The Wall Street Journal did a major piece on product placement in comics at the Big Two comic publishers on Tuesday, including two new deals to place cars in comic stories.

License Magazine has released its annual list of the 101 Leading Licensors, and Marvel held its #4 slot, growing from $4 billion to $5 billion in retail sales based on its brands. Pokemon USA , now on its own, was in 23rd, with a staggering $1.3 billion in sales in its 9th year!

The New York Times did a major piece on V for Vendetta on Sunday, devoting half of the front page of its Arts and Leisure section to the film being released this week.

FUNimation Productions has announced the licensing of a Full Metal Alchemist anime feature, Full Metal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shambala .

In 2006 Mattel has a leg up on its chief rival thanks to licenses based on Superman Returns and Cars .

Diamond Select Toys plans to increase its output considerably in 2006.

The Champions of the Force Expansion for the Star Wars CMG , will include characters that did not appear in any of the movies.

Dark Horse will produce vinyl and PVC figures based on Roald Dahl's lost classic, The Gremlins .

Genndy Tartakovsky will direct Power of the Dark Crystal , the sequel to the 1982 film, The Dark Crystal .

James Meeley, recently of Ron's Coin & Collectibles in Yakima, Washington, saw Ilan Strasser's comments on the output of the Big Two comic publishers. and sees innovation coming from other places.