Tag Archives: ike perlmutter

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Deadpool #1

It was new comic book day yesterday! What’d you all get? What’d you like? Dislike? Sound off in the comments below. While you think about that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

CBR – Did DC Have an Unpublished Siegel/Shuster Superman Story Redrawn? – Some interesting history.

The Beat – Iger holds off Peltz and Perlmutter in shareholders vote – Not really surprising.

TrekMovie – NATO Explains Why The Theme For ‘Star Trek: First Contact’ Was Played At Sweden’s Induction Ceremony – Well ok then.

Reviews

Comicbastards – Crave #1
Comicbook – Deadpool #1
Comicbook – Red Sonja: Empire of the Damned #1

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Ultimate Universe #1

It’s a new week and we’ve got a lot coming at you. While you start the day, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.

The Beat – Graphic novel wins Nordic Council Literature Prize for first time – Awesome!

NPR – A new graphic memoir details illustrator Edel Rodriguez’s escape from Cuba in 1980 – So excited to read this.

Kotaku – Canceled PS2 Daredevil Game Now Playable 20 Years Later – Nice!

How to Love Comics – Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War Reading Order Checklist – For those that want to dive into this event.

ICv2 – Former Marvel CEO Ike Perlmutter Pledges Shares to Peltz – Let them fight.

ICv2 – Funko Shows Loss on Q3 Sales Decline – Hrm.

The Beat – Skybound relaunches historic Spike & Mike’s Festival of Animation – Nice!

Reviews

The Beat – A Stepmother’s Marchen Vol. 1
CBR – Spider-Boy #1
The Beat – The Super Hero’s Journey
CBR – Supergirl Special #1
CBR – Ultimate Universe #1

Marvel’s Ike Perlmutter out, part of Disney’s Layoffs

Isaac Perlmutter

You might have heard the rejoicing from New York City, but Isaac (Ike) Perlmutter is out at Marvel, part of the Walt Disney Company‘s cost-cutting campaign. Perlmutter was told today that Marvel Entertainment was redundant and would be folded into Disney’s business units according to the New York Times.

The move is part of Disney’s plan to cut an additional 7,000 jobs, around 4% of its workforce. It’s part of a move to try to cut $5.5 billion in expenses and improve the company’s financial position.

Perlmutter’s reign at Marvel has been one of controversy. The elusive individual is rarely photographed and is known for his tightness with money. A story goes he once pulled paperclips out of garbage cans for reuse. His relationship with Marvel Studios was contentious, butting heads with Kevin Feige. He hasn’t been involved with the movies since 2015 and lost control of television in 2019. Most recently, Perlmutter attempted to put a friend on the Disney board resulting in a proxy battle.

Outside of Disney, Perlmutter is/was a strong support of President Donald Trump, advising on Veterans affairs, a move that may have violated laws. Perlmutter also donated to organizations tied to the January 6th attack on the US Capitol.

Also laid off today were Rob Steffens, co-president of Marvel Entertainment and John Turitzin, chief counsel for the division.

Dan Buckley, president of Marvel Entertainment remains and will report to Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios. Buckley previously reported to Feige and Perlmutter.

In 2009, Perlmutter sold Marvel to Disney for $4 billion.

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Static: Shadows of Dakota #1

The weekend is almost here! What geeky things are you all doing? Sound off in the comments. While you wait for the weekend to begin and weekday to end, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web!

ICv2 – Disney To Cut 7,000 Jobs – But you get your sequels!!

The Beat – Ike-led Disney board revolt ends as Bob Iger buries Ike Perlmutter – And that’s how you plunge the knife deeper even after winning.

The Beat – Chris Browne, long time cartoonist of Hägar the Horrible, has died – Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans.

Reviews

The Beat – Not All Robots Vol. 1
Comic Crusaders – Space Job #1
CBR – Static: Shadows of Dakota #1

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Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1

It’s new comic book day! What are you excited about? What do you plan on getting? Sound off in the comments below! While you wait for shops to open, here’s some comic news and a review from around the web.

Variety – Heavy Metal Magazine CEO Matthew Medney Steps Down (EXCLUSIVE) – Not surprising news and another example of what will be a turbulent year in comics.

The Beat – Matthew Medney steps down at Heavy Metal amid creator accusations – More details on the shakeup.

The Beat – Report: Ike Perlmutter attempted a shadow Disney board coup over the summer…and it’s not done yet. – Not surprising at all.

Comicbook – Jason Pearson, Comics Artist, Dead at 52 – Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans.

ICv2 – Tapas Parent Raises Nearly $1B from Saudi Arabia, Singapore Sovereign Funds – Interesting.

Book Riot – 9 of the Best Revenge Manga – What would you suggest?

The Beat – A Year of Free Comics: THE LAST BLOODLINE taps into vampire lore – Free comics!

Kotaku – Suicide Squad Leak Has Fans Worried About Its Online Features – Uh oh.

Review

CBR – Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1

Marvel Chairman’s Connection to Sedition and the Capitol Riots

Ike Perlmutter

The sedition and riots that happened at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, were a stain and dark day on American history. What was supposed to be an abnormal certification of the election victory for President-elect Joe Biden turned into an attempted coup by the outgoing President Trump.

The connections and who were behind the criminal act are still coming out but there were numerous groups and individuals who organized the seditious and deadly act.

One of those organizations behind the rally was Women for America First, which helped organize the “March to Save America”. The 501(c)(4) nonprofit is allowed to engage in limited political activities by the IRS and doesn’t have to publicly disclose their donors. But, we know of at least one of those donors.

