CSN@NEWSARAMA: DABEL BROTHERS MAKE THEIRS MARVEL!

[MattBrady]

by Cliff Biggers, Comic Shop News

If you want a classic example of a comic book success story, you need look no further than Dabel Brothers Productions. DBPro, as the company is known to its many readers, broke into the comics market with the sleeper hit George R.R. Martin’s Hedge Knight, a limited series adaptation of a novella by the award-winning author. This series, which put them on the map as a publisher, was followed by adaptations of works by Raymond E. Feist, Robert Silverberg, Robert Jordan, Orson Scott Card, and others; soon the company had established itself as the publisher as far as sophisticated licensed Sci-Fi and fantasy was concerned.

Apparently their fan base extended well beyond comics and into the publishing realm as well: now the Dabels have signed an agreement with Marvel Comics that will see DBPro solicited, published, and distributed by Marvel Comics. The Dabels will retain full control of their company, which will serve as a sophisticated superhero-alternative imprint for Marvel in much the same way that Vertigo fills that niche for DC.

“We’re so happy that this deal has gone through,” DBPro publisher Les Dabel said. “We’ve been talking to Marvel for a while, and we’ve known for a couple of months that everyone had agreed in principle, but it takes a while for contracts to be ironed out and everything finalized.

“Fans have been asking us where books like Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter were, and we couldn’t tell anyone that all of our books were on hold while everything was being finalized with this Marvel deal. We hated to make everyone wait, but we knew that this would be good news for us, for Marvel, and for our readers. Now our books will get far wider circulation and far more attention than they ever could have gotten when we were doing everything on our own.

“Marvel has a great marketing department, and they’re going to work with us to make sure that everyone knows about our books. And we will bring a lot of readers to Marvel who don’t normally look at comics, but who like the mixture of best-selling authors and award-winning properties that we offer in our comics line.”

Under the agreement, all DBPro books not yet published will be resolicited through Marvel and will begin shipping from them in October. The books will carry both a Marvel and a DBPro logo, and will be listed in their own section in Marvel Previews each month.

“We know that some readers thought we were just late with our books, but that wasn’t the case at all. We have several books ready to go, and Marvel is working with us to get those books to our readers just as quickly as they can.” One book that is a high priority for both DBPro and Marvel is the aforementioned Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, which promises to be DBPro’s most high-profile book thus far; the first issue is ready to go as soon as Marvel can resolicit.

“Ever since we first announced our agreement with Laurell K. Hamilton to adapt her work in comics form, we have been flooded with emails from her many fans wanting to know when the book would be in stores. This opportunity with Marvel came along just as we were preparing this book to go out to comic shops, and we had to put the release on hold. The delays had nothing to do with the creative team—they’ve done an outstanding job, and I think fans are going to be amazed when they see the quality of Brett Booth’s art for this book. Everyone who got a look at it during this summer’s convention season thought it was the best work he’s ever done.”

Even while this deal with Marvel was being finalized, the Dabels have continued to negotiate with other authors to bring the works to comics. “We have some major announcements coming up in the next couple of weeks—I think that readers are going to be very surprised by some of the talented writers who will be working with us,” Les Dabel added.

Current plans call for some DBPro books that were released earlier this year to be resolicited and reissued under the new DBPro/Marvel agreement. Monte Cook’s Ptolus, the fantasy comic based on Cook’s latest RPG fantasy world, is likely to see rerelease, as is Raymond E. Feist’s Magician’s Apprentice.

DB Pro will gradually ramp up its production to a four to six books per month level as well as trade paperback and hardcover collections of their adaptations. The imprint will continue to focus on licensed adaptations of works by high-profile fantasy and SF authors, with the Dabel Brothers handling the editorial side of DBPro while Marvel handles the marketing and publishing side.

“We’re so grateful to Marvel for this opportunity, and we’re so grateful to our fans for making our books so successful. Now we’re looking forward to maintaining the quality that readers have come to expect from DBPro, and we’re happy that Marvel will make those books available to the widest possible readership,” Dabel said.

Be here next week when CSN speaks with Marvel publisher Dan Buckley about this agreement and what it means for both Marvel and Dabel Brothers Productions—and for further news about the first titles scheduled to be solicited through Marvel, as well as the new projects coming to DBPro in 2007.

See these related stories:

Joss Whedon Talks Runaways

J. Michael Straczynski Talks Thor

CB Cebulski Talks Marvel’s Loners

Sean McKeever Talks Spider-Man Family

Dan Abnett Talks Nova Ongoing Series

Joe Monday: Part Two

[Matthan]

While everyone else is arguing about Thor or Spider-man, this is the true exciting news from the retailor summit. I'm a huge fan of the Dabel Brothers and am estatic to see Marvel putting their weight behind diversifying the comic field a bit with this. Awesome news.

