Comics / Spotlight

The Mouse Owns Marvel

By Andy Doan
August 31, 2009 - 13:29

I just read a very official, very Wall Street Journal like article over at Marvel.com. So it seems once stock is handed over and money moves from one set of rich people the other Disney will be the new master of all things Marvel.

I have to admit that coming out of the Fan Expo in Toronto this past week-end I was a little shocked. Not because I’m surprised that they didn’t drop any hints during the course of the last three days, I knew from being there that it was a news free event. I guess I was a little broadsided about this type of business related news happening right after I spent time thinking about characters, creators and artists, I kinda forgot about this side of comics.

Once I understood what was happening, the reactionary socialist in me thought that this was horrible news. An image of a mouse ear silhouette darkening the sunlit play ground at the Xavier School for gifted youngsters entered my mind. Spider-man and Green-Goblin pausing mid-battle to see the giant mouse looming over New York not unlike the world swallowing Galactus. In my mind the pirates of Disney (corporate pirates, and not the Johnny Depp kind) had boarded Marvel’s merchant ship and had began stripping her of her booty at the edge of a sword.

Once I was able to take a step back and actually let these details sink in I have to say I’m starting to feel better and better about the acquisition. Disney unlike Time-Warner is in the business of character and property development. Disney’s huge distribution networks and stable of talented media producers will lower the risk for Marvel to bring more of it’s properties to the market in a wide range of multi-media formats. Imagine the possibility of the Avengers getting the full Pixar treatment! You heard it here first!

Marvel and Disney both have always been focused on bringing high quality media to the masses. Nothing about this recent news leads me to believe that they are about to change the way that they view their work. Aside from a Marvel Team-up featuring Ironman and Gizmoduck I’m looking forward to the new Super Powered Marvel.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12