America First Action is a political action committee chaired by Linda McMahon. The organization’s 2019 990 disclosure form showed they contributed $25,000 to Women for America First. American First Action is affiliated with America First Policies, a political organization started by Trump and Pence staffers.

McMahon is the wife of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. Both are friends and allies of Trump, and Linda McMahon headed up the Small Business Administration. She resigned from that position in 2019 to assume her role as Chairwoman of America First Action.

A donor to America First Action is Isaac (Ike) Perlmutter and his wife Laura. Ike Perlmutter is the Chairman of Marvel. Together, the two donated $21 million in 2019-2020 over 4 donations. $15 million was donated on September 24 and $6 million on September 8. America First Action was founded in 2017 but 2020 was the first time either donated to the super PAC.

The Perlmutter donations happened after the 2019 donation to Women for America First but America First Action has yet to file a new 990 form since 2019. Who knows what might turn up in their next one. Women For America First’s donors are generally unknown. It’s near impossible to determine who directly donated to that organization and funded their failed coup which is why crumbs like this raise questions and concerns.

As of this article, in 2019 and 2020 the Perlmutters contributed 100 reported times to Republican candidates or organizations for a total of $26,067,600. That includes the maximum donation of $11,200 to Donald J. Trump for President, $1,871,200 to Trump Victory, and $1,207,000 to the Republican National Committee.

Perlmutter, like McMahon, also played a role in the Trump administration. He “advised” the Department of Veteran Affairs, which lead to attempts at investigations of his involvement. Questions remain concerning that position.

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Ghost Rider 2099 #1

It’s a new week and we’re getting ready for the holidays and end of year! While we get ready for our usual coverage, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

Esquire – Donald Trump Brought Reclusive Marvel Billionaire Ike Perlmutter Out of the Shadows – An interesting read though little that’s new.

BrickHeroes – 71026 LEGO DC Comics Collectible Minifigures Series: the distribution of characters in a box – For those interested in box breakdowns.

The Comichron – New Mutants #1 leads good November, with increases in units and dollars for comics and graphic novels; growth year certain – For those that enjoy the horse race.

Reviews

Monkeys Fighting Robots – Ghost Rider 2099 #1
Talking Comics – Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1

Art Spiegelman’s Essay Too Political for Marvel

Marvel: The Golden Age 1939–1949 was to feature Art Spiegelman's essay

Marvel has refused to publish Art Spiegelman‘s essay due to a dig within it at President Trump where he calls him “Orange Skull Trump.”

Spiegelman, the creator of the graphic novel Maus, says he was asked to remove a dig at President Trump from an upcoming book by Marvel and Folio Society. Spiegelman was asked to write the introduction to Marvel: The Golden Age 1939–1949 which is out in September and was announced this past week.

Spiegelman’s essay touched upon how the young Jewish creators of the first superheroes created mythic, godlike, secular saviors to address the issues of the time such as the Great Depression and World War II. Spiegelman ended the essay with:

In today’s all too real world, Captain America’s most nefarious villain, the Red Skull, is alive on screen and an Orange Skull haunts America.

That was too much for Marvel who said they were trying to stay “apolitical,” and “is not allowing its publications to take a political stance.”

Spiegelman says he was asked to remove the sentence about the Red Skull or the essay would not be published. He chose to pull the essay. Marvel editor Roy Thomas will instead be writing the introduction.

Marvel Entertainment chairman Isaac (Ike) Perlmutter is a longtime friend of Donald Trump, one of the largest donors to his Presidential campaign, and an advisor to the President on Veteran’s affairs.

(via The Guardian)

Veterans Affairs Stonewalls Congress Protecting Marvel CEO Ike Perlmutter

Officials at Veterans Affairs are declining to give members of Congress documents related to the influence Marvel CEO Ike Perlmutter has over the agency.

The issue is the influence that Perlmutter, primary care specialist Dr. Bruce Moskowitz, and attorney Marc Sherman have over veterans policy decisions by the Trump administration. None of the men hold government positions. All three are confidants of Trump and members of his Mar-a-Lago resort.

ProPublica ran a report in August that showed frequent contact between the men and top VA officials that included policy matters and personal favors.

VA Secretary Robert Wilkie has told lawmakers he met with the trio only once during a courtesy trip and they have had no role in crafting department policy. However, when House Democrats requested correspondence between the men and the VA in August, Wilkie refused. He cited “ongoing litigation alleging violations of the Federal Advisory Committee Act” making them “not appropriate for release at this time.”

That has to do with a lawsuit filed by VoteVets to block the trio from further contact with VA leadership concerning official matters.

Top ranking Democrat on the veterans’ House panel, Minnesota Rep. Tim Walz said Wilkie’s excuse was “unacceptable” and without legal merit.

Walz said:

We have received nothing from VA except excuses. The reports of corruption and cronyism are serious and we cannot allow VA to sweep this under the rug. This issue will remain a top concern of the committee until all our questions have been answered.

Walz has demanded that the documents are turned over by the end of the month.

Around the Tubes

It’s July 4th and while we’ll be enjoying fireworks, beer, hot dogs, and burgers, it’s also new comic book day! What does that mean? Reviews! Our first runs in a bit, so while you wait, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.

CBR – AMC Names Chris Hardwick’s Replacement For Walking Dead SDCC Panel – This is a good choice.

The Hollywood Reporter – Marvel’s Ike Perlmutter Sued for Allegedly Sending Court Filing to Hollywood Reporter – Ruh roh.

 

Reviews

ICv2 – The Best of Don Wilson of the Navy

Newsarama – Captain America #1

Comics Bulletin – Charlie’s Angels #1

Newsarama – The Death of the Inhumans #1

The Beat – The Winner

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