Marvel Canceling the Fantastic Four Comic Book?

[Dr Tactics]

I knew it could come to this and from a business standpoint, I can't blame them

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/05/29/would-marvel-really-cancel-fantastic-four-to-snub-fox/
Well this is an interesting one. Recently we ran a piece looking at the absence of comic book characters associated with Fox Studios on the Marvel 75th Anniversary Magazine cover, in favour of the likes of the Inhumans and Captain Marvel.

Well, now I’m being told from a Marvel source that Marvel are intending to put the Fantastic Four comic books on hold, both Marvel Universe and Ultimate. The characters will still appear, but in other folks’ books such as Inhuman and Avengers. And that artwork featuring the Fantastic Four is even being taken down in the company offices.

Twentieth Century Fox pretty much has an eternal claim on Fantastic Four and X-Men movies, if they keep making them, after the deal was done during Marvel’s bankruptcy days, with very little benefit to Marvel.

The belief inside the higher echelons of Marvel is that promoting these properties in comics only benefits Fox’s movies at the expense of those from Marvel Studios. Which is why the Inhumans are being pushed as mutant replacements in the Marvel Universe. And Marvel have been pushing Avengers, Guardians Of The Galaxy and other comics over the X-Men. And while X-Men comics remain solid sellers, they are no longer the focus of internal promotion unless, as with the upcoming AXIS event, the Avengers get equal billing.

If this story is true, we should be able to watch for an absence of Fantastic Four from upcoming solicitations. Will we get an Ultimate FF for September? The August solicitations seem rather final…

ULTIMATE FF #6
(W) Joshua Hale Fialkov (A/CA) Andre Araujo
• The ULTIMATE UNIVERSE’S worst nightmare approaches
• Jump into the future of the Ultimate Universe as the DOOMSDAY CLOCK counts down.
• The END of the FUTURE FOUNDATION.
8/13/2014 $3.99

The Fantastic Four is Marvel’s longest running comic book and is the foundation of the Marvel Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1961, even if its sales have varied, it’s considered the cornerstone of the comic books. What will happen if it goes away…?

Marvel gave an “no comment” when approached.

 

[Eddie]

Considering they haven't promoted DoFP (they actively promoted The Wolverine, btw) and according to Marvel.com it isn't even out yet (coming soon!), I'd say there might be something to this. They're obviously not going to cancel all of the X-Men lines. It's just too big a part of the Marvel U. FF, though? They can take that temporary hit. Let's face it, if Marvel WASN'T thinking this way they'd be promoting DoFP. The movie's been well received, so it's not damaging the brand. They also stand to gain from its success. They still see a chunk of the box office and while they'd have to share merch revenue there'd still be something in it for them.

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

Maybe the rumor is true, maybe not, but if Fox continues their mishandling of the FF, I think it's just a matter of time before the FF becomes a thing of the past.

In some ways, it may be better to have no FF than an FF that's just a pale shadow of its former self.

 

[Spiderine]

MAN!

I saw the word "cancel" and I thought it was this stinking movie. I was almost happy for one quick second in this depressing forum.

 

[Eddie]

MAN!

I saw the word "cancel" and I thought it was this stinking movie. I was almost happy for one quick second in this depressing forum.

Look on the bright side. If it's true Marvel wants the movie to flop as much as we do and will not actively promote it. Between that and their parent company putting out a major release that will hinder the success of FF, Marvel/Disney could be doing their part to protest the movie as best they can legally.

 

[Donut]

& also since I doubt this movie would have much of a marketing budget for awareness. I am all for this suck it fox

 

[Dasher10]

I'm not sure if this is true. If anything it's Marvel shooting themselves in the foot and costing themselves money since if people like the film, they'll want more. If people don't then they'll want the REAL FF and shell out money for the comics.

I mean if Marvel is being so incredibly petty that they're willing to seriously run the properties that other studios own into the ground, then I find that very sad.

 

[Eddie]

I'm not sure if this is true. If anything it's Marvel shooting themselves in the foot and costing themselves money since if people like the film, they'll want more. If people don't then they'll want the REAL FF and shell out money for the comics.

I mean if Marvel is being so incredibly petty that they're willing to seriously run the properties that other studios own into the ground, then I find that very sad.

