Tag Archives: Comic Books

Archie Comics partners with Kate Spade New York for Betty Cooper and Veronica Ledge collection

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Kate Spade New York is to launch a collection of handbags, tote bags, backpacks, and more featuring characters from and with a look inspired by the classic 1940s Archie Comics.

In a deal brokered by King Features Syndicate, the likes of Betty Cooper and Veronica Ledge will now appear across a selection of Kate Spade New York bags and accessories. The classic comic book friends will come with their differing personal styles; Betty’s classic preppy flair, and Veronica’s sleek dark style, to bring the look at the comics to the collection.

“When you think of best friends, the first people that come to mind are Betty and Veronica,” said Archie Comics CEO and publisher Jon Goldwater. “Having the chance to partner with Kate Spade for this amazing collaboration is a dream, and Betty and Veronica are a perfect match for the Kate Spade New York brand.”

King Features Syndicate is the home to some of the world’s most popular entertainment characters and is the licensing agent for Archie Comics. Archie Comics’ own library consists of the likes of Archie, Jughead, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Katy Keene, and Josie and the Pussycats.

“We are thrilled to be working with Kate Spade New York on behalf of Archie Comics to bring Riverdale High’s most fashionable duo to fans across the nation and select markets around the globe,” said King Features vice president and general manager, global head of licensing Carla Silva. “This collection not only celebrates Betty and Veronica’s unique sense of style, but also the special bond of their friendship.”

The Kate Spade x Betty and Veronica collection is available worldwide at Kate Spade New York Outlet stores.

Other product launches King Features has recently fostered on behalf of Archie Comics include a Betty & Veronica x Torrid x Project Runway All-Stars apparel collaboration, apparel from Bioworld and Philcos, a gaming app from Ludia, collectable toys from Funko, toys from Super7, statues and miniatures from Icon Heroes, puzzles by Outset Media, Zynga slot machines and more.

Genius Brands and Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment create Stan Lee Universe in ‘ground breaking deal for pop culture licensing’

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Genius Brands has secured a new and ground breaking deal with Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment to create the Stan Lee Universe.

Under the deal, Stan Lee Universe will assume worldwide rights to the name, physical likeness, physical signature, live-action and animated motion picture, television, online, digital, publishing, comic book, merchandising and licensing rights to Stan Lee and his IP creations past, present, and going forward.

In announcing the deal, Andy Heyward, chairman and CEO of Genius Brands, said: “In all of Hollywood, there is no greater prize. This is the Holy Grail. Stan Lee Universe is a once in a lifetime asset drawn from over 100 original, heretofore unexploited properties, created by the most successful creator of intellectual property of our time.”

Jointly owned and subject to due diligence and documentation, the deal will leave Genius Brands as the managing and controlling partner of the Stan Lee Universe joint venture.

Stan Lee was the creator of the most successful characters ever made, including Spiderman, Iron Man, Black Panther, The Incredible Hulk, X Men, Thor, Captain America, Ms. Marvel,  Silver Surfer, Antman, Nick Fury, Guardians of the Galaxy, and of course the number one movie box-office franchise of all time, The Avengers.

For decades, Lee was the editor and creative force behind Marvel Comics, which was sold to the Walt Disney Company for $4.4 billion and has since proved to be worth many multiples of that amount.

“It’s almost impossible to conceive that one mind created all this wealth,” said Heyward. “The spinoffs alone defy the imagination. From animated television, to toys, apparel, video games, and every conceivable licensed product imaginable, Stan Lee characters populate the screens and retail shelves worldwide.

“There is no creator who has influenced pop culture and created more successful entertainment. Not even Walt Disney. Over and over, again and again, he created characters and stories that resonated in the hearts and minds of all peoples of all ages around the world, with billions and billions and billions of dollars of motion picture box-office, television, and consumer product licensing.”

