Update located in post #27(click here)

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Marvel can't be that stupid, can they?

Bleeding Cool is full of sh!t 90% of the time

Marvel would never do something this stupid...they make money off of the films just like Fox does since movies bolster comic sales....remember when Sony released The Amazing Spider-man and Marvel did a Lizard story arc at the same time?

@danhimself: Could it be they're more O.K. with keeping Spider-Man comics going as they're much better sellers than the Fantastic Four?

I don't necessarily understand the logistics of this sort of thing, but Fantastic Four comics seem to be a much smaller part of Marvels profits than the X-Men and Spider-Man. I wonder if they're just low enough sellers to be considered expendable. Kind of like how they say that a series is at risk of cancellation if it sells under a certain number every month(said to be 20,000 copies), perhaps the Fantastic Four franchise just isn't selling enough to be considered in the same leagues as more popular franchises.

Edit: For example, Aprils sales:

60 Fantastic Four 3 $3.99 Marvel 34,930
100 Ultimate FF 1 $3.99 Marvel 23,316
47 Silver Surfer 2 $3.99 Marvel 39,132

97,378


1 Amazing Spider-Man 1 $5.99 Marvel 532,586
2 Superior Spider-Man 31 $5.99 Marvel 135,484
43 Ultimate Spider-Man 200 $4.99 Marvel 41,608
120 Superior Spider-Man Team Up 12 $3.99 Marvel 20,525
132 Superior Foes of Spider-Man 11 $3.99 Marvel 18,143

748,346


14 All New X-Men 25 $4.99 Marvel 63,827
17 All New X-Men 26 $3.99 Marvel 58,918
22 Uncanny X-Men 20 $3.99 Marvel 55,359
28 Nightcrawler 1 $3.99 Marvel 49,426
31 Origin II 5 $3.99 Marvel 48,117
37 Amazing X-Men 6 $3.99 Marvel 45,095
42 X-Men 13 $3.99 Marvel 42,065
52 Wolverine 4 $3.99 Marvel 37,732
53 Wolverine 5 $3.99 Marvel 37,563
57 Wolverine And X-Men 3 $3.99 Marvel 36,407
58 Magneto 2 $3.99 Marvel 35,772
71 X-Force 3 $3.99 Marvel 29,541
78 X-Force 4 $3.99 Marvel 28,067
87 All New X-Factor 6 $3.99 Marvel 26,029
106 All New Doop 1 $3.99 Marvel 22,614
107 Savage Wolverine 17 $3.99 Marvel 22,350

638,882

I've updated the main post

well this evidence does make sense Marvel have already removed Galactus and Watcher out of all marvel titles for foreseeable future.

Ultimate FF is going to cancelled anyway issue 1 debuted with around 30,000 issues sold, with pretty negative fan review (especially the art work) Marvel normally cancels series at 12 issues in which sink to 30,000 so Ultimate FF isn't going to increase its readership and will be cancelled by issue 6.

I do wonder if this will actually work in practice, end the comic or reducing its presence won't damage fox that much. Fox lawyers are clever, they will just remind fox to make another movie even if its 1994 bad just to retain the licence to stop marvel profiting.

I wonder if the death of wolverine is related to this, perhaps the first step is killing Wolverine being the most popular x-man, which will reduce readership on any x-men book he stars in. There is evidence including wolverine does boast readership. Maybe the superior spiderman was an attempt at this as well which backed fired?

@novemberx2: Have you read All-New Invaders #5? Galactus appears at the end of that issue, and this would appear to be a hint at an upcoming Invaders/Fantastic Four crossover that James Robinson talked about.

"COMIC VINE: Will the story with the Kree and the “Gods Whisper” conclude before Original Sin begins?

JAMES ROBINSON: Yes it will. Although, as you’ll see in issue #5, the final page shows that there’s a much bigger story that’s going to unfold, involving the Kree and the Eternals. There’s also a huge figure in the Marvel Universe that will play out down the line, in both ALL-NEW INVADERS and FANTASTIC FOUR."

I'm guessing the Fantastic Four comics might end after this event. Though maybe they'll be cancelled early and this won't happen at all.

@v_scarlotte_rose: I haven't reader All New Invaders, Last time I checked Galactus was imprisoned in the negative zone of ultimate universe along with ultimate thor. Because there is nothing there too feed on he would die.

@novemberx2: Yeah, he's imprisoned there in Invaders. The Eternals are planning to use The Gods Whisper to control him, and use him as a weapon against the Kree.

When I first heard this rumor I quickly discounted it, but now I am not so certain. I have a sneaky suspicion that there is more here than meets the eye.

LATEST NEWS

From Bleeding Cool

Fantastic Four Skinned

So we ran a story and a follow-up about plans at Marvel to put the Fantastic Four comics in hiatus for the duration of the Fox movie production, publicity and release.

