Broken Frontier

Disney's acquisition of Marvel Entertainment is worldwide news. The repercussions of the deal aren't clear, as no one really knows what will happen. Yes, Marvel Editor-In-Chief Joe Quesada has said that no one needs to worry, and yes, Disney has went on record stating that the people at Marvel have done an outstanding job with its portfolio of characters and that they will leave them do what they do best.

Looking for a few early comments from around the industry, Broken Frontier turned to the creative community to hear what comics professionals had to say about this mammoth deal.

Some declined to comment, some haven't gotten back to us yet, but we'll keep on updating this list chronologically as responses trickle in. If you're a creator who wants to respond, send an e-mail to frederik@brokenfrontier.com. If you're a fan looking to share your thoughts, go ahead in our comments box below!

G. Willow Wilson:
Like most people, I wonder how 'Disnified' Marvel comics will become. Unlike Time/Warner, which owns DC, Disney has a very distinctive, G-rated brand. Makes Marvel seem like an odd company for them to acquire. However, the head honchos at Marvel are nothing if not business-savvy, so I'm sure they've got their bases covered.


Brian Pulido:
The Disney / Marvel pact, make Marvel a formidable player in the international brand community. With Disney’s reach, Marvel will be able to expose their brand in hundreds of categories they never have before. Expect Marvel to explode – in a good way.


Erik Larsen:
It's really too early to say. It depends on how hands on Disney is. It could really make things difficult if they were to insist on the reinstatement of the Comics Code or that comics be for kids but time will tell. At this point the only thing that seems likely is that Disney will be doing more Marvel movies and that they're likely to run out the clock on other deals. If Disney decided to they could make life pretty difficult.

I know that, years ago, they went after Carl Barks for doing Donald Duck commissions and that they eventually worked out some kind of deal. In theory they could do that and shut down every artist who sells sketchbooks at cons or does commissions using Marvel/Disney characters. They apparently send a cease and desist letter to a prominent artist already and they could make things a living hell for a lot of people.

But, again, this is all speculation. It could really have little to no impact.


A. David Lewis:
I'm wondering if, for the first time in my life and maybe ever, we now have an even playing field between the Big Two. Each has megacorporate backing, a long way from Marvel’s days of distributing through DC!

Also, I see it as a relatively good thing for the industry if not for Marvel’s creative product. More cash in the system, more exposure of the medium. Even if Disney changes nothing about Marvel’s comic book operation, public perception and expectation of the “House of Ideas” will change due to the House of the Mouse.

However, creativity may flourish elsewhere, perhaps out of comix-like necessity—it will make the market feel more crowded but, in a bit of pushback, I see independent presses growing more bold and more brave, not less. That’s not to say, though, that the cut-off threshold for low-quality indy product won’t be squeezed out; does a rising tide raise all boats even when they’re docked off the coast of Orlando.

Oh, lastly: Somewhere, CrossGen is rolling over in its grave. This is the opportunity it was aiming for, I feel.


Gail Simone:
I've had several meetings with Disney this past couple years, and the clear message is that they feel they have lost some of the boy audience.  I think the combination of Marvel characters and Disney exposure could be a wonderful thing for the entire industry.  It's hard to believe that Marvel was on the verge of collapse just a few years ago...it's a startling testimony to Joe Quesada and the many others their who had faith and turned the company around.

Good on them, hope it works out well for everyone.


Andy Diggle:
I'm cautiously optimistic. Disney is a global merchandising goliath, which can only mean good things for the Marvel. I would hope to see Disney maintain the same kind of smart, hands-off management that we've already seen with their acquisition of Pixar.


Jamie S. Rich:
My biggest concern is that the crossover between the two companies will be so great, it might violate some of the terms of parole for many members of the Marvel creative staff. I don't even think a lot of them are allowed to have the Disney Channel as part of their cable package, much less go to the theme parks where they might come into contact with children.

I'm kidding! Yeesh!

I have a feeling it's going to be business as usual for a good long while. If there is any creative crossover to be had, one assumes prior deals--comic book licenses, film projects--will have to be worked through before we see, say, a Disney-produced POWER PACK movie or a Marvel-produced BEAGLE BOYS comic (hopefully through the Max line, with Garth Ennis writing and Howard Chaykin drawing). (Also, Warren Ellis' GYRO GEARLOOSE and Matt Fraction's THE RESCUERS would be two must-haves.)

