Marvel

With DC's New 52 changing the face of comics, and getting mostly positive reviews from retailers, it was time for Marvel to announce their OWN new initiative which is aimed at people who want to open new stores. Marvel will provide deep discounts and free trade paperbacks and access to Marvel's Retailer Resource Center. The promotion also applies to existing accounts who want to open a new store. It almost goes without saying that in a challenged retailing environment, opening new stores is of vital importance.

Is it a new comic book about the adventures of Saul Bass?  Or just the return of Iron Fist?

True believers will have a lot to see and do at Comic-con.

Less than 24 hours ago The Beat and several other websites linked to a Kickstarter page forWomanthology, an all-female anthology of comics by both established and new creators. Less than 24 hours later not only has it met its $25,000 goal...it is OVER the goal with $27,454 in pledges. In case you haven't noticed, there's been a SURGE of interest in comics, video games, books, movies and TV from females readers, nerds and geeks out there. I have already pointed out how successful female cartoonists and writers are on the bestseller charts. It would seem that everyone who has been squawking about this has spoken with in the loudest way they can -- not with Twitter, or Tumblr but the DOLLAR.

For years, we wondered why Disney didn't do it's own Comic-Con...and now they are with the biennial D23 festival in Anaheim. This year's show, set for August 19-21, is the suspected reason why Disney's Hall H presence for such films as John Carter and The Avengers will not be at Comic-Con. And indeed, the presentation schedule has just been announced and not only does it include a 90 minute Hall H style presentation, but an entire Joe Quesada-led Marvel event. This would be an awesome thing to attend if it weren't just a month after Comic-Con for us East coasters. Anyone want to cover it for us? Also, nice to see the Disney princesses getting named as legends.

It's month two of event season, and FEAR ITSELF tie-ins are starting to crop up across the Marvel Universe. And there's also the relaunch of MOON KNIGHT - wisely given a clear run in a month that's otherwise pretty light on new titles. DC's FLASHPOINT event also gets underway in May, but with the crossover titles not hitting until June, it's no surprise that Marvel were once again the top company in the direct market. They led DC by 46% to 28% in unit share and by 42% to 27% in dollars. All of this, of course, could be turned upside down in September - a month which will be unpredictable if nothing else. But for now, let us cast our minds back to a simpler time. Thanks as always to ICV2.com for allowing us to use these figures. And a reminder for newer readers: these numbers only relate to the North American direct market. They don't cover newsstands, or foreign markets. And the same material will also (eventually) sell in digital and trade paperback format, so the total sales will be higher. On the other hand, these numbers reflect the orders placed by direct market retailers - it doesn't follow that all the copies were actually sold to customers. But the longer a book has been going, the more accurate the retailers' estimates ought to be.

So much good stuff! Bestselling author Christopher Moore writes a graphic novel! Ray Bradbury, Grandmaster, has two classics adapted! Grant Morrison writes about superheroes and religion! Disney and Hitler, together again! Girlie comics from Marvel! "Good Girl" comics from Jim Silke, Doug Sneyd, and Dean Yeagle! Great Women comics from Gail Simone, Colleen Coover, Megan Kelso, Jill Thompson, and Corinne Mucha! (Can't find female creators on the newsstands? Check the bookshelves!) And lots of masterful work from Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane, Jim Starlin, and Floyd Gottfredson!

Dunkin Donuts and Captain America are teaming up for a plastic cup. And also a remarkably red slushee called a Cherry Coolata. This charming, imaginative spot for the drink -- and the movie -- may just sell more tickets to CAPTAIN AMERICA than the regular trailers. Captain America opens July 22nd nationwide.

While there are some things we can complain about with the system Marvel Studios has in place for its movie assembly line, there are some thing they do really well. Like release trailers that continually build excitement. And the new one for CAPTAIN AMERICA -- while telling the whole story of the movie -- also includes some awesome action shots that have everyone on the net raving.

For people who liked the historical setting for X-MEN FIRST CLASS, Marvel is rolling out some similar treats in comics form. When it comes to retro comics that capture the feeling of past decades, Howard Chaykin is one of your go-to guys, and he's been tapped to write and draw AVENGERS 1959 which will feature Sabretooth, Kraven the Hunter and Namora. The book spins out of Avengers continuity and features a historical superteam trotting the globe for adventures.

Well, you didn't have to have a degree in forensics to figure out that a storyline called "The Death Of Spider-Man" might involve....the death of Spider-Man. Hoping to jump on the same rampaging death-wagon that led to huge sales for the deaths of Johnny Storm and Captain America, Marvel allowed MASSSSSSSIIIIVVVVVVE spoilers in THREE mainstream media stories that broke this morning for TOMORROW's issue of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #160: The Associated Press, USA Today, and the the NY Post which had a story title so incendiary we're putting it in spoiler text!

When alt-comix superstar Brian Chippendale reviews mainstream comics, the result illuminates us all this episode he examines the X-men, the new UNCANNY #1, and fanboy style, suggests that consecutive numbering didn't hurt X-MEN #94: