Hero endorsement deals
The Wall Street Journal has a free online feature up today about brand placement in comics, such as the appearance of Nike products in NEW X-MEN and a slew of forthcoming appearances following Dodge's recent ad pact with Marvel.
"When Spider-Man flies through Times Square, you don't necessarily have to draw" the signs that are there in real life, says Marvel's Mr. Maimone. "We can pretty much put anything we want, as long as it's organic and not forced." DC's Mr. McKillips says Pontiac will not have direct editorial oversight of the comic and its main character. "We're not seeking their approval on everything, and they trust us," he says. A Pontiac spokesman says the company is not involved in the creative process.
I'd really just assumed deals like this were going on all the time, but this is the first I've actually read of it being confirmed. I'll probably have my eyes a bit more pealed from now on. Then of course, that's surely exactly what they want.
posted by Anonymous @ 12:10 PM
4 Comments:
I'm sure I'm one of the few, but, I actually like product placement. No, hear me out. I cringe everytime I see a DONUTS DONUTS box in the beautiful Dunkin Donuts font. Fake cereal boxes just irk me. Cola Cola is absurd.
Now, that said, what I don't like is companies *paying* for the bonus of being endorsed.
The Nike swoosh in a comic book should be there because, well, people *wear* nike swoosh stuff. It shouldn't be there because Nike paid marvel $$$ to put it there.
To me, product placement shouldn't be about advertising, it should be about realism.
Clearly DC is setting up Booster Gold to finally get his comic back.
"The Nike swoosh in a comic book should be there because, well, people *wear* nike swoosh stuff. It shouldn't be there because Nike paid marvel $$$ to put it there."
The thing is if you put a Nike swoosh on something that Nike doesn't approve of then you get a big fat lawsuit slapped on you.
I’m with John. “fake” products simply irritate me (I’ve seen references to McBurgers, and Luke Skyrunner in comics). I’ve also seen comicbook characters wearing “Bum” shirts, and driving Ferraris, but I also understand that people (or companies) that own products and logos, will want to protect them.
So, while “logoed” products add realism, why shouldn’t comicbook companies be allowed to lower overhead by discreet product placement?
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