Monday September 11th, 2006
Popular indie fantasy publisher acquired by Marvel Comics
By Matt Powell
Posted September 11, 2006 8:33 PM
During today's Retailer Summit in Baltimore, MD, Marvel Comics announced that they will partner with Dabel Brothers Productions, an independent comic book publisher/production team most noted for adapting fantasy novels into comics written by a collection of best-selling authors"We chose to work with each other because we saw that we had mutually beneficial goals, and that we could both improve our businesses by working together," said Dan Buckley, Publisher of Marvel Comics.
David Gabriel, Vice President of Sales for Marvel Comics, explained the direction Marvel aims to go with Dabel Bros.
"We hope to bring new readers into stores by leveraging these best-selling authors, and reaching a wider-audience than we already are with Marvel's best-selling super-hero comic books," said Gabriel.
Les Dabel, one of the founders of Dabel Brothers Prod. Said the biggest benefit of working with Marvel will be "access to Marvel's artists and writers.'
Creatively, Dabel said Dabel Bros. Will retain its consistency.
"We plan to continue the same way have, only now with Marvel's editorial support," said Dabel.
Headlining first from Marvel and Dabel Bros. Is fan-favourite, Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter, written by Laurell K. Hamilton. As a way to cement the publishers' partnership, the comic will feature a cover by superstar artist Greg Horn.
The tale chronicles Blake's alternate-universe battle against vampires, zombies, and werewolves who have been declared "legal beings" by the U.S. government.
While Marvel confirms there are no immediate plans for crossovers between Marvel and Dabel Brothers' respective universes, Buckley leaves fans hopeful.
"We have no plans to do any crossovers at this time, but who knows, anything is possible," said Buckley.
Publications on the horizon from Marvel and Dabel Bros. Include Orson Scott Card's Red Prophet: Tales of Alvin Maker, Raymond Feist's The Magician: Apprentice, Ptolus: City by the Spire, and The Hedge Knight.