What if Marvel Comics and Dc joined together

Originally posted by Darth Macabre
There would be a major consolidation of heroes and villains; whatever "akin" characters the companies have added over the years would have to go.

Sure would like to know why you think a Marvel DC merger would result in the elimination of similar superhero characters.
Once a character is created it goes in the Marvel or DC library to be used whenever a writer or storyteller decides to use it again.

The only way in my opinion similar superhero characters would not be used as much is if a merger would result in half the writers and editors are layed off.

So what you are really saying is if Marvel and DC merged it would result in a lay off of writers and editors because the number of comics being made, drawn, written and sold would be cut in half.

Because when it comes down to it. It is about personalities not superheroes who have similar powers.

I do not think in my opinion that the number of graphic novels or comic books being written would drop if there were a merger, if anything I think it would result in more writers and editors being hired.

Originally posted by JestersJoker
Sure would like to know why you think a Marvel DC merger would result in the elimination of similar superhero characters.
Once a character is created it goes in the Marvel or DC library to be used whenever a writer or storyteller decides to use it again.

The only way in my opinion similar superhero characters would not be used as much is if a merger would result in half the writers and editors are layed off.

So what you are really saying is if Marvel and DC merged it would result in a lay off of writers and editors because the number of comics being made, drawn, written and sold would be cut in half.

Because when it comes down to it. It is about personalities not superheroes who have similar powers.

I do not think in my opinion that the number of graphic novels or comic books being written would drop if there were a merger, if anything I think it would result in more writers and editors being hired.

I respectfully disagree,

If Time Warner acquired Marvel comics or if DC went bankrupt and Time Warner sold it to Marvel it would be because the respective buyers would like to capitalize on the acquisition to make money not to put similar superheroes into their library shelf, just to occasionally resurrect them for a story line or to eliminate the competition.
So I would see an increase in writers, artist, editors, and storytellers.
I would also see an increase in the number of monthly publications
You could also see a drop in the cost of monthly publications, mostly because of access to the internet.

Besides there is more than the city Metropolis.
There is Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Detroit, etc.
I am sure Sentry would be happy to reside in any of these cities.

Originally posted by JestersJoker
I respectfully disagree,

If Time Warner acquired Marvel comics or if DC went bankrupt and Time Warner sold it to Marvel it would be because the respective buyers would like to capitalize on the acquisition to make money not to put similar superheroes into their library shelf, just to occasionally resurrect them for a story line or to eliminate the competition.
So I would see an increase in writers, artist, editors, and storytellers.
I would also see an increase in the number of monthly publications
You could also see a drop in the cost of monthly publications, mostly because of access to the internet.

Originally posted by JestersJoker
Besides there is more than the city Metropolis.
There is Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Detroit, etc.
I am sure Sentry would be happy to reside in any of these cities.

I'm sorry, but you are completely missing my point. You're looking at it from a real world, business perspective, not a perspective from within the comic universe.

IE: Demons, gods, angels, etc, who usually have the same title and name between the two universes, but a completely different history and back story can't possibly coexist. One of them would have to go.

Edit: my point, not the point.

I was thinking this would be an awesome idea. but has it been done before.

A marvel/dc cross over, but pretty much all it is , is green lantern corp recruit a marvel universe hero to be a gl. make it like a mini series.

If Marvel is running the show, we get some cool stories out of it. If DC runs it, we get an endless Supes & Batman wankfest.

Originally posted by Darth Macabre
not a perspective from within the comic universe.

IE: Demons, gods, angels, etc, who usually have the same title and name between the two universes, but a completely different history and back story can't possibly coexist. One of them would have to go.

Merging characters from both Marvel and DC universes would not be a hard task.

In the Marvel world Hercules seduces the Amazon Queen Hippolyte
In the DC world Hercules rapes Queen Hippolyte

But in Greek and Roman mythology this is what happened
Labor Nine: Hippolyte's Belt
The ninth Labor took Heracles to the land of the Amazons, to retrieve the belt of their queen for Eurystheus' daughter. The Amazons were a race of warrior women, great archers who had invented the art of fighting from horseback. Heracles recruited a number of heroes to accompany him on this expedition, among them Theseus. As it turned out, the Amazon queen, Hippolyte, willingly gave Hercules her belt, but Hera was not about to let the hero get off so easily. The goddess stirred up the Amazons with a rumor that the Greeks had captured their queen, and a great battle ensued. Heracles made off with the belt, and Theseus kidnapped an Amazon princess.
So it is possible to think that if Queen Hippolyte survived the battle Wonder Woman would be Hercules’s daughter

So coming up with a good story to merge the two Hercules would not be a hard task. And merging his costume would be an improvement from Marvels costume.

Merging the two Captain Marvels would not be a hard task either. Writing a story where the Wizard Shazam gets a hold of Mar-Vell’s Nega-Bands and gives them to a grown up Billy Batson would not be hard. All you would have to do is add the DC’s Captain Marvel’s cape, boots and belt to the Marvels costume and the two are merged. Besides Captain Marvel died of cancer so the Kree warrior is already deceased. And I don’t think Rick Jones would mind if Billy Batson combined his powers with the already deceased Kree, Mar-Vell.
And the same thing could be done with all the other Demons, gods, angels, etc. The writers would have a field day merging some the characters in both universes, having said it should be a choice of last resort. In other words it would be better to merge characters and come up with a story that can accomplish that instead of killing them off.