Stan Lee Universe will be built from the repository of all of the characters and IP created by Stan Lee, post-Marvel Entertainment, not otherwise elsewhere. It is drawn from over 100 original Stan Lee creations, from which it will develop and license approximately seven properties per year.

“Having worked with Stan and been a close friend for almost 30 years, nothing could make me prouder than for Genius Brands to become the guardian of both his brand and body of work,” continued Heyward. “I have no doubt that the greatest characters, the greatest stories, and the greatest hits from the mind of Stan Lee have yet to be told. As big as Spider Man, Black Panther, X Men, and the Avengers are today, tomorrow it will be Stan Lee’s Tomorrow Men, his Stringbean, his Black Fury, and Virus.”

Former president of Marvel Productions, Margaret Loesch, said: “Stan Lee was a one of a kind. So is this asset, Stan Lee Universe is going to be an unimaginable source of blockbuster entertainment for many years to come.”

Former president of Walt Disney Television and chief content officer of Genius Brands’ new Kartoon Channel!, David Neuman said: “The spinoff opportunities for Kartoon Channel! alone are mindboggling, including a dedicated Stan Lee Universe programme block.” 

 Heyward concluded: “When we looked at the depth of these creations that sit in this library, the magnitude and value of this asset slowly began to sink in. There simply is no greater treasure chest of Intellectual Property anywhere. I feel like we went down to the basement of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s recording studio and found 200 songs that had never been released.

“One was called Yesterday, another was called Hey Jude, and another called Sergeant Pepper. They were just waiting for us to bring them forth to the market, along with their names and likenesses, signatures, and the right to merchandise the Beatles.  It feels that big to us!

“We will be creating a dedicated business and creative unit specific to Stan Lee Universe. For the millions of Stan Lee fans, we look forward to taking this unique asset and faithfully bringing the characters to the movie screens, to comic books, to toys and licensed products worldwide.

“For the Genius Brands’ shareholders, we look forward to effectively and smartly monetising this asset across all platforms. I have no doubt that we will attract the most talented producers, directors, and marketers in the world as we unlock this one of a kind treasury and bring forth the next wave of Stan Lee creations for the world to experience and enjoy. We are proceeding immediately with our due diligence and expect final documentation to follow promptly thereafter.”

Genius Brands and Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment create Stan Lee Universe in ‘ground breaking deal for pop culture licensing’

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Genius Brands has secured a new and ground breaking deal with Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment to create the Stan Lee Universe.

Under the deal, Stan Lee Universe will assume worldwide rights to the name, physical likeness, physical signature, live-action and animated motion picture, television, online, digital, publishing, comic book, merchandising and licensing rights to Stan Lee and his IP creations past, present, and going forward.

In announcing the deal, Andy Heyward, chairman and CEO of Genius Brands, said: “In all of Hollywood, there is no greater prize. This is the Holy Grail. Stan Lee Universe is a once in a lifetime asset drawn from over 100 original, heretofore unexploited properties, created by the most successful creator of intellectual property of our time.”

Jointly owned and subject to due diligence and documentation, the deal will leave Genius Brands as the managing and controlling partner of the Stan Lee Universe joint venture.

Stan Lee was the creator of the most successful characters ever made, including Spiderman, Iron Man, Black Panther, The Incredible Hulk, X Men, Thor, Captain America, Ms. Marvel,  Silver Surfer, Antman, Nick Fury, Guardians of the Galaxy, and of course the number one movie box-office franchise of all time, The Avengers.

For decades, Lee was the editor and creative force behind Marvel Comics, which was sold to the Walt Disney Company for $4.4 billion and has since proved to be worth many multiples of that amount.

“It’s almost impossible to conceive that one mind created all this wealth,” said Heyward. “The spinoffs alone defy the imagination. From animated television, to toys, apparel, video games, and every conceivable licensed product imaginable, Stan Lee characters populate the screens and retail shelves worldwide.