IF? Go into a department store or head to Amazon. Look for Days of Future Past Toys. There aren't any. There's no if about it. Marvel isn't putting effort into films they don't own (they own Spidey movie merchandise rights, hence the effort on that stuff).

 

[Ragnaroknroll]

I'm not sure if this is true. If anything it's Marvel shooting themselves in the foot and costing themselves money since if people like the film, they'll want more. If people don't then they'll want the REAL FF and shell out money for the comics.

I mean if Marvel is being so incredibly petty that they're willing to seriously run the properties that other studios own into the ground, then I find that very sad.

Yeah as an FF fan I am not sure how I feel about this. I certainly can understand why though and don't see how it's petty. Marvel is a business. The movies are probably the future of these characters and if the FF/X-Men are a dead end for them why sink money into it? With the liberties Fox is taking they are starting to make these characters unrecognizable and whatever happens with this reboot for most people they will become the definitive FF. Marvel has no control over the fate of these characters anymore. Cut them loose and focus on the properties that are your future. Makes sense really.

 

[Dasher10]

IF? Go into a department store or head to Amazon. Look for Days of Future Past Toys. There aren't any. There's no if about it. Marvel isn't putting effort into films they don't own (they own Spidey movie merchandise rights, hence the effort on that stuff).

But Marvel did just release a DOFP omnibus. They also still make X-Men action figures, just not ones related to the film. Film merch rights and rights to the comics and cartoons are totally different things and I don't think that Marvel is going to get rid of the FF permanently in terms of comics since it hurts their own IP.

It's one thing to advertise the film of your competitor, it's another to still protect your brand and ensure that you still retain the rights to your IP.

That said, if Marvel is canceling the FF, then it's probably due to low sales/quality since the last great run was under Jonathan Hickman. The Fraction run wasn't nearly as good as his work with X-Men, Hawkeye and Iron Man and James Robinson's take on the team isn't selling either. Combine that with the first issue of Ultimate FF selling incredibly poorly.

That's not getting into how the Fantastic Four are seen as far more dated than the Avengers or X-Men and they're harder to sell as a collected edition. Both the Avengers and X-Men have multiple books going for them. The Fantastic Four have 1-2 at most which makes doing an event centered around them nearly impossible.

Marvel right now also lacks ongoing solo series for Black Panther, Vision, Blade, Luke Cage and Doctor Strange. The Inhumans are only starting to get any sort of an ongoing title after Inhumanity was a complete non-event. Even among the X-Men, there are certain character who can handle an ongoing who aren't like Rogue, Gambit and Cable. Marvel has such a rich world of IP to mine that they don't need to fund a failing title when they could promote a new one that may sell far more copies. If FF gets canceled, the rights issue is only a small part of it. It's probably due more to the title needing to spend time on hiatus where it can recharge its batteries under a new creative team. When even making The Thing an Avenger doesn't make the FF more popular, it's hard to say what will. Better to take a break, see if Fox's movie is a hit and if it is, then find the right team, if not, let it hibernate until an opportunity presents itself for the FF to resurface or have Marvel buy the rights for a boatload of cash and restart the comic when they're ready to make their own version of the FF.

Point being, Marvel isn't putting out an Ant-Man series either right now, so take off the tin foil hat and recognize that the real issue is finding the right team to make a product profitable.

 

[the gael]

I hope that it's not true. I can understand why Marvel would focus on their own properties, but for the true FF fan like Willie, it's just the double punishment.

They will endure this crapfest of a "movie", and they won't even have the chance to compensate it by the comics.

As Daredevil fan, I feel myself happy not to have endured this treatment (but it was close), but that's not a reason fo the pure FF have to endure it.

I like FF, it's a part of my youth with Spidey. They deserve so much better.

 

[jonathancrane]

If they are canceling it, it is indeed because of low sales. Marvel's been struggling with trying to find the right mixture of titles to have the on the market. If I was in charge, I'd cut the Avengers books to one and scale the X-books waaay back.

 

[SuperFerret]

Not going to happen.

 

[def28]

I don't buy that article at all, Marvel wants to sell books and F4 have not been doing that job for quite some time. I think they are just trying to figure out how they can sell. F4 needs a break imo.