Why can't I post pictures, this is driving me nuts

Well, if they could be owned by a holding corporation belonging to all
the other comics companies, so that these companies could use things
*from* them, like the term "super powers", or have flying heroes,
without fear of being sued, I could see certain advantages.
But just merging into one super-competitor; no. The antitrust laws
would stop that, since they have so much of the market!
Now, if an antitrust judgement broke DC up into separate divisions...
a Captain Marvel division, a Silver Age Earth-2 division, a Silver Age
division, a Byrne Age division... all of which would have to compete
with each other, *that* would be interesting.

John Savard

So what are you saying, that If Time Warner acquired Marvel Comics.
Time Warner would have to keep DC & Marvel Comics separate entities?
Or if Marvel bought DC Comics, Marvel Enterprise would have to keep
its Marvel Comics a different division from its DC Comic division.
There by inducing competition within the Parent Company.

I just do that think this is an antitrust issue.
Unless Time Warner or Marvel wants to buy up all the Comic book,
graphic novel industries and actively prevent any start ups, and that
is just not going to happen

I do not even think legally that Marvel and DC are competitors
To be competitors both companies would have to the same characters
Like Marvel’s superman vs. DC’s Superman
Marvel Iron Man vs. DC’s Iron Man.
Marvel’s Captain Marvel vs. DC’s Captain Marvel or
Marvel’s Wonder Woman vs. DC’s Wonder Woman, etc.
And so forth and so forth.

Some would argue that DC has an equal and equivalent superhero for
every Marvel superhero, but I would have to disagree with that.
Every character in the DC and Marvel world is unique, their powers may
be similar or the same but not their personalities or costumes. That’s
why people like to read the DC, Marvel crossovers.
It is my opinion to make this an antitrust violation both DC and
Marvel would have to have the same named characters to be considered competitors.

But to do that the companies would be violating copyrite laws.
No, I could be wrong but I just do not think a DC/Marvel merger would
violate antitrust laws.

This politically correct fairness doctrine that has permeated this
country is going to destroy it. If a company fails it just fails.
Propping and subsidizing failed corporations with the idea it is
failing only because the competition will not let it succeed is crazy,
this will take us all down. I believe in fair competition, but not
propping up and subsidizing failed organizations.

If people stop buying DC Comics will Marvel have to divide itself into
two or three different companies and divide up its characters so there
can be fair competition in the comic book industry? Does not make
sense, but than a lot of things do not make sense to me.

Marvel/DC Monopoly

It never ceases to amaze/depress me, when people think that Marvel and DC are the only companies publishing comics.

It is said that between Marvel and DC that they control about 85% of sales, if they merged it would be a virtual monopoly. But if you consider that we are talking about DIRECT MARKET SALES it becomes a small percentage of the total comic sales in North America when you include manga and bookstore sales in that equation.

I do not think a Marvel/DC merger would create a monopoly in the comic book industry.

There is such a variety of companies in Comics/Manga that the government should allow such a merger to happen since it would not be a monopoly. That is if we think the government even cares. There is a lot of competition in the comics and manga industry, so I could see a Marvel/DC merger as a good thing especially in the non-Direct market. It would mean only one company for traditional superhero comics.

Comic books are a form of entertainment, meaning there's as much variety in the product as there is in the customer base, so you don't have to go to DC or Marvel for comics unless you want something with Spider-Man, Superman, Batman, or whoever else they own.

What is keeping the traditional superhero companies alive is Merchandising and other revenue. Marvel's Publishing division only sells $80 million. I think the future for superhero comics is Merchandising, Movies and other revenue.

I just can not understand why a Marvel/DC merger would in any way bring a feeling of absolute terror.

Batman and Nightwing would be Awesome in Marvel. Deathstroke too. And a bunch of the Bat-Villain Gallery.

Stocks,

Marvel stocks are poised to double in a few years and have been growing for years.
Time Warner stocks are going back and forth from Underperforming and Neutral
Time Warner stocks have “not” be growing for over 5 years.
Marvel Entertainment is going to be bought out by a Global Media Giant sooner or later.
Disney, Fox, Paramount, Sony or another Global Media Giant, Marvel could even be taken over from a foreign company.
I believe that Time Warner stocks would rise considerably if they bought out Marvel Entertainment. Or Time Warner could watch some other Global Media Giant buy out Marvel and Time Warner’s stock can stay stagnate.
It is in my opinion that Marvel Entertainment is just too small to stand on its own.
I own stocks in Time Warner and would sure like to see my stocks grow.
I do not believe this is an anti-trust issue.

it would stop any of the characters being special yeh it would be intersesting but after a while it would be shit cus all the egos and amazing things about the characters would go to waste although i wouldd love to see the odd crossovers

I just do not feel the way you do.
I just do not feel that a merger would destroy the story line.
The never-ending story would continue, just in a different direction.

sumo

Not much would change.

