicate. Either way IoA is huuuuuuge and only a section of it is Marvel. The rest is (custom) Lost Continent, Dr Seuss, Toon Lagoon (comic strips), and Jurassic Park. There might be one section I'm not remembering...

shardian · « **Reply #13 on:** August 31, 2009, 11:43:13 am »

Quote from: ChadTower on August 31, 2009, 11:34:52 am

The Marvel part is actually only a small section. It would be a major effort but we're talking 10-15% probably. The Hulk coaster could just be repainted, it doesn't really have any Hulk functionality. The Spiderman ride would be a bigger effort but since all of the spiderman specific stuff is video that isn't impossible either. The Marvel section makes heavier use of people in costumes walking around than it does the licensed rides in Marvel terms.

Paramount King's Island (and other Paramount Parks) were bought out in 2006. Now that it is just King's Island, they have been re-theming the rides. Sometimes they are easy, sometimes the ride is compromised, at least initially. The hardest retheme they have done is the Lara Croft Tombraider ride. They took out all the queue stuff, and just leave the ride arena mostly dark.

It wouldn't kill Universal, but it could be an expensive retrofit.

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2009, 11:48:52 am »

Quote from: ChadTower on August 31, 2009, 11:34:52 am

EDIT: there's also the Popeye ride, now that I think about it, but not sure if that is Marvel or a comic strip syndicate.

Popeye is owned by King Features Syndicate.

ChadTower · « **Reply #15 on:** August 31, 2009, 11:51:15 am »

Quote from: shardian on August 31, 2009, 11:43:13 am

It wouldn't kill Universal, but it could be an expensive retrofit.

Expensive no doubt and likely will have to happen once that usage license runs out. There's no way Disney is going to let their primary local theme park competitor use their property. Especially since the Spiderman and Hulk rides are better than anything at Disney or MGM in Orlando.

Aceldamor · « **Reply #16 on:** August 31, 2009, 11:59:17 am »

Quote from: shardian on August 31, 2009, 11:43:13 am

Quote from: ChadTower on August 31, 2009, 11:34:52 am

The Marvel part is actually only a small section. It would be a major effort but we're talking 10-15% probably. The Hulk coaster could just be repainted, it doesn't really have any Hulk functionality. The Spiderman ride would be a bigger effort but since all of the spiderman specific stuff is video that isn't impossible either. The Marvel section makes heavier use of people in costumes walking around than it does the licensed rides in Marvel terms.

Paramount King's Island (and other Paramount Parks) were bought out in 2006. Now that it is just King's Island, they have been re-theming the rides. Sometimes they are easy, sometimes the ride is compromised, at least initially. The hardest retheme they have done is the Lara Croft Tombraider ride. They took out all the queue stuff, and just leave the ride arena mostly dark.

It wouldn't kill Universal, but it could be an expensive retrofit.

I would think that is what would happen if it came down to it. They change/retrofit rides all the time. They did it with the tour in LA, the 3d attraction (Terminator to Shrek, etc) and others, haven't they even killed one of their biggest attractions, Back to the Future?

ChadTower · « **Reply #17 on:** August 31, 2009, 12:01:34 pm »

Quote from: Aceldamor on August 31, 2009, 11:59:17 am

haven't they even killed one of their biggest attractions, Back to the Future?

All that was was a shaky seat and a domed movie screen, though. Not much "ride" there.

massive88 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 31, 2009, 12:12:03 pm »

Quote from: Ginsu Victim on August 31, 2009, 11:48:52 am

Quote from: ChadTower on August 31, 2009, 11:34:52 am
EDIT: there's also the Popeye ride, now that I think about it, but not sure if that is Marvel or a comic strip syndicate.

Popeye is owned by King Features Syndicate.

Yeah I really wanted a team of Bluto, Pluto, and Rolento, but realized Popeye wasnt included

RayB · « **Reply #19 on:** August 31, 2009, 12:30:10 pm »

The earliest images of Popeye fell into the public domain last year.

Aceldamor · « **Reply #20 on:** August 31, 2009, 12:57:02 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on August 31, 2009, 12:01:34 pm

Quote from: Aceldamor on August 31, 2009, 11:59:17 am
haven't they even killed one of their biggest attractions, Back to the Future?

All that was was a shaky seat and a domed movie screen, though. Not much "ride" there.

Heh..hence the expression attraction vs. ride.

ChadTower · « **Reply #21 on:** August 31, 2009, 02:31:43 pm »

The way I see it this probably doesn't mean much to their existing properties. They will allow Marvel to keep on exploiting the great licenses they have. What it does probably mean is that there will be no more good new work coming out of Marvel. Disney is good at exploiting existing stuff. It also tends to squeeze the life out of artists such that nothing new of any quality will ever come out of them again. We have seen the last worthwhile new Marvel comic franchises. I don't care about the movies, that makes me very sad that Disney just killed a huge part of the world of comic books.

shardian · « **Reply #22 on:** August 31, 2009, 02:47:37 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on August 31, 2009, 02:31:43 pm

The way I see it this probably doesn't mean much to their existing properties. They will allow Marvel to keep on exploiting the great licenses they have. What it does probably mean is that there will be no more good new work coming out of Marvel. Disney is good at exploiting existing stuff. It also tends to squeeze the life out of artists such that nothing new of any quality will ever come out of them again. We have seen the last worthwhile new Marvel comic franchises. I don't care about the movies, that makes me very sad that Disney just killed a huge part of the world of comic books.

