Both Marvel and DC, the two largest comic book
publishers, have signed deals
that will integrate product placement in the issues of some of their titles. DC will have a new hero called The Rush
drive a Pontiac that the publisher says is just as important to that character as the Aston Martin is to James Bond.
Marvel is jumping in whole hog by putting the Nike swoosh logo in a variety of places such as car doors and character
t-shirts. Pontiac has also partnered wth Marvel in a deal that will have their cars appear in some titles. The product
placement deals also include print ad buys. The whole thing is largely because the comics industry has been selling
itself less and less as a kids thing and more and more a hobby of 20-something guys. That's roughly the same
demographic as the one constantly being sought out by advertisers so the partnership is a natural fit for both parties.Comic books the next frontier for product placement
Both Marvel and DC, the two largest comic book
publishers, have signed deals
that will integrate product placement in the issues of some of their titles. DC will have a new hero called The Rush
drive a Pontiac that the publisher says is just as important to that character as the Aston Martin is to James Bond.
Marvel is jumping in whole hog by putting the Nike swoosh logo in a variety of places such as car doors and character
t-shirts. Pontiac has also partnered wth Marvel in a deal that will have their cars appear in some titles. The product
placement deals also include print ad buys. The whole thing is largely because the comics industry has been selling
itself less and less as a kids thing and more and more a hobby of 20-something guys. That's roughly the same
demographic as the one constantly being sought out by advertisers so the partnership is a natural fit for both parties.Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. This is just so incredibly wrong on so many levels. Erasing the already dubious line between content and commercialism, between art and advertising is not a good thing.
Because it's a glaring thing... putting commercials into the content.
Whether it's the latest Sony flick (hate em' all), but especially if it's a static medium. It's bad enough comics are as expensive as they already are and have big and numerous ads throughout to begin with, but now to put the ads in the story as well!?!
God it is just so... crappy, and greedy, and ultimately very insulting to the reader, the consumer.
It's also oddly insulting to the writer and artists, because now rather than being artists, they also have to be ad men. It's just sickening to watch this unchecked growth, and it will cost them. Because they are starting on a slippery slope of being mouth pieces for corporate skells.
That's it in a nutshell, check my site to see how I really feel.
3. I think product placement advertising is right on target. Let's face it, when it comes to the superhero world, most fans want to connect in some way. Spider-Man swings in New York. Why? Because it is familiar. It's more fun to believe the fights, the mayhem, and the destruction are taking place in a city that really exists. To the reader, it brings validity. Is it so crazy to think that what we see in every day life should not exist in the comic book world? A Nike billboard in the the background here, a can of pepsi there. These things bring a greater reality to the scene. A reader who loves Mt. Dew can take a sense of satisfaction in knowing the Peter Parker loves to slam a Dew every now and then. It's a connection point, and it validates the comic book world. I say go for it!
Posted at 8:24AM on Dec 4th 2009 by GDavidCooper
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1. Oh so next we will Spiderman will be destroyed by his Green Goblin by a can of RAID, Flash will down a can of Red Bull for that extra kick and Superman will take some Benadryl for his allergies to Kryptonite.
Posted at 9:10PM on Apr 19th 2006 by RJ