Graphic Novels for Disney?

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

04 Jun 2008 05:01 PM

The one thing to love about the The Disney Company whether we're talking about their movies, their parks or their television - they know how to reinvent themselves and expand into other areas. The latest area they are delving into is the graphic novel.

Graphic Novels

Graphic novels are the rage in the modern comics and book industry. The television show Heroes has a online graphic novel; Sin City, the film was based on a graphic novel and most of the major superheroes and superhero films can trace their history back to a graphic novel. As a part of this measure, they have created Kingdom Comics.

Kingdom Comics

Kingdom Comics will be tasked with graphic novels inspired by Disney films and original graphic novels that will in turn become Disney productions. The idea is to bring a contemporary approach to Disney's vast properties. Disney's motivation comes from the comic book genre's immense popularity in modern filmmaking. Time Warner owns DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Justice League) where Paramount has a distribution deal for Marvel (Ironman, Spiderman, X-Men) and Universal has a deal with Dark Horse Comics.

So rather than try to lure away any of these properties, Disney is going to create their own. Currently, no writers or artists have been announced for the project, but the rumor is that Kingdom Comics wants to hire established as well as new talent to work on their books. Kingdom Comics has a first-look deal with other Disney properties (film and publishing divisions). They will be able to shop their products around if Disney turns them down.

Reimagination

Graphic novels will give Disney properties a chance to reimagine themselves as well as target Disney's vast audience. There are equal chances for the adventures of Ben Gates (National Treasure) as there are Ariel, Donald and other Disney properties.

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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