Marvel Enterprises, Inc. reported its financial results for the third quarter today with results that topped its twice-raised 'guidances.' In spite of the fact that sales for Q3 2003 were only slightly better than Q3 2002 profits reached $63.1 million versus $6.7 million a year ago.

During Marvel's conference call detailing its Q3 financial results, Avi Arad, who heads up Marvel's very successful Hollywood operation, made a number of interesting comments about the Marvel-based films slated for 2004 and beyond.

An article in Publishers Weekly this week stirred up a major controversy in the comic book press, when it revealed that Marvel was planning to release full color, manga-size trade paperbacks of Sentinel , Mystique , and Runaways with price points of $7.99 or $8.99.

Artisan Entertainment has announced that the studio's movie based on Marvel's Man-Thing comic book series will get a theatrical release on August 27, 2004.

All About Books and Comics of Phoenix, Arizona has announced that it has acquired a major Marvel Silver and Bronze Age collection.

The Marvel Comic Book Library Collection, Collector's Edition Vol. 1 collects an impressive array of important Marvel comics, on one CD-Rom for only $29.99 (MSRP).

DC Comics took the #1 spot for comic book sales in September by smashing the 200,000 barrier to smithereens with the final issue of the Jim Lee/Jeph Loeb Batman 'Hush' storyline, which sold an amazing 233,775 copies.

Marvel has released some stunning images from Amazing Spider-Man #500 , which ships to retailers on October 22.

This December, Marvel Comics is publishing a special benefit book featuring Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk.

According to an article in today's Variety Marvel Enterprises is exploring the possibilities of producing its own movies with budgets ranging from $8 million to $50 million.