The big players seemed to dominate this month, with multiple products associated with the strongest properties taking many of the top slots.

WizKids, the creators of Mage Knight , the pioneering 'collectible miniatures game,' announced an agreement with Marvel that will result in the creation of a Marvel CMG that will bow in the summer of 2002.

In conjunction with the release of Marvel's second quarter report, Marvel CEO Peter Cuneo announced that Bill Jemas had been promoted to COO of Marvel.

Marvel improved its cash position by $3.4 million in the second quarter of 2001, ending at mid-year with around $18 million in cash, up from under $15 million at the end of first quarter.

Diamond has released some general mid-year category information, and while the shifts between categories are substantial year-over-year, the over-all business is stable with some positive underlying trends despite a tough economic environment in the 'real world.'

Variety is reporting that in ongoing negotiations, the union representing Canadian actors has offered a no-strike agreement to 20th Century Fox so the studio can begin shooting its Daredevil film in Montreal as early as November.

Robert Boyd of LPC, the company that sells Tokyopop titles to bookstores, told ICv2 that Sailor Moon sells better than any of the other graphic novels his company reps by a factor of 'at least' 1.5.

Both Tribune Entertainment and 20th Century Fox claimed victory in Fox's lawsuit against Tribune and Marvel over the Mutant X syndicated TV series.

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.