It was instantly dismissed by all and sundry, until the more staid and conservative CBR – whose News Editor also moonlights writing PR features for Marvel with Tom Brevoort - backed up key elements of the story.

And it’s still dismissed by most. Marvel’s Senior VPP Brevoort posted ”My denying rumors isn’t likely to keep anybody who’s prone to paranoia from panicking. But really, does this even seem remotely plausible to people? Does it make any sense? Folks have a very strange idea as to the way a business is run.”

But Tom knows exactly what’s going on and why, and his words were chosen with care. Because this is not a rational business choice, it is an emotional one.

THERE'S MORE Click here

From Bleeding Cool

John Byrne Would Be Happy To Publish Fantastic Four Comics

Wouldn't it just hurt marvel not to make the comic? Also how many people who go to the movies be that effected by not having a comic series. I just don't see how it would hurt fox.

Well, we will know the truth within a few months. I hope that Fantastic Four is not cancelled, but I am beginning to wonder...

From Bleeding Cool

Now It’s Time To Dissect Axel Alonso On The Fate Of The Fantastic Four

We already had fun dissecting Marvel Senior VPP Tom Brevoort‘s take on this, and the wiggle room he left large enough to drive a Fantasti-Car through. Now it’s time for Marvel Comics Editor-In-Chief Axel Alonso to take it for a spin. Answering the question from CBR

There has been a lot of talk in the industry this week about the possible future of “Fantastic Four.” Last week, CBR published a report saying the books may be taken off the table stemming from issues with 20th Century Fox, who hold the rights to FF films, following an initial report by Bleeding Cool. What can you can say on the record about the matter?

He replied,

The Fantastic Four — Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben — are a vital part of the Marvel Universe, and we have no plans to change that. James Robinson has exciting plans for them in the immediate future — starting with the “Original Sin” tie-in story — and we are continually devising plans to use them in new and surprising ways in the vast landscape of the Marvel Universe, like we do with any Marvel character; in fact, we already know that one of [the FF] will be a huge player in a universe-spanning event down the road.

And while for some folks, that means

@richjohnston Alex Alonso just confirmed that they are not ending F4. http://t.co/xMoqud4QPH

— Luis Melendez (@VenomMelendez) June 6, 2014

It not saying that at all. In our original report we stated that we were told by Marvel sources the FF would still be there, just not in their own book. But still playing a vital part. And this doesn’t contradict that one jot. He continues…

Part of Marvel’s success hinges on the fact that we aren’t afraid to exercise massive flexibility with our catalog of characters. Sometimes, the way we move the pieces around on the board — the death and/or replacement of a character, the dissolution and/or reconstitution of a team — or our choice of characters to spotlight — Guardians of the Galaxy, Nova, Inhumans — causes controversy, but that doesn’t inhibit us from taking chances and doing what we think is right for our universe and the characters within it. Wolverine and Spider-Man joining the Avengers was a hugely controversial move that ultimately contributed to the revitalization of that franchise and to the Marvel Universe as a whole. The death of Ultimate Peter Parker got a lot of fans screaming, but it resulted in the birth of the now-beloved Miles Morales. No guts, no glory.

So, something as big as those is planned, it seems. Like, for example, putting the main Fantastic Four book on hiatus. And as Tom Brevoort says, in a year they’ll be publishing the Fantastic Four.

For the love of God, PLEASE let that happen, Fantastic Four sucks...Only keep Ben Grimm alive, he's alright.

From Bleeding Cool

The Fantastic Four At Marvel In 2015 – But How?

So, you may have read on Bleeding Cool, that Marvel sources told us that Marvel would be pulling the Fantastic Four title from the schedules for the duration of the promotion of Fox’s Fantastic Four movie, as a result of Marvel CEO Isaac Perlmutter‘s dissatisfaction with the Fox Studios situation, regarding the property. We may ave mentioned it a few times, and CBR was on hand to corroborate the news that the titles was, at least than, planned to go on hiatus.

Todat at the NYC Special Edition show, on the Marvel Next Big Thing Panel, Marvel’s VPP Tom Brevoort was asked for his plans for Fantastic Four in 2015, saying

I am going to publish it, and it will have four characters in it. I’ll presume James Robinson will write that all the way into the future. At least until time runs out and then anything can happen.

Peter David later added, jokingly,

Squirrel Girl, Hercules, Creep, and Ghost Rider are the new Fantastic Four.

So what can we deduce from this, as a Bleeding Cool family? Here are some options.

1. We were totally wrong about everything, Fantastic Four isn’t being put on hiatus and will be published as normal – or at least it will be now…
2. Fantastic Four will be published up until the Time Runs Out event in May 2015 and then go on hiatus, which is about the time that publicity for the Fantastic Four movie will ramp up for its June release.
3. Could possibly Fantastic Four comic will still exist but with a different cast. A very different cast. And very different to the movie – a creative solution to Perlmutter’s demand.
4. As you were… we’re getting another creative solution, the Fall And Rise Of The Fantastic Four, including a hiatus, to an emotional business demand from on high.

