MARVEL, DABEL BROTHERS "CONCLUDE RELATIONSHIP"

**MattBrady** · 08-14-2007, 10:31 AM

Press Release

Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and Dabel Brothers Productions, LLC announced today that they are mutually ending their publishing relationship. In 2006, Marvel and Dabel Brothers signed an agreement for Marvel to market, print and distribute several limited and ongoing series, in addition to some other dynamic new properties. Founded in 2001, the Dabel Brothers have specialized in creating comic books and graphic novels based on the works of best-selling authors’ series such as Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter; George R. R. Martin’s Hedge Knight; and Orson Scott Card’s Tales Of Alvin Maker and others.

Marvel Entertainment, Inc. President and Publisher Dan Buckley explained, "We have great respect for the Dabel Brothers’ business and the relationships they have generated. Our partnership has been an exciting experience for both companies. We wish the Dabels well in their future publishing endeavors and hope to work with them again, should the opportunity present itself.”

“Working with Marvel was a dream come true for all of us, and we enjoyed the opportunity to learn from the comic book industry’s market leader,” said Ernst Dabel, President of Dabel Brothers Productions. “We’re looking forward to applying those lessons to our business as we resume our status as a self-publisher, and we plan to continue producing top-quality adaptations of best-selling science fiction, fantasy, horror and thriller novels by popular authors.

Going forward, Marvel will continue to publish Anita Blake Vampire Hunter by Laurell K. Hamilton; the Hedge Knight series by George RR Martin; Tales of Alvin Maker and Wyrms by Orson Scott Card; Magician Apprentice by Raymond Feist; Lords of Avalon by Kinley MacGregor; and Highwayman by R.A. Salvatore. Dabel Brothers Productions will begin work on its next wave of books, slated for release in early 2008.

Newsarama Note: The status of the Dabel Brothers relationship and publishing status with Marvel was questioned by many fans this weekend at WW Chicago, as the Dabel Brothers had a booth which remained empty all weekend.

As regular Newsarama readers know, the deal between Marvel and the Dabel Brothers was announced at last fall's Diamond Retailer Summit. No term of the deal was mentioned at that time. With the structure of the deal unknown, it's also unclear how, when the deal between the two parties ended abruptly, that Marvel could end up with all of the properties, as Dabel Brothers brought the properties to Marvel.

Developing...

ZEBULON · 08-14-2007, 10:40 AM

Come on marvel get the rights to salvatore's dark elf too. Maybe have him write an original tale.

J - · 08-14-2007, 10:41 AM

I hope this does not mean financial trouble for DB. I was wondering why they hadn't announced a new XIII collection and why their booth at Chicago was empty (at least on Saturday and Sunday.)

J

NedPepper · 08-14-2007, 10:41 AM

Well, that was abrupt.

Wish you luck.

I'm a posting whore.

FChamberlain · 08-14-2007, 10:42 AM

uh oh... wonder what this means as far as future XIII tpbs. I'm beginning to wonder whether there are some dark forces working to ensure that I never get to read more of these stories. I'm crossing my fingers in hopes that the Dabel Brothers will be reprinting.

hlbimage · 08-14-2007, 10:43 AM

WTH ?

I guess this will makes way for Top Cow to definitively joins with Marvel. If I was a betting man I would say the annoucement would comes this year's Baltimore Con.

deadheadsyf · 08-14-2007, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZEBULON

Come on marvel get the rights to salvatore's dark elf too. Maybe have him write an original tale.

The dark elf stories are already being published by DDP. It is some good stuff

Derek Ruiz · 08-14-2007, 10:46 AM

Dabel Brothers news coming soon. And it's pretty cool news if I say so myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by J -

I hope this does not mean financial trouble for DB. I was wondering why they hadn't announced a new XIII collection and why their booth at Chicago was empty (at least on Saturday and Sunday.)

J

We had a booth at Chicago?

Derek Ruiz · 08-14-2007, 10:48 AM

Thanks for all the support guys...Marvel is a great company and all those guys are really cool.

NedPepper · 08-14-2007, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hlbimage

WTH ?

I guess this will makes way for Top Cow to definitively joins with Marvel. If I was a betting man I would say the annoucement would comes this year's Baltimore Con.

Ick. Is anyone really clamoring for a Witchblade/Ms. Marvel team up.

Not saying they would combine the universes, but honestly, doesn't Mark realize that Image COULD compete with the big two again if the partners would stop being so secluded in their own business endeavors.

The worst thing that ever happened to Wildstorm was folding into DC. Not only did Jim Lee lose guys like Alan Moore, who enjoyed working for him and not DC, but suddenly Time/Warner had a say over Jim Lee's babies. Why would the Image guys ever want that?