If Marvel didn't want to push their comic properties Fox owns movie rights for, then there would not be 5 Deadpool solo books along with Deadpool variants on every Marvel cover and tons of merch at Hot topic and Wallmart. They push what sells.

Inhumans taking over X-Men is even more bs. Inhumans have had like two issues, been constantly delayed and lost it's original writer within the past 7 months. Besides that it's just the New Ms Marvel with them. Hardley comparable to the insane amount of X-Men books that have been released within the past two years. Storm, Nightcrawler, Magneto and Cyclops all have solos right now amongst the dozen other team books. I'd say as far as comics Marvel has pushed them more then ever, and have even made a directet effort to show they are part of their universe with multiple books dedicated to them working with The Avengers amongst others. Heck, friggen Starlord is dating Kitty. They are everywhere.

 

[Dr Tactics]

Don't buy that article at all, Marvel wants to sell books and F4 have not been doing that job for quite some time. I think they are just trying to figure out how they can sell.

If Marvel didn't want to push their comic properties Fox owns movie rights for, then there would not be 5 Deadpool solo books along with Deadpool merch at Hot topic and Wallmart. They push what sells.

Inhumans have had like two issues, been constantly delayed and lost it's original writer within the past 7 months. Besides that it's just the New Ms Marvel with them. Hardley comparable to the insane amount of X-Men books that have been released within the past two years. Storm, Nightcrawler, Magneto and Cyclops all have solos right now amongst the dozen other team books. Marvel has pushed them more then ever. And even have had multiple books dedicated to them working with The Avengers and making them more a part of the marvel world.

I'd agree except that all evidence is that they're putting out a subprime film just to keep the the rights. All the negative feedback will affect the brand. At least Fox tried when they failed with XM-TLS and XMO-W. And DOFP and XM-FC actually enhance the X-Men Brand currently so why cancel X-Books? They're not even trying with this movie and because all the negative feedback and this make shift warehouse production, come on!

If I'd were Marvel with a IP out there that can be done however they want with no concern of the brand (Because they can just ruin it then give it back with no problem) then, I'd put that book on pause until I know for sure what damage Fox is going to do. It , The FF and UFF doesn't have great sales as it is currently. After Fox, and Trank Tank this film it'll be the finishing move for the First Family. Why wait to lose money. Cut the losses now or at least pause to reassess.

I'm sure out of all the licensees they sold in the 90's I'm sure Marvel is kicking themselves the most over First Family..

 

[starscream22]

I'd agree except that all evidence is that they're putting out a subprime film just to keep the the rights. All the negative feedback will affect the brand. At least Fox tried when they failed with XM-TLS and XMO-W. And DOFP and XM-FC actually enhance the X-Men Brand currently so why cancel X-Books? They're not even trying with this movie and because all the negative feedback and this make shift warehouse production, come on!

If I'd were Marvel with a IP out there that can be done however they want with no concern of the brand (Because they can just ruin it then give it back with no problem) then, I'd put that book on pause until I know for sure what damage Fox is going to do. It , The FF and UFF doesn't have great sales as it is currently. After Fox, and Trank Tank this film it'll be the finishing move for the First Family. Why wait to lose money. Cut the losses now or at least pause to reassess.

I'm sure out of all the licensees they sold in the 90's I'm sure Marvel is kicking themselves the most over First Family..

If that is the case then you would think that this would fall in line with the rumored contract stipulations that prevent a studio from making a film that would tarnish the brand/franchise.

That's not to say that Disney might be building a case to the fact if there's a legit claim for it but it's simply guess work on our part since we don't have access to said contract(s) confirming if those stipulations are even present and if they are how detailed they are.

 

[SuperFerret]

Hey guys, remember when Batman and Robin came out and they cancelled Batman comics for a few years?

 

[Orba]

Interesting, Bleeding Cool has added an update, it looks like all Fantastic Four and related characters are off limits for the 75th anniversary, and anything submitted by artists that contains any of them will be rejected. And it appears that this directive is coming from Perlmutter in Disney.

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/05...uctions-not-to-use-fantastic-four-characters/

Looks like Disney is planning to play hardball.

 

[Dr Tactics]

Hey guys, remember when Batman and Robin came out and they cancelled Batman comics for a few years?

