The Big Two Restructure, Shake-Up in Industry Expected

Hot on the tail of Disney's announcement that they were buying Marvel came Warner Bros.' announcement that they were restructuring DC Comics into DC Entertainment, a new media group with control of all DC properties, to be lead by Diane Nelson, who handled the Harry Potter account for the parent company. Nelson's job remains liaison, but now she liaises directly with Warner Bros Pictures Group president, Jeff Robinov. Rumor has it that Robinov has put all the projects featuring DC Comics properties to sleep, including the Wonder Woman movie.

The announcement also lead to another stunning move: a play for rights to Marvel properties created by Jack Kirby by his estate, whose representation is none other than Marc Toberoff, the lawyer who successfully sued Warner/DC on behalf of Jerry Seigel's estate. Seigel, who co-created the DC Comics' flagship icon, Superman, had sold the rights to the character for $130. Stan Lee, Kirby's co-creator, had already signed a deal to develop properties for Disney, long before the recent deal with Marvel.

There have been some big changes in the industry recently, but none as big as this: the comic book industry is now as mainstream as it gets. The restructuring of DC into Warner Bros. is simple streamlining; DC has been owned by WB for... ever. Marvel floundered for decades, with many of its attempts at movies and TV shows ending poorly, but Marvel's flagship icon, Spider-Man, did for Marvel what WB/DC's Superman did for that company in the 1970s: Marvel was now a major player. The company was restructured into Marvel Studios.

All the Big Two have done is cut-out the middleman, bringing together all the disconnected clusters which have kept Marvel on the brink of bankruptcy for... ever and DC's properties in perpetual holding-pattern. From a business perspective, it is the right thing to do, but the issue of Creators' Rights may steal the show. DC has won raves for its work with creators, though its online projects - like all of its projects outside the comic book medium - stalled repeatedly; Marvel is making strides in online content, but still has a bad track record when it comes to its treatment of creators. DC's appointing Nelson head of the division may indicate its desire to further such creator-friendly deals, which may be even easier now that Disney - also a company with a mixed record of ethics - is Marvel's parent company.

Image continues to add superheroes to its "United" universe and has re-emerged as the bastion of Creators' Rights and creator-owned properties, which may have it squaring-off against DC for talent. Bluewater, a newcomer, has secured rights to many celebrity-created properties, including William Shatner's TekWar, properties created by Roger Corman, and the Leprechaun franchise. Dark Horse also has an established stable of successful crossover properties and, as the third-largest publisher, cannot be discounted.

In one sense, it's a very exciting time, albeit a scary one. Disney is as corporate as it gets - but will it treat talent as chattel? DC now has Harry Potter money, and clout - it may treat Named creators like gods, but will there be any room for newcomers? No matter how things are handled from here on out, a trickle-down effect will hit the industry. Now that they are new media groups headed by major industry players, the Big Two's potential success may bring new vigor to the industry, turning small comics start-ups into major publishers, or burn-out the glut of media companies that have ridden its coattails the past few years.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009