Batman would still keep Gotham pretty much the turf of the Bat family
Superman would continue to defend Metropolis.

Everyone from Marvel would remain in NYC and keep tripping over one another with heroes fighting heroes

Galactus would continue to try to eat earth by starting on NYC
Darkseid would contunue to try to defeat earth by starting on Metropolis

Read Richards might accidently lead the FF into the Phantom Zone
Supes might take a while to figure out his Phantom Zone Project was sending bad guys into the Negative Zone

The Joker would fillet the Red Skull when he tried to move into Gotham
Lex would slap Dr Doom around if he ever showed up in Metropolis
Mxyzptlk might decide that Supes had gotten boring and decide to torment Thor or Loki for a while

She Hulk would sleep with Plastic Man

Punisher would "punish" both Deadshot and Deathstroke - probably both in the same afternoon.

Lobo would go out drinking with The Thing

Hulk smash Grundy

And in face of declining circulation the Daily Bugle would buy out the Daily Planet and quit printing on paper altogether with the idea of running a full time blog.

Darkclaw was good, but rather lame imo.

Marvel and DC comics will merge

I predict that Time Warner will buy out Marvel Entertainment somewhere between November 2008 and March 2009

>YKW (ad hoc)

>With what? The magazine division is tanking, the film division is in such
>ragged shape that HARRY POTTER has had to be moved to next summer (lest
>TW suffer the season sans a single blockbuster, what with WATCHMEN headed
>to legal limbo), AOL is such a money hole they're offering it outright to
>passers-by outside corp HQ, and the CW has been an outright disaster (so
>much so that TW itself often refuses to carry its programming on its own
>cable systems).
>Meanwhile, Marvel has scored consecutive box-office hits in 2008 and has
>several more in the pipeline, in addition to franchises housed with other
>studios from which Marvel derives very substantial licensing monies,
>while it has few ancillary divisions weighing its financials down
>(basically, what, the digital initiative?).
>If anything -- and I hasten to preface, I =don't= expect this to happen
>at all -- I'd be far less surprised if Marvel were to try to acquire DC
>instead. However, the least surprising path of all would be that each
>continue to build itself up internally, rather than by merger or
>acquisition.

Time Warner to split AOL in two, beats estimates

The company has said it plans to shed its cable services division,
Time Warner Cable , by the end of the year, in a separation that will
yield a $9.25 billion payment from its cable division.
Time Warner Chief Executive Jeffrey Bewkes declined to say how the
company planned to spend the cash. But he said the company could
pursue global acquisitions in areas it currently operates, such as TV
and online networks or entertainment production companies.

-- Acquisitions: Sort of a standard answer: TWX will pursue prudent
acquisitions, but only ones that provide a meaningful financial
return, and one that’s superior to other uses of cash. Given the low
share price, it will be difficult to find acquisitions, says Bewkes,
that will be superior to just buying back stock. That being said,
given all the financial changes the company is undergoing, buybacks
are currently on pause. Following the big one-time dividend from TWC?
Same. Prudent acquisitions if possible, but expect more cash returned
to shareholders.

I honestly think that it would be a great idea if these two companies merged, and economically this may happen if some distant future, because a faltering economy usually means that one megacorp swallows the other.

On the other hand I would just love to see characters like Thor and Wonder Woman working together to take on threats greater than themselves. Black Panther switching over and joining the Justice League, and Batman fighting crime in Hell's Kitchen. Lots of great stories would come out of a merge between these two, and when you throw in Wildstorm, things just get better.... Zealot vs Gamora???

Well thats my take on why it would be a good idea.

Comics aren't an industry in the way most antitrust laws define such.
"Periodicals" are the industry that contains comics. Just like there was no
antitrust remedy to Diamond taking over comic distribution, there wouldn't be
a case to block Time Warner owning Marvel and DC.
Similarly, Hasbro now owns Hot Wheels and Matchbox, which together make
a significant chunk of the 1:72 scale toy car market. But "toy cars" aren't
an industry, they're part of the overall toy industry.

Dave Van Domelen, fixing the subject line

Everybody tends to forget the real big third comic book publisher in the United States.

While it is hard to get exact numbers on Archie Comics Publications, there seems to be enough information to indicate that they are the real #3 comic book publisher. The only info I could get was from some publicity news that indicated Archie Comics were selling in the area of 700,000 per month across the whole line (which I think is around 20 titles or so.)

Just one more reason not for the government to take any concern.

Add to that, how does the government look at the industry. Are they going to break it down to comic books or are they going to break it down monthly periodicals. I doubt that they would go down much past monthly periodicals. I

It could be that DC would like to acquire Archie Comics Publications.
To me I think DC is afraid that Marvel will acquire Archie Comics.
And that’s why they acquired the rights to the Archie superheroes (again)

I think this DC licensing of Archie and Milestone characters is a prelude to Archie Comics selling out completely to DC next year

And I think this is also a prelude to Time Warner acquiring Marvel Entertainment

I'm surprised anyone voted other than "Hell No"...but then again this is an internet forum...doh!