I was under the impression that comics were pretty much dead anyways...

shardian · « **Reply #23 on:** August 31, 2009, 03:06:24 pm »

http://profile.myspace.com/thecomicbooklady

My father-in-law is a comic nerd. He is friends with the people that made this stupid ass movie. Alas, I had to cancel me and the wife's personal invitation to see the premier...

The lady really does run a comic shop in Huntington. I had the misfortune of riding with F-I-L on his comic run day one time. Holy crap, the movie isn't too far off from reality. There were some real nut jobs that just hung out in there talking to the lady, and you could tell she couldn't give a crap less what they said. I could only stand about 5 minutes in the place, then went and stood outside.

P.S. My F-I-L is the "what do you think about that" guy at the end of the preview. In reality, he's one of the 'normal' comic book people...

saint · « **Reply #24 on:** August 31, 2009, 03:41:43 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on August 31, 2009, 02:31:43 pm

The way I see it this probably doesn't mean much to their existing properties. They will allow Marvel to keep on exploiting the great licenses they have. What it does probably mean is that there will be no more good new work coming out of Marvel. Disney is good at exploiting existing stuff. It also tends to squeeze the life out of artists such that nothing new of any quality will ever come out of them again. We have seen the last worthwhile new Marvel comic franchises. I don't care about the movies, that makes me very sad that Disney just killed a huge part of the world of comic books.

Here's a guy who's got a different opinion on it:

http://robio.livejournal.com/369767.html#cutid1

The Monkey Man · « **Reply #25 on:** September 01, 2009, 04:46:44 am »

Great, now we're gonna see Superman saving Hannah Montana or something. >_<

shardian · « **Reply #26 on:** September 01, 2009, 07:50:03 am »

Quote from: The Monkey Man on September 01, 2009, 04:46:44 am

Great, now we're gonna see Superman saving Hannah Montana or something. >_<

You hear that? That is the sound of 1 million comic nerd's heads exploding at once from your comment. I'll let you stew a while as to why...

saint · « **Reply #27 on:** September 01, 2009, 08:52:58 am »

Hey, Crossover's happen... or something

ChadTower · « **Reply #28 on:** September 01, 2009, 09:45:25 am »

That would be sorta hard since Superman isn't a Marvel property...

(can't believe it took this long for someone to point that out - unless shardian did in a nonobvious way )

saint · « **Reply #29 on:** September 01, 2009, 10:08:50 am »

Shardian and I both did and you blew it

Malenko · « **Reply #30 on:** September 01, 2009, 10:33:05 am »

Quote from: ChadTower on September 01, 2009, 09:45:25 am

That would be sorta hard since Superman isn't a Marvel property...

(can't believe it took this long for someone to point that out - unless shardian did in a nonobvious way )

his was obvious and funny, yours was just obvious.

post more think less, right?

ChadTower · « **Reply #31 on:** September 01, 2009, 10:56:48 am »

Either one could have been interpreted as a Hanna Montana joke... but meh, I'm going to go sit in the corner now.

shardian · « **Reply #32 on:** September 01, 2009, 11:05:43 am »

Quote from: ChadTower on September 01, 2009, 10:56:48 am

Either one could have been interpreted as a Hanna Montana joke... but meh, I'm going to go sit in the corner now.

Hey Chad, what's it like to have an Airbus A380 buzz you at ground level?

ChadTower · « **Reply #33 on:** September 01, 2009, 11:08:18 am »

Quote from: shardian on September 01, 2009, 11:05:43 am

Hey Chad, what's it like to have an Airbus A380 buzz you at ground level?

I have 8 and 10 year old boys. In my house even the slightest Hanna Montana reference really does make heads asplode. I read that as a "Hanna Montana plus Superman = heresy" statement.

Malenko · « **Reply #34 on:** September 01, 2009, 12:02:54 pm »

Its just Miley being Miley.

Fordman · « **Reply #35 on:** September 02, 2009, 10:58:57 pm »

I'm not a comic guy whatsoever! I did buy Beavis & Butthead, Pinky & the Brain and 'NAM though! I just hope Disney doesnt put their foot print all over stuff like WWE did when they bought WCW-ECW-AWA. You cant even watch the stuff without Vinnie Mac's logo shoved down your thoat!

Fordman

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #36 on:** September 02, 2009, 11:34:43 pm »

Quote from: Fordman on September 02, 2009, 10:58:57 pm

I'm not a comic guy whatsoever! I did buy Beavis & Butthead, Pinky & the Brain and 'NAM though! I just hope Disney doesnt put their foot print all over stuff like WWE did when they bought WCW-ECW-AWA. You cant even watch the stuff without Vinnie Mac's logo shoved down your thoat!

Fordman

And yet his own company has the logo blurred out half the time.

Dexter · « **Reply #37 on:** September 08, 2009, 09:41:43 am »

The beasts, will somebody please think about the beasts

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/9/2/

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #38 on:** September 08, 2009, 12:16:25 pm »

Yeah, I saw that the other day. Good one.


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