Originally Posted by
Prof. Warren
If either DC or Marvel had to rely on comics alone, both would probably either be out of business or radically change their business model. Probably the latter.
After all, if Boom! and Image and Dark Horse and IDW can survive without a fraction of the revenue that the Big Two pull in, Marvel and DC could surely do the same if they had to.
I think many fans give the movies too much credit for the survival of the publishing division. Publishing pays its own way, albeit with a hand from merchandising and licensing.
And I think many fans, oddly, sell the importance of the comics short. Back in the '70s, the Powers That Be floated the idea of DC Comics becoming strictly reprint only. Jenette Kahn argued against that, believing that not having new product from publishing and relying solely on movies, TV shows and cartoons to be the only new product featuring their characters would damage all their IP's and gradually dim their appeal, or words to that effect, and I think she was right and that point still applies.