Last Update: February 21, 2025
Testing of Cap 4's Mettle
The big test for Captain America One World Brave and Orderly is this weekend. It had a good start over the 4 days for George Washington's Birthday (aka "President's Day") but where the rubber meets the road is whether the film has "legs" and that is the only shot it has at pulling a profit, especially since the estimated production budget for it ranges from $180 (reported) to some saying with marketing costs and the reshoots it's more likely in the $300+ range.
Either way, the film needs to attract audiences not just this weekend, but for at least a half-dozen weekends ahead in order to turn a profit. Since there's no backup for earnings on home video (Cinemagraphe link), and toy sales likely have only a marginal impact on the film’s success (though I could be wrong—if the parent company, Disney, can make a fortune off toy sales related to Cap 4, then perhaps it all turns out fine, and the film is written off as a giant commercial for toys and tie-ins. It worked for Batman!).
Considering the film got slagged with some pretty rough film reviews (though nothing on the order of Madame Web) the road ahead is pitted with traps.
Amazon spent a billion dollars+ to get control of the James Bond franchise rights – Deadline Hollywood
The article talks about the war of words between the previous rights holders and Amazon. Apparently the family of classic Bond producer-mastermind Albert R. Broccoli isn't too keen on the new ideas Amazon has been thinking up.
... Amazon’s desire to expand the James Bond franchise into its own universe akin to Marvel or Star Wars."
Our project pitch: since they have control now, immediately Amazon should launch a series with a talking Aston Martin DB5 automobile and it could feature guest stars like the Batmobile, the Casket-Racer from The Munsters and maybe the Beverly Hillbillies' car. Or have it take on all the cars from the Fast and Furious franchise in a gigantic carmegeddon.
One thing about Amazon versus the traditional motion picture studios: It will spend and market to the high heavens to make a movie, for as a streamer, they don’t have any stakes..."
There's a dubious aspect to seeing Amazon spend mountains of dollars on (some) shows that do not attract large audiences.
More of the Amazon spending spree:
- $8.45 Billion to get M-G-M
- $250 Million for rights to The Lord of the Rings TV Show
- $76 Billion DealNBA Streaming Rights (2025-2036)
- $1 Billion per year / 11-year deal for NFL Thursday Night Football
- Estimated $600 million for Tomb Raider Franchise
We've added a Comic Book Brain Cartoon Syndicates of the USA Page
Marvel launching an all-new Steve Rogers Captain America #1 – Comicbook
After a record year for Black Panel Press, the company's future threatened by Diamond's bankruptcy – CBC Canada
The owner of Black Panel Press talks about how much Diamond owed his company ($28K) and the lack of payment has gotten the company into a very bad spot, unable to pay royalties nor print any more issues.
List of DC's May books – Bleeding Cool – just photo images from the DC pitch book but it does shows the titles coming.
New longterm Batman series coming from writer Matt Fraction and artist Jorge Jiménez – Comics Beat
This is related to the announcement at the Comics Pro event happening right now - here's the Official Facebook page
Captain America 4 at $202,068,351 worldwide – The Numbers
Cap 4 headlines
The headlines go from doom to positive spin. The challenge is whether there's a big drop-off in ticket sales in the second weekend.
"Cap4 tops boxoffice going into weekend #2" – Forbes
"The MCU hits Superhuman Box Office Heights thanks to 'Captain America: Brave New World' ...continues its eye-catching success" – Collider
"Captain America 4 facing major box office decline in second weekend" – Comicbook
"Captain America Brave New World must die! – Chinese moviegoers turn on MCU" – Comicbook
More about Diamond's situation – Comicsbeat – more about Diamond's bankruptcy
AI Challenge #35: Superheroes on vacation with fast cars and mobile phones
AI Challenge #35: superheroes, phones and cars on vacation along the Pacific Coast Highway in California.
Report on the last Lucca Comics & Games event – The Comics Journal
Lucca Comics & Games remains the largest entertainment event in Italy and, with its numbers, one of the major comics events in the world..."
Funko selling off 203 GameStop stores in Canada and the French Micromania retail chain – Bounding into Comics
Is Marvel now killing off Norrin Radd Silver Surfer so the Shalla Bal Silver Surfer matches up to the coming Fantastic Four movie release?
Story at Bleedingcool
Daniel Craig and Sgt Rock film seem to have parted ways – Superherohype
Captain America 4 at $198,741,290 worldwide – The Numbers
Marvel is bringing a new Spider-Girl to print in June – Bleedingcool
Looks like there's going to be a Creature Commandos Season 2 – Superherohype
There's too many legs! AI generation of images of Superhero Waiters with trays of cheeseburgers and fountain drinks
Gwenpool series in May 2025 – Marvel Comics – "Gwen Stacy is Back and She's Here to Slay" – the new cover art has a lot of blood.
Interview with comics writer David Pepose – Comicsbeat
Prompt Wars: Hey, Grok, make an image of two superheroes in a sports car travelling along the Pacific Coast Highway in California! And they're talking ! GROK: Nope! She's got better things to do today!
Other terrible AI images of superheroes in convertibles
Movie version of DC's Basketful of Heads is coming – Comicbook – from Ana Lily Amirpour writing and directing and featuring Natasha Lyonne.
Red Sonja looking for USA release – Comicbookmovie
After spending two years in post-production, a deal has been struck to bring Red Sonja to UK cinemas, but what about North America?"
The biggest MCU controversies
Story at UK Independent
Thirty-five movies down the line, the MCU has proven to be an unstoppable behemoth – albeit with many peaks and troughs along the way..."
Cap 4 has good start but can it persevere with a B- CinemaScore score" ? – Variety MSN
Will Midtown Comics And UCS start distributing Comics? – Something
....now it seems would be a perfect time to be the kind of distributor that will pick up all the business that Lunar Distribution doesn't have the space, manpower, or willingness to tackle."
Captain America 4 at $193,421,014 worldwide – The Numbers
Manhattan’s MoCCA indie comic art festival will have week of free admission – Comicsbeat
How the comic strip world has changed – The Comics Journal
Interview with Tea Fougner, former Editorial Director of Comics, at King Features Syndicate.
Happy Meal toys contain characters that were deleted from Captain America 4 – Comicbookmovie
Marvel is "dead set" on "insulting fans" with another resurrection of Gwen Stacy – Bounding into Comics
Would you like to watch 51 action-packed superhero movies? Forbes made a list for you – Forbes
Udon Entertainment signs with Lunar Distribution – Anime News Network
Looks like Captain America 4 is headed to a $100 million opening weekend – Deadline - the global haul looks like $192 million.
I'd Like to make a Brave New World Order, please – Review of Captain America 4
Cheeseburgers and superheroes – an essay
Get into the Public Domain archives that are online at Graphic Chatter
Time to go to Disney World? Goofy 4 Mickey
Classic Film, reviews and more Cinemagraphe
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