Terribly scary news to pass along today … The Walt Disney Company has announced that it is planning to acquire the Marvel Comics company — including its 5,000 characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, The Hulk, etc. — for $4 billion in cash and stock. Um, to this I say, WTF????????
The Walt Disney Co. says it is acquiring Marvel Entertainment Inc. for $4 billion in cash and stock, bringing characters like Iron Man and Spider-Man into the Disney family. Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of 5,000 Marvel characters. Disney said Monday that Marvel shareholders will receive $30 per share in cash plus 0.745 Disney shares for every Marvel share they own. It said the boards of Disney and Marvel have both approved the transaction, but it requires an antitrust review and the approval of Marvel shareholders.
This is terrible news! While I’m sure Disney plans on acquiring Marvel Comics for the sole purpose of keeping it the way it is, I can’t help but wonder if they will start tinkering with the way Marvel operates its comics and/or movie biz somewhere down the line if they successfully gain control. I had no idea that Marvel was in a position where they would want to sell … to anyone … let alone Disney! Says Ike Perlmutter, Marvel’s Chief Executive Officer:
“Disney is the perfect home for Marvel’s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses.”
And here’s a quote from Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company:
“This transaction combines Marvel’s strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories.”
I can’t help but feel deep in the pit of my gut that this is a terrrrrrrribly horrible idea … one that will adversely affect Marvel comics fans down the line. I mean … right? Does this sound like a good idea to anyone out there??
[Source]
Pixar has total autonomy, and is considered a separate entity from Disney, so why not Marvel? I’m a cast member and I can tell you without a doubt that Pixar is VERY picky about how its characters are used by Disney. Also given that there’s “Marvel Island” at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure in Orlando I’m not quite sure we’ll be seeing a Spidey ride at Disney World. I like what Pop Watch has to say about this but we shall see how it all turns out…
I don’t see any reason why you should be worried. I did the Disney College Program my freshman year and saw this video that went on for like 10 minutes of all the companies they own. I think Marvel is in good hands and don’t expect Disney to change it. Maybe some new attractions at the Disney Parks, perhaps? That would be awesome.
[...] Disney Plans To Acquire Marvel Comics (pinkisthenewblog.com) [...]
I agree with the sinking feeling.
I found out from a friend of mine who is studying illustration. She sent me a text saying, “looks like we’ll be trying to work for the same company now.” And while I don’t mind Disney in and of itself, I don’t like the possibility that it could ever interfere with the way Marvel produces material.
From my point of view, Disney would never green light stories like those of Northstar, Anole, Wiccan, and Hulkling in their own franchise.
I dunno… wait and see what will happen, but I’m cynical about this.
omg Marvel will never be cool again….this is the worst news ever!! they are going to turn it into one big Disney attraction/money maker.
This is not a bad thing. Nobody can market (and sell) the way that Disney can.
Disney has been severely lacking in a character interest group for young boys, with the exception of the Pirates line. Other than that, they are weak in that area. The acquisition of Marvel will give Disney the opportunity to work some of their best known and loved characters into the Disney brand, parks, etc. and bring a renewed interest to that segment of boys. Disney knows a good thing when they see it – Pixar anyone?
Disney does not interfere with a good thing – it only enhances what is already there.
I could personally care less, having two girls that are Disney princess obsessed. But I also know Disney won’t screw this up.
Hmm we’re gonna have to wait and see. But I agree with Disney not interfering with something when it’s already great.
-meream
I’m a comic nerd but sometimes things like this need to happen for the greater good. Hopefully this will kill marvel and in turn save real comic books. This will make us all stronger.
everyone who’s freaking out… stop it will be fine. Disney knows what it’s doing and doesn’t just ruin things.
I know wiki isn’t the most accurate of resources, but check out the list of what Disney owns… so much more than we think about. ESPN, ABC, Hulu, Miramax, Touchstone Pictures, etc. I think we’ll be okay. I do wonder about Universal Studios though. That is their main rival in Orlando, yes? How would that work…?
I agree with ‘me’ in that Disney needs to expand their market to young boys.
I’m not crazy about the a major corporation gobbling up another media outlet. Disney owns 10 television stations, 50 radio stations, ESPN, A&E, the History Channel, Discover magazine, Hyperion publishing, Touchstone Pictures, and Miramax Film Corp. http://www.commoncause.org/sit.....;b=2127045
On the other hand at least maybe they’ll yank back the rights for the X-Men from 20th Century Faux. I’ll say it again X-Men III was a disaster the X-Men franchise has yet to recover from!
I think its great! I live in Orlando so basically a Disney hater! I despise the mouse. With this deal I might actually be a Disney fan after all. I mean, Disney has more money than God. Just imagine the possibilities of movies, shows, cartoons, attractions, rides, 3-d movies, etc that may now actually see the light of day that otherwise wouldnt have been made because it would’ve been too expensive or any list of reasons that they couldnt or wouldnt be made by another company and Disney doesn’t even bat an eyelash. I don’t think they bought Marvel with the intention of not using these great characters and just throwing them away. They see the potentional money making ideas that Marvel has to offer and that would excite even, ahem, middle aged guys like my self who only ever had cartoons to quench my thirst when I was a kid. Now we will have a miriad of exposure of some of the great characters we grew up with and have only had the pleasure of READING about. I’m staying positive and excited about it. I think it will be a great thing that now has SUPER INTERNATIONAL potential.
A few things that crossed my mind:
Beauty and the Beast (Starring Belle and Hank MacCoy)
The Litltle Mermaid (guest starring Namor)
@karl there already is a place that u can experience marvel comics, its at islands of adventure also in orlando. they have a whole “island” dedicated to it. just in general, Now unless they closed that part of the park down which i highly doubt seeing as how it was the most popular part i begin to wonder how that will work out with disney taking over marvel does that mean that universal will loose their rights to promote marvel in their own way??? i sure hope not.
Marvel has been on the brink of bankrupsy for years, so I am not all that surprised that Disney’s buying them.
Considering that Disney owns a host of other properties (like Time Magazine and Miramax) and refrains from “Disneyfying” them, I think Marvel is OK.
wow so i finally get to see buzz lightyear vs iron man!!!!!!!!!
@Katey i find it hard to believe in recent years that Marvel have been close to bankruptcy. I know that happened quite some time ago but the problem was solved very quickly and they hardly got any scratches from it all.
—
I believe since Xmen & Spiderman, Marvel have been pretttty well. I understand the gross of these movies doesn’t go primary into Marvels account, but a lot does. The rights to the movie has to be paid to Marvel, use of characters, Marvel are credited as producers on the movies – well i know Stan Lee is on some like Spiderman – and then they also collect a hefty amount from the box office too.
—
To think Marvel have been close to bankruptcy since around the 2000 onwards era seems silly to me. They have made themselves much more of an empire since the release of their superhero movies. Not only that, interest in comics increase when movies are released, video games bring in quite a lot, soundtracks you name it!
2 words:
XMEN MUSICAL
Disney are close to running the world. This is scary!
Well that means Northstar’s going back in the closet.