What a interesting comparison

You mean the BATMAN that 22 years older and who's comic book legacy is way more iconic then the FF so its a little more (Rather a lot more) resilient to the errors of any films? Or do you mean the BATMAN that had 8 movies (and only one really bad one), A successful cartoon series in the 90's that Birthed a whole DCAU?

Never figured out why they did that.

#Isthisguyserious

 

[starscream22]

Hey guys, remember when Batman and Robin came out and they cancelled Batman comics for a few years?

Wow I wasn't aware of that. But that's basically WB shooting themselves in the foot.

Fox on the other hand is on borrowed time and has another company to answer to to some extent. So going back to the possibility that Marvel/Disney could building a case that the actions of FOX's reboot are effecting the brand, if they can prove a legit decline in comic book sales that coincides with the backlass of legit info Fox has confirmed about this reboot, perhaps this battle isn't quite over.

 

[Joe Rockhead]

To be honest, I think the rumors fall somewhere in the middle of what's going around.

I think that there is a likelihood that Ultimate FF gets canceled due to poor sales. If anything, I can see Miles Morales move over to the 616 universe and the Ultimate U books all get canceled.

I don't think Fantastic Four gets canceled without something to take it's place. One thing that Marvel/Disney would be wary of is losing the copyright for the Fantastic Four if it's out of print for a number of years.

I do believe they would want to remove references to the Fantastic Four and associated characters from merchandise in order to 'hide' them from the general public as long as Fox holds the movie rights.

This is all pure speculation of course, but I can't see that Marvel/Disney will put the FF in the 'Disney Vault' for 7 years like they do with their classic films.

 

[Dr Tactics]

Outside of the brand damage issue it could also be that Fox is competing against Disney/Pixar with a FF IP the Disney owns outside of the Film realm and not caring about it so you have to crush the competition however you can to make sure Inside Out wins opening weekend.. If they move the release date a month or 2 this may all go away

 

[SuperFerret]

What a interesting comparison

You mean the BATMAN that 22 years older and who's comic book legacy is way more iconic then the FF so its a little more (Rather a lot more) resilient to the errors of any films? Or do you mean the BATMAN that had 8 movies (and only one really bad one), A successful cartoon series in the 90's that Birthed a whole DCAU?

Never figured out why they did that.

#Isthisguyserious

#asseriousasyouaresadly

The Fantastic Four is Marvel's premier team. And while they may not have reached the height of popularity that Spider-Man and the X-Men have had at times, but they've been consistently popular pretty much since the beginning (as in the beginning of Marvel Comics as we know it today). There is very close to zero chance of Marvel cancelling the book, and even if they do, they're just going to start up another volume a few months later with a nice shiny new Issue #1.

The movies don't really have the impact that you think they do. At best, they get a few more people to pick up a comic book when they otherwise wouldn't. At worst, they don't. Hell, you said it yourself. Batman and Robin was panned way worse than either of the Fantastic Four movies were, and Batman didn't take a hit in popularity because (and I'll stress this point strongly) THERE ARE OTHER ALTERNATIVES. The movie might suck, but hey, we fans still have the comics, right?

 

[starscream22]

Interesting, Bleeding Cool has added an update, it looks like all Fantastic Four and related characters are off limits for the 75th anniversary, and anything submitted by artists that contains any of them will be rejected. And it appears that this directive is coming from Perlmutter in Disney.

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/05...uctions-not-to-use-fantastic-four-characters/

Looks like Disney is planning to play hardball.

I'm sure Disney isn't clueless here. They've read the negative comments from the majority of FF/Marvel fans concerning this reboot, which you'd think would motivate them even more to find a way to get this tittle back.

If these accusations are true, would it be a stretch to say that there may have been some discussions regarding this franchise that didn't go too well between the 2 companies?

If so then I hope there's an actual plan here vs it just being a petty hissy fit on Disney's part. Cutting the wells off to Fox could be one part of the plan, then claiming poor sales due to this reboot could be the next step.

 

[Majik1387]

I think the possible cancellation is pretty much a mix of everything;
Low sales, all negative response to reboot, overall they may just see FF as a money pit at the moment. I don't see them cancelling their comic forever, but I see them giving them a rest for a while and concentrate on their proven successes at present.