[Sam Ridyard]

I'm excited...
Glad too see Marvel branching out a bit with their publishing...
This, out of all the news released today, is the only thing that will have lasting change on the comic book landscape...
Glad to see there will be a non-MAX, non-ICON, creator driven Imprint at Marvel.

[Scavenger]

The Dabels will retain full control of their company, which will serve as a sophisticated superhero-alternative imprint for Marvel in much the same way that Vertigo fills that niche for DC.

Vertigo is a wholey owned part of DC. It's only real difference is coroporate org charts/editorial assignments. Much of what it publishes is owned by DC. It develops new spins on old DC properties. Everyting it does is mature reader based.

So, how is this like Vertigo?

[Prometheus3]

I'm actually really disappointed by this news. I had hoped that Marvel might gain a few more exclusive contracts with promising artists that happened to be brothers such as the Luna Brothers. So DC gets Jimmy Palmiotti and Justun Gray to go exclusive at the Baltimore Convention and Marvel gets......the Dabel Brothers?

[Scavenger]

Originally Posted by Prometheus3

I'm actually really disappointed by this news. I had hoped that Marvel might gain a few more exclusive contracts with promising artists that happened to be brothers such as the Luna Brothers. So DC gets Jimmy Palmiotti and Justun Gray to go exclusive at the Baltimore Convention and Marvel gets......the Dabel Brothers?

Industry speaking, Marvel did much better.

Go ask any retailer what they're looking forward to more, new customers walking in off the street because they heard about a new Palmiotti/Gray book or new customers walking in off the street because they heard about an Anita Blake comic series.

[Dood Lee]

Originally Posted by Scavenger

So, how is this like Vertigo?

It provides Marvel with a way to publish non-superhero stuff.

[Slayton]

I've been on the Dabel Bros. wagon for a little while now and too was wondering what happened to their books. I cannot express how thrilled I am that Brett Booth will be once again drawing a book with a Marvel logo on it. I think my avatar is proof of how I feel about Brett.

[Scavenger]

Originally Posted by Dood Lee

It provides Marvel with a way to publish non-superhero stuff.

You mean like westerns? Oh wait they did that.
Or Sci fi? oops.
Romance?

Originally Posted by Slayton

I've been on the Dabel Bros. wagon for a little while now and too was wondering what happened to their books. I cannot express how thrilled I am that Brett Booth will be once again drawing a book with a Marvel logo on it. I think my avatar is proof of how I feel about Brett.

What marvel stuff has he done before? I remember a Spider-Man/Backlash xover, but wasn't that Image, technicaly?

[Mooncat]

Marvel is getting the better deal. I know for certain that tons of people who never picked up a comic before are going to be hunting down the Anita Blake comic books. Laurell K. Hamilton who writes the Anita Blake books has a HUGE fan following that are absolutely addicted to the book series, and anything to do with the series.

This cross over of popular sf/fantasy authors with Marvel distributed comics is win win for everyone, introducing new readers on both ends to either comics or the books they are based on.

mcx

[PoisonElf]

Originally Posted by Scavenger

You mean like westerns? Oh wait they did that.
Or Sci fi? oops.
Romance?



What marvel stuff has he done before? I remember a Spider-Man/Backlash xover, but wasn't that Image, technicaly?

I believe he did some Hero's Reborn fill-ins. I think it was FF, but it might have been Iron Man, I can't remember.

[Slayton]

Yes, he did issues of Heroes Reborn Fantastic Four.

[Cray_ws]

I can't help but to scratch my head and ask....why? I'm not really sure what Marvel gets out of this, I suppose its more of the market share, however small percentage Dabel Bros has. I'm willing to bet the Dabel Bros are running out of funds to support their lisenced properties and instead of losing them, they decide to resort back into a studio and seek a publisher.

I wish them luck, they are going to need it.

[Gonzogoose]

This is great for both sides. Marvel has been slowly getting back into licensing with Halo and Dark Tower, and now they have a place to really concentrate on that. The DB's get the benefit of Marvel publishing and solicitation, thus getting more readers to take notice of their excellent properties.

It's a win/win situation for everyone including the fans.

[Scavenger]

Originally Posted by Cray_ws

I can't help but to scratch my head and ask....why? I'm not really sure what Marvel gets out of this, I suppose its more of the market share, however small percentage Dabel Bros has.

Dabel Bros market share has been small due to the nature of their company. Connected to Devils Due or on their own, they're's only so much they could do. With Marvel, they can do much more.

The Geroge RR Martin series has a huge fan base, only a small part that's been able to get or even learn about the comcis.

