Marvel has announced higher guidance for 2002 and is predicting an even better year in 2003. Marvel raised its 2002 sales estimate $5 million to $280-$285 million for the year, and its 2002 EBIDTA estimate $6 million to $78-$83 million for the year.

SKUMM #1, the first issue of a four-shot comic miniseries featuring characters that will be developed into action figures by X Concepts, will be released in April.

These awards are given as a way of reflecting on the events of the year and to draw some conclusions from them. We chose Jakks Pacific's acquisition of the Dragon Ball toy license as the Deal of the Year, and the divergent price trends in collectibles as the Phenomenon of the Year.

We chose DC Direct as the Toy Company of the Year and Beyblades as the Toy Product of the Year.

ICv2 has confirmed that Marvel is planning to raise the cover price of 13 of its titles from $2.25 to $2.99 starting with titles shipping in April.

We chose Marvel Comics as the Comic Publisher of the Year for 2002, and Shonen Jump #1 as the Comic Product of the Year.

Batman topped the rankings of U.S. orders from comic stores for January, with over 120,000 copies ordered -- up over the second Jim Lee issue, which was up over the first.

Estimated quantities for initial orders on comics shipping in January 2003 from pop culture stores ordering from Diamond US.

Marvel has announced the rush solicitation of a new 'Must-Have' reprint book--the new Ultimate War: Marvel Must-Have.

Steven Bates of Bookery Fantasy in Fairborn, Ohio saw our recent coverage of Marvel's plans for Rawhide Kid and doesn't like what he's seen so far.