Stay independent Silvestri. Competition is a good thing.

RDuarte · 08-14-2007, 10:50 AM

Wait, if I read this correctly,

(1) Dabel gets rights to publish work.

(2) Dabel publishes work through Marvel.

(3) The deal with Dabel and Marvel falls apart (for whatever reason).

(4) Now Marvel has the rights to the work.

Does that seem odd to anyone else?

sire64 · 08-14-2007, 10:52 AM

Yeah, the Dabel Bros booth was empty.

xdemon · 08-14-2007, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDuarte

Wait, if I read this correctly,

(1) Dabel gets rights to publish work.

(2) Dabel publishes work through Marvel.

(3) The deal with Dabel and Marvel falls apart (for whatever reason).

(4) Now Marvel has the rights to the work.

Does that seem odd to anyone else?

I blame the Skrulls.

STL · 08-14-2007, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDuarte

Wait, if I read this correctly,

(1) Dabel gets rights to publish work.

(2) Dabel publishes work through Marvel.

(3) The deal with Dabel and Marvel falls apart (for whatever reason).

(4) Now Marvel has the rights to the work.

Does that seem odd to anyone else?

You're not alone, buddy. Prima facie, I can't help but feel like Marvel is screwing over the little guy here. Hope more details are forthcoming.

jediracer · 08-14-2007, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZEBULON

Come on marvel get the rights to salvatore's dark elf too. Maybe have him write an original tale.

get your head out of marvel's butt and look around the comic store a little more. dark elf is published by devil's due.

stvnhthr · 08-14-2007, 11:00 AM

Dabel Brothers Pro are a great group of guys. Wait 'til you see what they have planned for later this year. The best is yet to come!

RDuarte · 08-14-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STL

You're not alone, buddy. Prima facie, I can't help but feel like Marvel is screwing over the little guy here. Hope more details are forthcoming.

I'm assuming here. I have no idea, and we probably won't get the full details (contracts not being released, etc), so everything I say is nothing but me assuming:

I can only assume that the original contracts had some sort of "penalty" if either party pulled out early. You wouldn't want to be left holding the empty bag while the other guy runs off with all the money. So, I ASSUME Dabel pulled out ealry and their penalty is Marvel getting the rights to the work. Now, if I take that a step further, combined with

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Ruiz

Dabel Brothers news coming soon. And it's pretty cool news if I say so myself.

I can only ASSUME that Dabel is getting something BIG and they didn't want to share with Marvel. Not that Dabel is being greedy or anything, just that they might have something big coming down the pike.

Again, all assumptions based on rumor and conjecture. Allegedly in my opinion.

Evil@work · 08-14-2007, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Ruiz

Dabel Brothers news coming soon. And it's pretty cool news if I say so myself.

Well I personally am waiting for some kind of news. I got a feeling theres going to be some marvel bashing till we hear.

NickVinson · 08-14-2007, 11:10 AM

So they get together with Marvel, bring over their properties, get prime space in Previews, part company, Lose properties to Marvel.

Yeah, someone looks like they are getting screwed.

sirbluenose · 08-14-2007, 11:11 AM

I smell a doublecross
I hope I'm wrong and it just worked out like this.

hlbimage · 08-14-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Ruiz

Dabel Brothers news coming soon. And it's pretty cool news if I say so myself.

Dabel Bros. is part of Image Comics? hmmmmm.....

I've been saying that Marvel is the devil and I am right. This may be the best thing to ever happened to Dabel Bros.

Godfather · 08-14-2007, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hlbimage

Dabel Bros. is part of Image Comics? hmmmmm.....

I've been saying that Marvel is the devil and I am right. This may be the best thing to ever happened to Dabel Bros.

Unless they've lost the rights to publish most of their work that they had been putting out.

Then again, maybe Marvel dumped a load of cash on them for those rights.

Prozac Man · 08-14-2007, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDuarte

Wait, if I read this correctly,

(1) Dabel gets rights to publish work.

(2) Dabel publishes work through Marvel.

(3) The deal with Dabel and Marvel falls apart (for whatever reason).

(4) Now Marvel has the rights to the work.

Does that seem odd to anyone else?

My guess, Dabel sold the rights to the rights to Marvel for a big pile of money. That's why we are getting happy press releases all around

JimineyCricket · 08-14-2007, 11:32 AM

Did anyone ever bother to think that maybe Marvel bought the rights to publish these properties from the Dabel Bros?!?!

weaselwelch · 08-14-2007, 11:33 AM

Or it could be just something as simple as the Brothers wanted to move onto something else with out Marvel.

Maybe it was in the original deal that whatever they did with Marvel stayed there.

It's down right stupid to assume that Marvel "screwed" them with no facts to back it up.