Comic and graphic novel orders from pop culture stores jumped sharply in April, posting the best dollar total since January and ending four consecutive months of seasonal declines.

Both the top-selling comic and the top-selling graphic novel ordered by pop culture retailers for April are for properties initially popular in the US in the 1980s.

ICv2's second annual look at the merchandising potential of Hollywood movies comes at what could be described as both the 'worst of times' and the 'best of times' for selling tie-in goods.

Newsarama is reporting that Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada has decided against a 25 cent increase in the cover price of three low-selling titles, Captain Marvel , Black Panther , and Spider-Girl . Michael Doran of Newsarama quotes Quesada and Captain Marvel writer Peter David, who both indicate that Marvel will maintain current cover prices

Another key Marvel-based film project moved closer to fruition as director Ang Lee ( Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ) began principal photography on The Hulk .

Artist Sam Kieth is making a major donation of original art to benefit both ACTOR (A Commitment To Our Roots) and the CBDLF (Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

Just ten years ago it appeared that Marvel couldn't get a movie made to save its life. How times have changed. This week the second Blade film topped the box office, and everyone expects that Sony/Columbia's Spider-Man movie is going to be one of this summer's biggest hits.

Blade II strolled into 2,707 theaters on Oscar weekend and promptly cut the competition down to size by earning over $33.1 million, the second largest March opening ever.

Marvel reported Q4 2001 and full year results on Friday, and the turnaround that began around the second quarter of 2001 continued...

The GAMA Trade Show, the gathering of the RPG, CCG, miniature game, and board game industries, recently wrapped up in Las Vegas, with a record number of exhibitors and stable attendance vs. 2001.