“There is no creator who has influenced pop culture and created more successful entertainment. Not even Walt Disney. Over and over, again and again, he created characters and stories that resonated in the hearts and minds of all peoples of all ages around the world, with billions and billions and billions of dollars of motion picture box-office, television, and consumer product licensing.”

Stan Lee Universe will be built from the repository of all of the characters and IP created by Stan Lee, post-Marvel Entertainment, not otherwise elsewhere. It is drawn from over 100 original Stan Lee creations, from which it will develop and license approximately seven properties per year.

“Having worked with Stan and been a close friend for almost 30 years, nothing could make me prouder than for Genius Brands to become the guardian of both his brand and body of work,” continued Heyward. “I have no doubt that the greatest characters, the greatest stories, and the greatest hits from the mind of Stan Lee have yet to be told. As big as Spider Man, Black Panther, X Men, and the Avengers are today, tomorrow it will be Stan Lee’s Tomorrow Men, his Stringbean, his Black Fury, and Virus.”

Former president of Marvel Productions, Margaret Loesch, said: “Stan Lee was a one of a kind. So is this asset, Stan Lee Universe is going to be an unimaginable source of blockbuster entertainment for many years to come.”

Former president of Walt Disney Television and chief content officer of Genius Brands’ new Kartoon Channel!, David Neuman said: “The spinoff opportunities for Kartoon Channel! alone are mindboggling, including a dedicated Stan Lee Universe programme block.” 

 Heyward concluded: “When we looked at the depth of these creations that sit in this library, the magnitude and value of this asset slowly began to sink in. There simply is no greater treasure chest of Intellectual Property anywhere. I feel like we went down to the basement of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s recording studio and found 200 songs that had never been released.

“One was called Yesterday, another was called Hey Jude, and another called Sergeant Pepper. They were just waiting for us to bring them forth to the market, along with their names and likenesses, signatures, and the right to merchandise the Beatles.  It feels that big to us!

“We will be creating a dedicated business and creative unit specific to Stan Lee Universe. For the millions of Stan Lee fans, we look forward to taking this unique asset and faithfully bringing the characters to the movie screens, to comic books, to toys and licensed products worldwide.

“For the Genius Brands’ shareholders, we look forward to effectively and smartly monetising this asset across all platforms. I have no doubt that we will attract the most talented producers, directors, and marketers in the world as we unlock this one of a kind treasury and bring forth the next wave of Stan Lee creations for the world to experience and enjoy. We are proceeding immediately with our due diligence and expect final documentation to follow promptly thereafter.”

Asterix comic book artist Albert Uderzo dies aged 92

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The French comic book artist and scriptwriter, Albert Uderzo, known for his work on the popular Asterix title, has died at the age of 92, his family told the French news agency AFP this week.

The news outlet quoted Uderzo’s son-in-law, saying: “He died in his sleep at his home in Neuilly from a heart attack unrelated to the coronavirus. He had been very tired for several weeks.”

The artist, the son of Italian immigrants living in France had retired from drawing in late 2011. He will be fondly remembered for his work on Asterix, the comic book hero that has amassed a cult following across Europe and has become a major film franchise, both in animation and live action.

The Asterix property has spawned a number of cinematic adaptations, most notably 1999’s Asterix & Obelix Take on Caesar, starring Gerard Depardieu and Roberto Benigni.

Asterix debuted in October 1959 in the French magazine PIlote, created by René Goscinny and Uderzo. Two years later, the first stand-alone effort, Astérix the Gaul, was released. Since then, the series has gone on to sell more than 380 million copies, translated into more than 100 languages internationally.

The duo collaborated on the comic until the death of Goscinny in 1977. Uderzo then took over the writing until 2009.

The comic book series centres around the titular Asterix, the bravest warrior in a small town in the middle of Roman-occupied Gaul in the year 50 B.C. With the help of a magic potion that gives him super-strength (and his best friend Obelix, who fell into a cauldron of the potion as a child), he spends each instalment fighting and defeating the Roman army and keeping his village safe from harm.

