Comments on: Product Placement in Marvel Comics

By: Social Media - beyond strategy | b r a n t s

Social Media - beyond strategy | b r a n t s — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:08:37 +0000

[...] the “Mad Men” on Twitter. Cisco’s comic book experiments via Chris Brogan’s post (Webex in Marvel Comics), and Kara Swisher on All Things Digital ( The Realm, an entire comic [...]

By: Torley

Torley — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 05:17:30 +0000

The Heroes webcomic has been doing this sort of thing since near the beginning — as long as the products serve the story and don’t mutilate it, I enjoy.

By: Daniel Faintuch

Daniel Faintuch — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:19:28 +0000

I think that it’s a great idea.
To be able to put your brand name out there in a way that is not disruptive like Cisco did can only make the exposure more effective and remarkable.
However, you need to establish a strong brand first in order to be able to enjoy this type of advertising.

By: comic books ya punk

comic books ya punk — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:06:34 +0000

Marvel comics have been using product placement for a while now.

for example instead of having spider-man swing across a billboard with an ad for a fake company they know have him swing past a real ad for a real product.

I think this webex thing is interesting because it actually written in the story, instead of being added in later when the art is all done. Something that angered an artist or two (because they don’t like the ideal of their art being changed or if they most have the ad they’d rather draw it themselves so it not out of place) and many fans (because those ads seemed out of place)

By: groonk

groonk — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:07:05 +0000

Didn’t know you were a comics guy! I see nothing wrong with it as long as it doesn’t get out of control. Movies do it all the time.

…

Maybe not the best comparison.

VlogHog: Everyone’s on Twitter. :) Might I suggest following @agent_m . He works there and is a decent fellow.

By: VlogHog

VlogHog — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:35:14 +0000

Didn’t know Marvel was on Twitter!

By: Danny Brown

Danny Brown — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:51:07 +0000

It’s like the video game ads and product placement that continues to grow (most notably, the EA sports franchises).

It makes perfect sense for companies to go after the readers or users of a relevant product. Why just stick to traditional advertising or social media marketing? There’s a host of great ways to get your message out there, and the eyeballs and ears of your audience is getting more receptive all the time.

Just keep it relevant – insect repellant ads in a Spiderman comic book probably wouldn’t be a good idea. Well, except maybe for the Green Goblin ;-)

By: Mark Dykeman

Mark Dykeman — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:17:43 +0000

I’m worried because the product placement doesn’t bother me very much. Ten years ago it would have bothered me a lot. If I had noticed it. Not noticing product placement would bother me. Hm.

By: Jason Keath

Jason Keath — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:23:35 +0000

How about Product Placement in church? I can see the preacher/priest/etc. pausing to drink a Fanta in side profile, sigh with a “That’s refreshing,” and continue on bettering his flock. Ha.

Product placement to me is just a top of mind tactic. Not much trust is passed along. Maybe it use to be, but these days consumers are pretty savvy and saturated with sponsors and prod placement. The main benefit would be keep that brand in your brain until they get you to pull the value purchase trigger.

The cool thing to me is that they are recognizing the tech geek/comic geek connection. Wonder how much research/testing went into that effort.. ?

By: chrisbrogan

chrisbrogan — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:12:05 +0000

Oh, believe me, I’m not upset with placement, provided it stays within editorial boundaries. I think it’s swell. Make zero ads, and all in-content placement, and I’d be thrilled. In fact, make a page near the very back with a list of URLs calling out the products served in each panel. That’d be lots of value, wouldn’t you say?