How about just publishing comics? Or just publishing in general? Comics, graphic novels and books with a strong focus on emerging ideas and contemporary themes? McSweeneys, but readable.

Virgin Mobile is one of the worst rip-offs in recent history.

Richard Branson has too much time on his hands.

I don't know why you're so hard on Richard Branson. If anyone understands the complexities of the superhero genre, it's Ozymandias.

IF the Virgin comics bring something new to the table, and IF they're well written and IF they've got decent art, I'd pick them up. I genuinely like superheros, done well, and something new and good would be fine.

@NefariousNewt: I think that's one of the perks of being obscenely rich.

stan lee=hack. didn't we all realize kirby was really the brains behind early marvel? that all stan has was an open thesaurus and a gift for self-promotion?

@NefariousNewt:
Richard Branson has too much MONEY on his hands.

I fixed that for you, Double N.

I've always found Richard Branson to be kind of a fascinating guy. He's always on the frontier.

we need new superheroes and i hope virgin can create a power shift. I've enjoyed their comics so far and I'm excited to see if any of these heroes will get an eastern twist.

I'd buy Virgin comics... but only if they break conventions.
The problem with the comics from Marvel and DC over the last 15 years or so is that ever since Frank Miller reared his head, everyone has been trying to make everything grittier and darker; what ever happened to superheroes that could do no wrong and weren't consumed with inner turmoil?
I mean, granted, Marvel was doing that kind of thing from the beginning, which made their characters more 3-dimensional than DC's ever were, but the comics have gotten downright unbearable since the early 90s.

Here's hoping the Virgin Comics kicks the sh*t out of those two giants!

@Smeagol92055: I have to agree about the darknes in ou superheroes these days.

@Smeagol92055: Virgin comics has been around for a few years, just not in the "superhero" genre. so maybe you go buy some? :)

I used to write reviews for a comic site, and did a lot of Virgin since they gave pdf previews.... and I was really surprised at the quality of the work. I had no interest when Virgin started... ugh, here comes MALIBU, I thought, but I was surprised, the work came off more like Valiant

It's a shame, as some of the art was best categorized as "eyesore" but they had some original ideas, and some great stories. Your best bet is to try some that do NOT have an actress/director/pornstar attached to the name. You might be surprised if story is your thing.

That praise aside, I always felt a bit fishy about them, and covering some of their press conferences at SDCC, it really seems like their business model is: create comic, sell rights to comic for movie, cash check. repeat. They have some promise, but I think their direction is doomed to failure.

@Smeagol92055: oh, by the way, I totally agree with you on the gritty side of comics for DC and Marvel. Spider-man making a deal with the devil was what killed comic books for me.

@Defendant:

Is Virgin Mobile kinda like the Pussy Wagon from Kill Bill , in reverse?

-Kle.

@Smeagol92055: @spacedcowboy:
Boy, guys.
Your comics sure sound boring.

I can't even imagine the genre without what you are complaining about.

@Plague: That, of course, is the definition of being obscenely rich.

Anybody see that Sci-Fi Channel movie "Stan Lee's Harpies?" The director, Josh Becker, wrote about the experience in humorously depressing terms on his website. As far as he knows, Stan Lee had nothing to do with the movie. Lee seems to be whoring out his name as much as possible these days. Daddy needs a new pair of shoes, I guess.

@braak:
Yes, you beat me to it.
By nanoseconds.

@dirtybacon: "it really seems like their business model is: create comic, sell rights to comic for movie, cash check. repeat."

Considering that Hollywood is desperately looking for new properties to make into movies (poor underutilized writers), that's actually a pretty brilliant idea.

@dirtybacon:

That's how it works now. Dark Horse, Marvel, DC...all of them would cease to publish without their licensing.

Maybe Richard and Stan know something we don't? Sometimes older and wiser heads prevail. I've spoken to Tony Rafty OAM (caricaturist and Australian arts legend) and Sunny Abberton (ex street kid who become a successful film producer)about this also. Creative resources and financial resources is usually a recipe for success.
Best Regards
Greg

@Cacafuego: yeah, but at least DH, Marvel, and DC put on the facade that they care about their comics, that they are intending to move the industry forward.

Virgin - again I liked a lot of what I read by them - had press conferences that read: "We have a new comic...blah blah blah blah....actor/pornstar/literary genius is attached....blah blah blah blah... we are whores."

As a matter of fact, I believe Gawker media should start covering the company on Jezebel! zing!

i just wanna say that invincible ROCKS, and its not a marvel/dc book. but it also wasn't created by stan. poor ol stan.