Last year, Astérix celebrated its 60th anniversary with US independent publisher Papercutz taking on the American licensed for the property this year. It does so with an ambitious publishing plan in place to bring Asterix to the US audience.

The Papercutz run will feature all-new English language translations, with a publishing schedule that features both a series of collected editions of historical material and hardcover editions of contemporary releases moving forward.

Since Uderzo’s retirement, the work on Astérix has been handled by writer Jean-Yves Ferri and artist Didier Conrad under a deal that allows Lagardere-owned publisher Hachette to continue producing the series. The most recent book, Astérix and the Chieftain’s Daughter, was released in October.

Archie and Flash Gordon form alliance in one-off comic book collab for King Features and Archie Comics

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King Features Syndicate is partnering with Archie Comics for a crossover licensing deal that will see Archie’s Pals and Gals enter a new storyline with Flash Gordon in a one-off comic book, Archie Meets Flash Gordon.

The 48 page special issue will be written by Jeff Parker – who wrote Flash Gordon for Dynamite Entertainment – with art by Archie mainstay, Dan Parent. 

The exclusive comic book will see the Riverdale gang discover a crashed alien spaceship that will lead them to the planet Mongo and Ming the Merciless, with Flash Gordon in tow.

“I’m now a pretty big believer that the Riverdale gang can fit with practically any other characters and genres, but it’s best when they get to really flex and go way outside their zone like say, the planet Mongo with Flash Gordon, King of the Impossible, said Parker.

Flash Gordon was launched in 1934 as a newspaper comic strip created by Alex Raymond. The property is currently under the ownership of King Features Syndicate, the media firm known widely in the licensing space for its management of Popeye and Betty Boop IP.

“King Features and Archie Comics are a great team, so having our beloved characters, Flash Gordon and the Archie kids team up too, is an exciting moment for both of these classic brands,” said King Features Syndicate editorial director, Tea Fougner.

“To top it off, to work with such amazing talent like Dan Parent and Jeff Parker is an honour. Their love for all of these characters shines through every page, and we’re thrilled to share this story with fans new and old.”

Vault Comics taps Reemsborko as global agent for graphic-novel series Heathen

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The US comic book publisher, Vault Comics, has named Reemsborko as its global agent for the company’s critically acclaimed and best-selling graphic novel series, Heathen.

Heathen tells the story of Aydis, a Viking warrior, outcast, and a self-proclaimed heathen, and her companion, the talking horse Saga, rescuer of the immortal Valkyrie Brynhild, and a battler of gods and fantastic monsters.

Born into a time of warfare, suffering, and subjugation of women, she is on a mission to end the oppressive reign of the god-king Odin.

Heathen is currently in pre-production as a major film release from Constantin and director Catherine Hardwicke (of Twilight fame).

Max Arguile, founder of Reemsborko, said: “I have read comics all my life and am a bit fussy about what to follow, but I love Heathen – this is a great narrative with interesting characters, plenty of action and of course, gorgeous artwork.

“Viking mythology is still popular for a reason – like all great stories, they change and are retold for every generation and in Aydis, Natasha Alterici has created an inspirational warrior for our times, the kind of character that has been all too rare in popular culture.

“Don’t let the politicians and pundits make you think that feminism is a dirty word, because it isn’t. We need Aydis in our lives.”

Adrian Wassel of Vault, added: “Natasha Alterici has done the (all but) impossible: she’s created a hero who brings different audiences together. Aydis never gives up. She fights for everyone. It’s her secret weapon—a simple one, but so effectively told, weaving grand myths with fragile emotions.

“Aydis battles the gods themselves to protect love, and when she dons her antlered helmet, you feel her triumph and bravery. No matter where Heathen ventures, the page, the screen, Aydis finds new fans. We’re thrilled to have Reemsborko carry Heathen to new heights.”