Disney’s acquisition of Marvel comics is what made the headlines this week.  But, their purchase of another comic company has remained largely under the radar.  Along with the purchase of Marvel, Disney expanded it’s connection with Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment, purchasing a 10% stake for $2.5 million.  It is also acquiring “enhanced rights” to the company’s creative side as well as exclusive consulting services.

In 2007 Disney signed a first-look arrangement with POW!.  No projects have come from the feature side, though several are in development, including lighthearted mystery tale “Nick Ratchett,” action-adventure project “Blaze” and one called “Tigress.”  POW! is also working on several projects for the home entertainment sector.

With the help of Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, Stan Lee helped create comic book legends such as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, and many other fictional characters, introducing real world pathos and problems into their super lives.