Jim Brocius of Cosmic Comics in Las Vegas, Nevada saw Now Comics' Tony Caputo's essay on Marvel licensing its comic publishing (see 'Now Comics' Tony Caputo Asks What If?') and disagrees with the conclusion:

The theory advanced by Tony Caputo doesn't hold water.  Marvel does not finance the publishing of comics, this is done by the retailers who are the ones floating the publishing boat.  I cut a check to Marvel every week, which they use to pay the printers, creators, etc.  Comics are a risk free venture for Marvel.  The 'Caputo Plan' does not take into account how many characters actually have licensing potential nor the massive influx of lawyers and the billable hours which they would add to the expense.  How many Marvel Comics could be published at a profit if a lawyer were attached to every deal?  The editorial problems arising from Marvel's need to protect the characters' integrity would make all that lawyering all the more expensive.  The list of problems with the scenario mounts exponentially with the amount of thought I give to the subject.  I could go on but since my billing hours are so much less than a Marvel lawyer I've got to stop now.

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