N2 Toys, the innovative toy company that created the Matrix figures and many other toys aimed at collectors '), is set to release action figures and statues based on the Shi comic series created by Bill Tucci.

Marvel is planning to move back into the lucrative CCG arena on its own. The aptly named Marvel Recharge CCG is set to debut in November.

Comic orders from specialty stores were generally down for August, with an 8% dollar drop from July.

Estimated quantities for the top 300 comics ordered by pop culture stores for shipping in August, 2001.

The retailer sales numbers that ICv2 has collected for June continue to display the trends that we have seen over the past six months.

Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada announced that Spider-Man creator Stan Lee will write the comic book adaptation of the Spider-Man movie, which is currently in production and scheduled to be released on May 2, 2002.

N2, the innovative company that created the highly successful toys based on The Matrix , has released photos and information on its new series of action figures based on The Tick television series, which will air this fall on the Fox Network.

N2 Toys has announced that they plan to release toys based on The Fifth Element, the stylish 1997 film written and directed by Luc Besson.

There is no doubt that manga's influence on American comics appears to be growing. Witness two stories that appeared on Newsarama this week. Michael Doran broke the story of Marvel's plan for an eight-title Marvel ' Mangaverse ' event planned for January, 2002, while Matt Brady detailed plans at DC Comics to use manga artist Kia Asamiya (Silent Moebius, Dark Angel) for a series of Titans covers.

The CMAA contacted Marvel and the publisher admitted that putting the Code Seal of Approval on Wolverine #165 was 'a mistake' on the company's part. ICv2 has learned that Marvel has not been submitting books to the CMAA recently and other current issues that carry the code (e.g., Tangled Web #3) are also 'mistakes.'