Date: Tue, 8 Nov 1994 07:06:25 -0600 From: Automatic digest processor <[L--TS--V] at [UNLVM.UNL.EDU]> Subject: COMICS-L Digest - 7 Nov 1994 to 8 Nov 1994 There are 7 messages totalling 200 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Marvel buys Malibu (2) 2. Marvel Buys Malibu 3. Marvel buys Malibu... the good side. 4. Marvel and Malibu 5. James D. Hudnall's comments 6. Marvel/Malibu...Bravura Gold Stamp Program??? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 7 Nov 1994 21:19:24 CST From: Len Strazewski <[73710 2552] at [compuserve.com]> Subject: Re: Marvel buys Malibu I think it is too soon to tell what th elong range impact will be. However, based on my journalistic coverage of mergers and acquisitions, I think that in six months to a year, Malibu will feel the impact of the Marvel corporate culture. This does not bode well for me creatively as I have never had ANY creative relationship with Marvel. In fact, until a week ago, Marvel editors wouldn't even return phone calls. I am now working with one Marvel editor who solicited ideas from me with no promises of projects. As a Marvel shareholder, I hope the deal raises the Marvel stock prices and I am available to accept a seat on the Marvel board . Len Strazewski ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Nov 1994 21:20:40 CST From: Christopher Vitek <[C--IT--K] at [drew.edu]> Subject: Marvel Buys Malibu I think the Marvel buy-out of Malibu has a number of potential ramifications. FIrst off, and most obvious, is the elimination of competition. Why compete when you can just wave money and they will join you? I think this sets a bad precedent, because now any "upstart" companies will just try to be bought out, rather than directly competed against. Didn't Marvel also try to buy Valiant at one point? The other aspect depends on how much Marvel will integrate the Malibu universe with the current Marvel one. Will Malibu sink to the same low that Marvel is currently at (writing-wise, that is)? If so, I think the temporary influx of market share that Marvel gains will be quickly lost. If Malibu DOES remain separate, however, Marvel might keep it's upper hand in market share after having spent the recent time losing it's share. While this is a sneaky method to employ, it does put Marvel as the undisputed king of the market once again. The major question in my mind is, however, will DC attempt to pull a similar stunt? Rather than increase your market share by producing quality books, what is to prevent a person from simply buying smaller companies now? After the general boom in indie-companies and creator owned comics of the early 90's, this may be the trend that halts this aspect of the comic book market. Chris ******************************************************************************** ** Christopher J. Vitek ** "Question with bold- ** To remain silent in the ** ** (201)-408-3419 (O) ** -ness even the ** face of great social ** ** (201)-334-2570 (H) ** existance of a God; ** evil is to be an ** ** [C--IT--K] at [DREW.DREW.EDU] ** because, if there ** accessory to social ** *************************** be one, he must ** injustice. ** ** more approve of the homage of reason, than ****************************** ** that of blind-folded fear." - Thomas Jefferson ( 1743 - 1846 ) ** ******************************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Nov 1994 21:21:37 CST From: Paul Adams <[p--l] at [ERC.MsState.Edu]> Subject: Marvel buys Malibu > From: Daniel Newcombe <[N--CO--E] at [AA.csc.peachnet.edu]> > > I guess we can also expect the newly bought titles to be restarted at > #1, with a special cover, and a slightly changed name. (What, instead > of Dinosaurs for Hire, is it gonna be Dinosaur-X :) Hey if they bring back Ferret, I might actually buy a Marvel title. Having Ferret join the X-men would invoke an entirely different response from me. X-Ferret, X-mutants, or Dinosaur-X just doesn't cut it for me. Now DS9-X *might* be interesting! :-) Paul ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ! Need to know how to protect your comics from damage? What bags and ! ! boards are the best to use? Want to know more about Grading Comics? ! ! Does a Mint condition comic really exist? Mail [p--l] at [erc.msstate.edu] ! ! and request a copy of the Protecting Comics or Grading Comics Guide. ! ! Best of all, they're free! ! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Nov 1994 21:22:41 CST From: Rich Johnston <[R J Johnston] at [newcastle.ac.uk]> Subject: Marvel buys Malibu... the good side. At least it will narrow Gary Groth's aim. He can now attack Marvel and Malibu with greater ease!! .................................. Rich Johnston,[r j johnston] at [ncl.ac.uk], Student Cartoonist of the Year Dirtbag #1 has shipped. (Bisley, Sim, Lloyd, Bolland) Dirtbag #2 has shipped. (Smith, Buckingham, Campbell, Vertigo) Dirtbag #3 ships in November. (Gaiman, Talbot) Dirtbag #4 ships in December (Wrax from Gary St. Lawrence "Saint") Dirtbag #5 can now be ordered under Twist and Shout Comics. For Dirtbag back issues contact [m r meyer] at [netcom.com] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Nov 1994 21:27:12 CST From: "Christopher A. Woodard" <[WOOD 3751] at [FREDONIA.BITNET]> Subject: Marvel and Malibu Hello! Well, I hadn't heard anything about thie buyout until it came on here... I was shocked. Well, not too much I guess, I had heard that Malibu and the Ultraverse was not at "hot" as it was when it first appeared two summers ago (I know Malibu was around before then--I mean the Ultraverse, which is the big chunk of Malibu). I guess it makes sense that they were in financial trouble...seeing that they spent _a lot_ on advertising and marketing and such and obviously weren't getting it back in sales. I can understand Marvel in this...they're primarily a business and this way they are getting rid of competition and increasing their own share of the market. I personally don't read any Malibu titles but I hope that for the sake of those who do, that Marvel doesn't tamper with them too much. I am sort of scared to think of what will happen now in relation to marketing. The Ultraverse always did those coupon books, insertion of cards, double covers, etc. (at least in their first few month of publication). I hope they don't give Marvel any (more) ideas!!! A plus though is the advanced computer separation seeing as Marvel wants to get into that field. I wonder what the creators think about in essense working for Marvel again. In other news, for those who didn't see it, X-Men finished the rerun of the Phoenix Saga on Sat. with the final two parts airing. This Sat. they are going to air another hour worth--the first two parts of the Dark Phoenix Saga. I don't know about you, but I miss good stand-alone, done-in-30-minutes stories! Oh yeah, Spider-Man premiers on Sat. Nov 19th. Anyone out there heard news on the Maxx? That's it...bye... ---Chris Woodard [wood 3751] at [fredonia.bitnet] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Nov 1994 21:29:56 CST From: Metroplex <[g--l--n] at [bgnet.bgsu.edu]> Subject: Re: James D. Hudnall's comments >Date: Sun, 6 Nov 1994 21:20:07 CST >From: Bill Hayes <[IANR 012] at [UNLVM.BITNET]> >Subject: Industry News - Marvel buys Malibu > > Malibu is going to be an autonomous company and operations will >remain the same, with the exception that Scott Rosenberg is now a senior VP >at Marvel and reports to Terry Sewart. > Malibu benefits in that it now has access to Marvels printing costs >(which are lower), their distribution, and their connection to companies like >Fleer and Toy Biz. Marvel benefits from having a new talent and editorial >pool, more characters to license and Malibu's expertise in computer coloring >and other areas. > I see this as a win/win situation for all concerned. > We Ultraverse creators have the same deal, but we now know that >Malibu has more money to pursue an agreessive marketing of the Ultraverse. >We're also told that there will be cross promotion oin Marvel books so >expect to see house ads for Malibu titles in Marvel books and visa-versa. > How all this will pan out in the long term is anyone's guess, but for >now I'm very optimistic. > >James D. Hudnall But I think you need to ask yourself, would you (and the other six founding fathers) have taken the Ultraverse to Mailbu if it was owned by Marvel then? Greg Pallenik -- [g--l--n] at [bgnet.bgsu.edu] l "I don't think Hitler had AKA: Metroplex I cable." - Don't MAKE me transform l - Bobcat Goldthwait on l TV "violence" Cat Yronwode's Fit to Print column by e-mail? Just ask me... ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Nov 1994 21:32:11 CST From: "One fragged, insane chummer!!" <[S--Z] at [VAX1.BEMIDJI.MSUS.EDU]> Subject: Marvel/Malibu...Bravura Gold Stamp Program??? What about the Malibu/Bravura gold stamp program. With the Marvel buy-out, are they still going to honor the gold stamps?? I hope so, I bought 2 of each gold stamp issue. I was a little disappointed in the actual issues but since I already own all these damn stamps, I might as well cash them in. [Spaz] at [vax1.bemidji.msus.edu] ------------------------------ End of COMICS-L Digest - 7 Nov 1994 to 8 Nov 1994 *************************************************