I know that this week was supposed to be dedicated to all things back to school and so I am going to make a loose connection between going back to school and what I have to discuss here. Going back to school is very depressing for youngsters, it is the demise of things that are fun and awesome. Well that is how I feel about the purchase of Marvel by Disney there goes my fun down the drain. I know that Disney might not ruin Marvel and I know that it is unlikely there will be a change in the comics after all a simple look at the relationship DC has with Warner Brothers shows that the comic world has essentially been left alone, but oh how I dislike Disney.
Ever since I was a small child and I found out the way that Disney treated Peggy Lee, for those of you who don’t know, they attempted to short her for royalties from the video release of “Lady and the Tramp”, I have thought that Disney epitomized the evil corporate empire. It is not just Peggy Lee who found Disney was treating them poorly. Many celebrities have claimed ill treatment by the company over the years. Whoopie Goldberg for once sent a tape to a roast of Richard Pryor in which she said, “Working for Disney again, I do feel like a nigger… So I just wanted to say I’m sorry I can’t be there… I’m picking cotton for Disney these days.” (her word not mine). My dislike however goes further since I grew up in Orange County everywhere I turn Disney is jammed down my throat.
My major concern is what will happen to the Marvel films. Will all of the characters I love be Disneyfied? Due in large part to Marvels previous $500 million contract with Paramount for production of films, Disney will not fully get its hooks into Marvel studios until 2013 after the release of “Iron Man 2”, “Thor”, “Captain America” and an “Avengers” film (Disney will however receive the money from these films) but it is only a matter of time ladies and gents when will we start seeing cartoons in which Spiderman and Aladdin team up to take down Jafar and the Kingpin. And What is going to happen to the darker marvel characters like the Punisher and Ghost Rider (granted neither of them have had particularly great films although the one with Thomas Jane was getting close) will they be relegated to firing bean bags and fighting fairies. I can’t even imagine.
The purchase of marvel has actually already had ramifications for the film world of the “Fantastic Four”. While the first two films were marginal at best saved only by the work of Michael Chiklis and Chris Evans (I maintain that the Human Torch should actually be played by Mark Paul Gosselaar) it seems that Fox intends to get everything they can out of their properties before the rights are turned over to Disney forcing through a new Four movie by prepare yourselves Akiva “Batman and Robin” Goldsman. The Horror… The Horror. Next thing we know we are going to see Thing nipples Gah.
All I have to left to say is, thank you powers that be for suck fest 2009.
I’m sure it won’t be as bad as everyone is making it out to be. I just hope Disney doesn’t screw comic creators out of money.
Let me offer a positive that could come out of this. A Pixar/marvel film. I think most of us would agree that the Incredibles is probably one of the best superhero movies ever made. And we can probably agree that Pixar’s focus on story and character development is also beyond reproach. So imagine that muscle put to an established marvel property and I think we have a winner. I do think though that they would probably do better to adapt a lesser known marvel property as opposed to doing a fantastic 4 (aka incredibles 2) movie.
@ d-comp, marvel owns most those characters anyhow so the creators have already got paid but it leaves me to wonder what will happen to other marvel comics, in particular ‘icon’ and some of those stories. i dont read much marvel but stuff like ‘book of lost soles’ may not have a place with disney. i do think its going to be more difficult to get submissions looked at. disney has their own crew and own style so i so think creators will get screwed out of not having their work even looked at and if disney does like it will they let the stories pan out more than 3 issues? i am looking forward to this but im also a bit concerned about the ultimate outcome of things.
I honestly think that, as Stoker mentioned, the marvel comics portion of the business will probably just run itself. I really only see this as motivated by one thing…
Property ownership – call me a doomsayer, but I think eventually there will be just three movie studios, Disney (Buena Vista), WB, and Sony. So all notable intellectual property will eventually be owned by one of them to crap on and film.
I agree that the main motivation on both sides was the film and merchandising rights for the characters.