Anita Blake is a major property. With a movie (or was it an hbo series) in development, a massive fan base, and Marvel has the muscle to publish enough of the series, and to let the Anita Blake fans know "Go to your lcs, and you'll find a comic series starring Anita and her harem of sex monsters!"

BIG BIG BIG PLUSES!

[johnturned51]

Anyone who dosen't realize what a great deal marvel got on this obviously hasn't read and DBPro books. They put out some of the highest quality NON-Superhero books in the market, and now with the Mighty Marvel Machine (Sorry naysayers, but its proven that a Marvel Logo can sell a comic) behind them the sky is the limits not only in the Direct Market, but a suspect it will help greatly with Book Store sales. I mean marvel already have shelf space, and the novels they are based on are already proven sellers. Not to mention everything about this deal screams for more outsiders to come into our medium.

Explain to me what Jimmy and Justin(In all their greatness) Have on that.....

[CMadness]

Like I said in the main thread, don't Marvel publish enough late books of their own?

[AlexLothos]

Congrats guys! This is the best news of the bunch!

[Kolimar]

This is an interesting and surprising move. We'll have to wait and see. That said, congratulations and good luck, guys.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by Scavenger

What marvel stuff has he done before? I remember a Spider-Man/Backlash xover, but wasn't that Image, technicaly?

In addition to FF, Brett also did X-Men, X-Men Unlimited and Astonishing X-Men.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by Scavenger

Dabel Bros market share has been small due to the nature of their company. Connected to Devils Due or on their own, they're's only so much they could do. With Marvel, they can do much more.

The Geroge RR Martin series has a huge fan base, only a small part that's been able to get or even learn about the comcis.

Anita Blake is a major property. With a movie (or was it an hbo series) in development, a massive fan base, and Marvel has the muscle to publish enough of the series, and to let the Anita Blake fans know "Go to your lcs, and you'll find a comic series starring Anita and her harem of sex monsters!"

BIG BIG BIG PLUSES!

Hm, you're counting a bit too much on those "huge, massive fanbases". That's a nice potential readership for the comics but I wouldn't bet the farm on having big sales numbers based on that.

[Wbatty]

There's more about this story in the CSNsider 1004 podcast. You can hear it and subscribe at

http://web.mac.com/cliffbig/iWeb/CSNsider/

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by johnturned51

Anyone who dosen't realize what a great deal marvel got on this obviously hasn't read and DBPro books. They put out some of the highest quality NON-Superhero books in the market, and now with the Mighty Marvel Machine (Sorry naysayers, but its proven that a Marvel Logo can sell a comic) behind them the sky is the limits not only in the Direct Market, but a suspect it will help greatly with Book Store sales. I mean marvel already have shelf space, and the novels they are based on are already proven sellers. Not to mention everything about this deal screams for more outsiders to come into our medium.

Explain to me what Jimmy and Justin(In all their greatness) Have on that.....

Again with the exaggerated optimism.

Jimmy and Justin are at a creative high point in their careers. I like their style and I like what they're doing and I can't wait to find out what else they've got cooking.

About the DBPro books, reading comic book versions of other stuff doesn't really make me jump with joy compared to stories to stories starring characters I've loved for most of my life, part of a universe I love both as a whole and as the sum of its individual parts all done by creators I enjoy. Or even original comic book stories of any kind. Universe or no universe.
Regarding the sales, see previous post. As for "outsiders" coming into our medium, I'd like that and it'd be good for Marvel and the industry in general but Jimmy and Justin are good for me personally. More than good, better. And there's no way the Bros can beat that.

Seriously, I wouldn't really compare them because they're completely different things. One's more interesting from a personal pov and the other is simply interesting in a general sense of the industry.

[exultant801]

all i can say is hooray for my favorite fantasy series of all time the Riftwar Saga getting a wider audience with Magician: Apprentice and the brilliant and much missed Brett Booth.

and

thank the gods of comics it wasn't the Luna Brothers! i was so afraid that those two over-touted, future-Pat Lee hacks were gonna be butchering my favorites. they are c r a p.

[EMeadow]

Originally Posted by Scavenger

Anita Blake is a major property. With a movie (or was it an hbo series) in development, a massive fan base, and Marvel has the muscle to publish enough of the series, and to let the Anita Blake fans know "Go to your lcs, and you'll find a comic series starring Anita and her harem of sex monsters!"

BIG BIG BIG PLUSES!

Oh the Anita Blake fans are already waiting for the book.

The author Laurell K. Hamilton told them a while back the book would be out in July when originally solicited.

I've read posts on Bendis's board from women constantly coming into the comic stores wanting to know where the book is cause Hamilton said it was out.

There's a budding fanbase out there salivating for the book. Marvel got themselves a good one here.

Though you wonder now if they'll be doing any other books with Mike Miller? Or if they're aware of the religious slants the company leads to? Could be potential problems.