Breaking News: Disney Acquires Marvel

From the official press release now making the rounds:

Worldwide leader in family entertainment agrees to acquire Marvel and its portfolio of over 5,000 characters. Acquisition highlights Disney’s strategic focus on quality branded content, technological innovation and international expansion to build long-term shareholder value

Building on its strategy of delivering quality branded content to people around the world, The Walt Disney Company (DIS) has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (MVL) in a stock and cash transaction, the companies announced today.

Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney on August 28, 2009, Marvel shareholders would receive a total of $30 per share in cash plus approximately 0.745 Disney shares for each Marvel share they own. At closing, the amount of cash and stock will be adjusted if necessary so that the total value of the Disney stock issued as merger consideration based on its trading value at that time is not less than 40% of the total merger consideration.

Based on the closing price of Disney stock on Friday, August 28, the transaction value is $50 per Marvel share or approximately $4 billion.

“This transaction combines Marvel’s strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories,” said Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “Ike Perlmutter and his team have done an impressive job of nurturing these properties and have created significant value. We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney.”

“We believe that adding Marvel to Disney’s unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation,” Iger said.

“Disney is the perfect home for Marvel’s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses,” said Ike Perlmutter, Marvel’s Chief Executive Officer. “This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney’s tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world.”

Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Marvel including its more than 5,000 Marvel characters. Mr. Perlmutter will oversee the Marvel properties, and will work directly with Disney’s global lines of business to build and further integrate Marvel’s properties.

The Boards of Directors of Disney and Marvel have each approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, effectiveness of a registration statement with respect to Disney shares issued in the transaction and other customary closing conditions. The agreement will require the approval of Marvel shareholders. Marvel was advised on the transaction by BofA Merrill Lynch.

Sneak Peek: Hunter's Fortune

“This might get me fired, but if Indiana Jones and Chuck had a love child, it would be Hunter’s Fortune,” said Marketing Director Chip Mosher. “This is the kind of high concept comedy-adventure that Cosby did so well in Mr. Stuffins, and that millions enjoy on his show EUREKA.”

Eureka TV show creator Andrew Cosby’s new adventure comedy Hunter’s Fortune is a four issue mini-series that debuts this October. It is scripted by Caleb Monroe (The Remnant) with interior art by superstar newcomer Matt Cossin and covers by Phil Noto. A careful-what-you-wish-for adventure, Hunter’s Fortune follows down-and-out slacker Hunter Prescott as he inherits a vast fortune. But there’s a catch. Hunter has to pick up where his famous treasure-hunting benefactor left off and find the one artifact Uncle Max never could! 

For more on this and many other great books check out the official Boom! Studios site.

Jennifer Love Hewitt teams with IDW for The Music Box

As the star of CBS’s The Ghost Whisperer, Jennifer Love Hewitt’s has been featured on the cover and in the pages of IDW’s series based on the show as her character Melinda Gordon. Now she is taking her relationship with IDW Publishing and comics that much further with a new series The Music Box beginning this November.

“Jennifer created a really interesting premise for a comic book series and is carrying it through with great skill,” said IDW Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Chris Ryall. “Each story tells a standalone tale and they are all linked together by this mysterious music box.” The ten-issue anthology series The Music Box, details a mysterious music box that causes strange occurrences for the people who possess it.

The Music Box will be co-written by Hewitt and veteran comic scribe Scott Lobdell (X-Men). Each issue will present a new story and characters as different people come into contact with the music box and have unique experiences. As each issue is an entirely new story, each will feature art tailored to that story’s premise. The first issue, debuting in November, will showcase painted art by Michael Gaydos (Alias). Subsequent issues will feature other talented artists, such as Casey Maloney (G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra), Adam Archer (Friday the 13th), as well as industry living legend, Joe Rubenstein.

“I’m really enjoying creating my very own comic. The Music Box is like a very fun nightmare,” said Hewitt. “It’s a frightening premise to have so much malevolent energy in an inanimate object, especially something that’s typically as benign as a music box. I’m so proud of The Music Box and can’t wait for people to read it.”

Jennifer Love Hewitt’s The Music Box #1 debuts in November 2009 for more information head over to IDWPublishing.com

Sneak Peek: The Anchor

This October, BOOM! STUDIOS expands their line-up of original ongoing series with the debut of THE ANCHOR written by Phil Hester (Green Arrow, Swamp Thing, Firebreather) and drawn by artist Brian Churilla (Rex Mundi, The Engineer, Creepy). The Anchor tells the story of “God’s own leg-breaker” the one man standing between heaven and hell who can keep evil in its place. “I’m thrilled to bring The Anchor to BOOM!” said writer Phil Hester.“I’ve never had such enthusiastic support and savvy promotion for any of my creator owned properties.”

“The Anchor’s not your average crossover of the month stuff,” said writer Phil Hester. “It’s quirky, dark, violent, and most importantly unique. Brian’s artwork alone will make this project a winner. He’s a superstar on the rise and we were lucky to nab him,” Hester continued. “It’s like Kirby, Wood, Kelly, and Mignola had this monstrous love child capable of producing comics with an equal inspiration from each. Mind blowing.”

Below are a few of the character design pages from series artist Brian Churilla.

To celebrate this new series, BOOM! Studios has launched TheAnchorComic.com, where you can read the 5 page stand-alone preview that also appeared in the back of the special 99 cent issue of IRREDEEMABLE #5 that was released on August 5^th. You can also check-out a preview trailer for the series below.

“We’re bringing in the best at BOOM,” said Marketing Director Chip Mosher. “I love comics and I love seeing great comics get made. The Anchor is an awesome series that combines supernatural thrills with traditional action kills, making it the perfect choice for even the most picky of pull lists.” Look for this exciting news series in October with issue #1 featuring two covers by Brian Churilla and one by Rafael Albuquerque.

Preview: Flash: Rebirth #4

image from speedforce.orgWriter Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver continue to race toward the gripping conclusion of FLASH: REBIRTH with the 4th issue in the mini-series that returns Barry Allen to the DCU. He left a legacy that thrived after his death, now his return might threaten it all. What secrets does Barry hold inside him about the fate of all the Flashes and of what it truly mean to be a speedster? The answers start speeding into stores on this Wednesday!

For more info go to DCcomics.com