I apologize for the topic drift, but it seems a logical continuation, so I'll go there anyway... it's interesting that while the original format is well on the decline that the characters and the IP is arguably more popular than ever with the movies, etc. With that said, I am stunned and disappointed that there are not more efforts to capitalize on these characters and their popularity than one of, if not currently the, most popular and profitable format out there right now - video games. I'm not talking the little throwaway mobile apps, but big, AAA games by major studios.

With the absolute superhero slugfest that is Avenges Infinity War, why isn't there an Avengers game with EVERYBODY in it to play and bash and fight? On a similar note, as insanely popular as Harry Potter is, why is there no major Hogwarts game a la Skyrim or World of Warcraft? The fantastical nature of comics and magic lend themselves perfectly to video games especially now that the computing power can really showcase this stuff right. Dedicated fanbases would immerse themselves into the lore and settings, and most importantly for studios, people throw money at video games. There seemed to be a lot of comic and other nerd-related (said with fondness) IPs in the PS2/ OG XBOX era (so like 10-15 years ago) but other than Lego series and the occasional title it's really dwindled off.

Maybe it's not historically as profitable, but could you imagine a God of War-esque game set with Thor in Ragnorak? Or an Arena fighter a la Thor Ragnarok game? That could be a mini game. Dr. Strange game with the physics proven in Portal? The new Spider Man on PS4 looks pretty promising, but I would love more.

Doesn't Marvel have Contest of Champions out there that does just that? I don't play video games any more, so I am unfamiliar with the game, but every time I go to Marvel unlimited the game is prominently advertised in the banner and the ad makes it out to be just that type of game.

-M

I haven’t played it, but Contest of Champions looks to be a mobile 1 vs 1 fighting game with little to no focus on story. I might be wrong, but I think impulse was talking more about AAA console/PC games.

The Batman Arkham games were popular, so I’m surprised it’s taken this long for Marvel to release a similar AAA Spider-Man game. Square Enix also recently acquired the rights to make some Marvel games, so the developers of the Tomb Raider and Deus Ex reboots are working on those (although I’d rather they make more Deus Ex). And DC’s Injustice series has been around for a few years (I’ve been meaning to pick up Injustice 2 for the Hellboy DLC). But even with these games, I’m still surprised there aren’t more (good) comic-based video games.

If comic-based games do become more prevalent, I hope they don’t all fall into the Batman: Arkham mold. Those are fun games, but there’s a lot of other things that could be done with comic book games too. I’d love a Mirror’s Edge-like superhero game with first-person parkour. And better combat than Mirror’s Edge.

Most superhero based video games (and there have been plenty), are just not very good.. the publisher has to pay for the license, and they assume the game will sell to fans no matter how good it is. Conversely, people not into Superheroes aren't all that likely to buy it, even if it's great, so there's not a big motivation.

To use your example, if you're going to make a great side scrolling fighter like God of War, why pay for the license to make it a Thor game, when you can make your own versions of the gods? Or start your own franchise, and maybe have it transcend video games.

That said, Injustice hit pretty big. Marvel and DC have both done plenty of app games. Marvel also did Avengers Alliance, which was a pretty deep for a browser game, but it was through a 3rd party (Playdom) and it kinda died when Disney did a 2nd version through facebook. That was a 3 v 3 fighting game where you worked though varies missions to unlock different characters.

DC has a similar one that's still out there, but it's not nearly as good.

Back in the day there were some good ones... Marvel did a few good Gauntlet-type games (Avengers and X-Men based, though there was plenty of overlap character wise), but it's definitely been a while... I think those were PS2.. those getting updated would be nice.

Right now, it seems the only thing they're willing to make are the Lego ones.

Penguin Random House is launching a new graphic novel imprint aimed at kids and young readers.

I'm pretty sure these will be out there where kids and parents buy books and other merchandise and not in the retail ghetto of destination direct market shops that only service hardcore comic book/super-hero fans. It will launch in the fall of 2019, so obviously the big book publishers see revenue potential in the graphic novel market and think there are potential readers/customers out there to tap in to. Curiously it is the same target audience DC is aiming for with their Ink and Zoom lines, and the target audience Marvel has given up on, even licensing all rights for ages/young readers versions of their characters (and Star Wars characters) to IDW instead of pursuing it themselves.



-M

It looks like Gamestop is experimenting with selling monthly comics. It is very limited though. Only 20 Gamestop locations and 20 ThinkGeek locations will start selling comics and they will only do so via the spinner racks Diamond offered. If successful, Gamestop could expand the number of outlets that sell comics down the road but would still limit it to the spinner rack program. Some of the initial titles ordered look to be Batman, Black Panther, Captain America, Cable, Saga and Rick & Morty and a handful of others.

Game Stops are still destination specialty shops, but they are far more accessible than comic shops in terms of numbers, ordering as a chain as a whole could allow them to order enough to get better discounts from Diamond and enhance the profitability of the books for them. It could all crash and burn too, but it is something to look at as comics struggle to find new audiences in old formats.

-M