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SDCC 2012: Yet another off-site helps con-goers experience a coma through the eyes of Ridley Scott

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Seriously, the PR is getting so weird it’s getting hard to believe. Here’s another offsite, this one at 1st street and J, which promotes COMA, a TV mini-series by Ridley and Tony Scott, by helping them go through the torment that people in Michael Crichton’s original novel went thought via being “evaluated” for the tour and getting a surgery scar. Make sure you wear your brain-wave activated cat ears when you go through the surgery!

We’re sure this will not be as fun as it sounds. Why couldn’t there be a BLACK JACK carnival at Comic-Con instead?

Marvel Month-to-Month Sales: May 2012

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The AVENGERS VS X-MEN crossover continued in May, while NEW MUTANTS and JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY had their own little private event with “Exiled”. There’s also the launch of the new FURY MAX title, the weekly mini HULK SMASH AVENGERS, more flogging of the undead horse with MARVEL ZOMBIES DESTROY!, and the return of Icon’s TAKIO.

As usual, Marvel had the largest share of the North American direct market, though by a smaller than usual margin – they led DC by 39% to 37% in unit share, and 35% to 33% in dollar terms.

Marvel Unites Marvel NOW! and Point One at Cup O' Joe

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This morning’s Marvel teaser suggests that the new Marvel NOW! relaunch will be tied in with the Point One program which saw various series get a “.1 issue” that was new-reader-friendly. The program did quite well, we’re told. Details will be revealed at the Cup O’ Joe panel, Friday, July 13th, 3:15 PM PST.

This move solidifies the “jump-onable” nature of the Marvel NOW! program.

Valiant runs on "millions not tens of millions"

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The NY Times business section profiles the Valiant relaunch and explains that it’s trying to become a mini-Marvel as far as movies go. It also follows the money and names the investors—led by former Marvel exec Peter Cuneo— who have powered the company to hire a killer elite of editorial and marketing from top editor Warren Simons to marketing’s Atom! Freeman:

Diamond and iVerse to launch Digital Stores on July 23rd

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After a long testing period, and a lot of controversy along the way, Diamond and iVerse are finally going live with Diamond Digital on July 23rd. The program will allow Diamond accounts to set up their own digital storefront, sell download codes and otherwise engage in the digital sales that everyone thought would kill comics but which has, instead, led to growing sales.

The program has been in beta for some time now, with some lively feedback from participating retailers. Publishers represented in the program include IDW, Image, Archie, APE, Arcana, Bluewater, BOOM!, Broadsword, Hermes, Sea Lion, Top Shelf, Viper Comics, and Within Temptation—Marvel and DC have yet to opt in.