Pow! Disney to buy Marvel for $4 billion

[Darth_Variable]

"The Walt Disney Co. said Monday it is acquiring Marvel Entertainment Inc. for $4 billion in cash and stock, bringing characters like Iron Man and Spider-Man into the family of Mickey Mouse and WALL-E." - MSNBC

What exactly will this mean for the fate of the Marvel universe.  Will we now see the new kindler gentler Wolverine with Marvel loosing it's gritty side that's made it so popular.  Will comics now become a non-violent form of entertainment?

Originally posted on: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32626135/ns/business-media_biz/

[CCericola]

Beat me to it.  Maybe Spiderman will sing "It's a small world after all" as he slings around the city..

[Darth_Variable]

Or maybe we'll get marvel rides at disney parks now

[xxRorschachsGirl]

I just read that online too! I hope this doesn't affect how the comics are written.

[Darth_Variable]

I'm more concerned about the movies really.  I don't think Disney would dirty up the comics with their influence too much.  But I can totally see them them stepping in with more creative control on the movie side.

[Dr. L. Loki]

My first thoughts went to a softer Marvel. That being said, I don't think Disney intends that in any way. Marvel will allow them to reach a market place they have had trouble accessing for years. Marvel will benefit from Disney's ablity to milk every last dollar from the fans of their lines. It is a talent. I don't think we will see Stich (from Lilo and Stich) fighting Wolverine anytime soon.

[Darth_Variable]

I would tend to agree, I doubt there will be cross overs or anything major.  What I would expect to see is the violence, darkness and grittyness in some of the newer Marvel movies and videos games getting toned down a bit now that the Disney label is going to be slapped on the credits.  That's just my two cents.

[CCericola]

. I don't think we will see Stich (from Lilo and Stich) fighting Wolverine anytime soon.

You just ruined my night. 

[John McLaren]

What I would expect to see is the violence, darkness and grittyness in some of the newer Marvel movies and videos games getting toned down a bit now that the Disney label is going to be slapped on the credits.  That's just my two cents.

Nah they will just throw "Touchstone" on the label and leave it be.

[Darth_Variable]

You're probably right, and I hope you are.  But it's gotten an awful lot of press for Disney to disassociate itself from the label that easily.

[TheWake]

You're probably right, and I hope you are.  But it's gotten an awful lot of press for Disney to disassociate itself from the label that easily.

All of which will fade form the short term memory of the world over the next few months.  Then as long as the Disney label is not on it everything is going to be fine.

[Darth_Variable]

I'm sure your right, at least for the average person.  For the actual informed marvel fan i don't think it will be soon forgotten.  But that's just my two cents.

[TheWake]

Disney needs to protect the Disney label, no the Marvel label by keeping the stuff "kid friendly".  When people have forgotten that Disney owns Marvel they will not be upset by "Marvel (and Disney by association) made a movie/book that I couldn't show to my 3 year old".  They will expect the audience to be a little older (teens/young adults/middle aged men) where the outrage is not so great.

[Geeky8Fun]

Does this mean we will get all kinds of subliminal messages now in Marvel comics?   Seriously, I don't know what to make of this. Not much has been heard anymore in the past few weeks (unless I missed something)...it could be one of those "much ado about nothing".