I would think the most immediate gain would be in advertising venues for both brands. If you've ever spent any time watching the Disney Channel, for instance, or loaded up a Disney DVD, you know how cohesive their marketing can be. I could see more Mouse ads in the comics and some hype for comic book events on their kid-oriented news shows. Not sure how the Marvel material will fit in the theme parks.

There have been multiple owners of Marvel in the last couple of decades, and I think it rarely really effects what is going on within the House of Ideas. Much like DC and TimeWarner, it's about stock performance, and there is probably less corporate monkeybusiness than most suspect.


Mike Bullock:
As long as Disney handles Marvel in the same manner they've handled Pixar, this has tremendous upside. And, hopefully in all the hub-bub, comics for kids will return to places where kids can find them, buy them, love them and grow up with a tremendous affection for the medium.


Gregg Hurwitz:
Disney has articulated a willingness to keep creative control in the hands of Marvel. My hope is that they'll follow through on this, as they've done (to great success) with Pixar. As long as Marvel keeps being Marvel, I certainly don't mind their being backed by a bigger bank.


Christos N. Gage:
It sounds like Disney is approaching it like the Pixar deal, letting Marvel do what it does pretty autonomously.  I think that's smart.  Hopefully this will be a good thing for all concerned. 


Chris Ryall:
it's too soon to see what it means. But I do like when big comic news dominates the day.


Terry Moore:
I hope the merger galvanizes our fragile industry a bit. We need—I need—Marvel and DC to be healthy and vital. I don't care who owns Marvel, so long as they stay out of Joe Quesada's way and let him do his job. He resurrected Marvel from the grave and made it worth $4 billion. Somebody needs to write him a whopping big check in this deal... but not so big he retires.


Matt Hawkins:
The Disney acquisition of Marvel Comics is a testament to the value of comics, the properties & franchises we in the industry create, and a positive indication of how comic book companies are valued by the larger entertainment industry.


Joshua Hale Fialkov:
I think that our industry suffers from a huge lack of kids comics and retail outlets targeted at kids.  Our industry is both shrinking and aging, and without a whole new generation of kids indoctrinated into the medium, there won't be much of an audience left in five to ten years.

Hopefully, Disney may be the solution.  From the Disney Stores, to Disney Radio, hell, even to the grocery store distribution, we have an opportunity to get comics in front of more eyes than we've had in a long time.  It's just up to the folks at Marvel to get on the ball and crank out some great, accessibly, kid-friendly comics that'll hook the new generation the same way comics hooked all of us.  

As a guy who writes predominantly comics for adults, by which I mean, filled with swearing, sex, and violence, it's incredibly important to me that there's an audience who can grow up and read my books.  I honestly can't think of any company with the track record of reaching adolescents and tweens as successfully as Disney, and having that behind the creative chops of Marvel seems like a huge win for the industry at large.   Now it's just up to all of us to make good on the opportunity.


Adam Beechen:
I think the deal is terrific for comics...It brings attention to Marvel, and thereby to the whole industry.  Additionally, Disney’s marketing muscle will give Marvel properties a big push, and as they say, a rising tide lifts all boats.


Chris Eliopoulos:
I just heard. I can't make a truly informed or fully thought out opinion, but my gut says it's a good thing. The Disney company has been a media giant for years and lately under Bob Iger has proven to be respectful to subsidiaries' visions, such as Pixar and the Henson Company.

My hope is that what this deal will do is put more focus on all-ages friendly content which I have been championing at Marvel for a while now while letting the creators do their "thing" on the, already successful, Marvel comics available today.

I think it's a win-win for all involved. Disney gets new properties to add to their stable and Marvel will benefit from the marketing power to bring new readers to the table.


Fred Van Lente:
Disney has a long history of buying other entertainment companies -- Pixar, Jim Henson -- and leaving the experienced management in place to run those companies in the industries they know best.

There's no reason to think Disney won't do the same for Marvel, in which case it's a great opportunity for the company to grow and thrive.


B. Clay Moore:
I'm assuming we're not going to see too many changes in the way Marvel does things, but I think this has to be good for Marvel, and good for the industry. Greater resources to draw upon, and affiliation with one of the true worldwide giants in entertainment.

Just as I think Warner Bros. ownership of DC is largely a positive, I think this is probably a step forward for both Marvel's comics and Marvel's licensed properties.


Ariel Olivetti:
I am really happy with this deal! I think that is something positive, and I really like what  Disney's doing overall.


Chris Giarusso:
There's no point getting all fired up over something when nobody really knows what's actually going to happen.