So… what do we reckon folks? Anyone fancy sticking their neck out, like Mr Fantastic?

@animehunter: Ahhh. Well I'm glad that they're not pulling the team off just yet... As for it being an entirely new cast I really hope not. The Fantastic Four are old school! I know they're not the most popular or best selling comic but FF are a fun team to read and there is so much history with the team, they can't just get rid of them or revamp the cast and give us new characters.... It just wouldn't feel right! Let's hope that after the reboot comes out we can get back to the importance of comics and that's writing a good damn one so we can keep FF how it was!

What if they replaced them with the Ant-tastic Four/Fantastic Faux from the recent FF series? That would still honour the history to a certain extent, using related characters, and having a comic with Ant-Man featuring regularly would probably appeal to Marvel, what with the film coming out soon and all.

You people and your theories…. Marvel isn't going to end Fantastic Four. They're a business, they're not going to try to "spite" Fox by not publishing their comics because they won't give up their movie rights. Man, some of you people really surprise me.

Well that's Bleeding Cool saying stuff just so they can get attention .

@v_scarlotte_rose: I can definitely see them doing that. From the first issue and Sue writing to her daughter I can see her running the new team, which would be great because I love Sue in a leadership position rather than the maternal woman she is... :P But it would be cool to see Scott Lang, he's always been a favourite and always nice to see SheHulk... Not the biggest fan of Darla though.

Well there's no Ultimate FF in September. Seems like it could have been cancelled due to low sales though.

Anyway, Fantastic Four solicits, if anyone wants to speculate on them:

FANTASTIC FOUR #10

JAMES ROBINSON (W) • MARC LAMING (A)

Cover by LEONARD KIRK

THE FALL OF REED RICHARDS!!!

• A savage and strategic attack on REED RICHARDS!

• Can WYATT WINGFOOT save a self-destructive JOHNNY STORM?

• SUE RICHARDS goes to Latveria to reclaim her daughter...and she’ll take on DR. DOOM if she has to (continuing straight into this month’s FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL)!

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #1

JAMES ROBINSON (W) • TOM GRUMMETT (A)

Cover by GREG LAND

ATTACK ON CASTLE DOOM!

• SUE RICHARDS goes to Latveria to confront DR. DOOM for the safety and welfare of her daughter VALERIA.

• See the majesty of Dr. Doom’s sovereign country blown apart as he and the Invisible Woman turn Latveria into a battlefield in one of the most savage battles in FF history!

• And when it’s over and the smoke has cleared whose side will Valeria be on?

40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99

From CBR

Marvel's "Ultimate FF" to End in August with #6

"Ultimate FF" will end in August with issue #6, CBR News has confirmed with Marvel. The series is absent from the publisher's recently released September 2014 solicitations, though a collected edition of all six issues is scheduled out that month.

Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov and illustrated by Mario Guevara and later André Lima Araújo, "Ultimate FF" was announced in January of this year, as part of a line-wide relaunch of Marvel's Ultimate titles. The book starred a Fantastic Four or sorts, though with only one of the usual team members: Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, joined by Tony Stark (Iron Man), Sam Wilson (Falcon) and Machine Man. Issue #1 was released in April, and issue #3 is out this week.

"This is a whole new book," Fialkov told CBR in January. "It's not like any book with the initials FF that you've seen before. We're super excited about what we're doing, and this book is pretty much my dream book. It's the book I always wanted to do. It allows me to explore the Ultimate Universe and maybe even the Marvel Universe in some pretty awesome ways."

Late last month, CBR reported that Marvel had planned a hiatus for both "Fantastic Four" and "Ultimate FF," due to the live-action rights of the franchise residing at 20th Century Fox. Yet it's likely sales were the biggest factor: the reported estimated sales for May's issue #2 put it at No. 141 on Diamond's chart, near the bottom of Marvel's offerings for that month.

CBR has reached out to Fialkov for comment. The final issue of the series, #6, is solicited for release in August.

ULTIMATE FF #6

JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV (W) • ANDRÉ ARAÚJO (A/C)

• The ULTIMATE UNIVERSE'S worst nightmare approaches

• Jump into the future of the Ultimate Universe as the DOOMSDAY CLOCK counts down.

• The END of the FUTURE FOUNDATION.

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

I just read Original Sin #5 and, without giving away any spoilers, there is a sequence where something FF related stood out to me.

...but Fantastic Four, the team that started everything, was conspicuously absent. Could Marvel also be trying to subtly reduce the FF's place in the Marvel mythos to bring it more in line with the Movie-verse? I know it's a small thing but I'm such a huge FF fan and now I'm feeling paranoid.

From Bleeding Cool

Maybe they just get rolled over into the Avengers

I would say I have no intent on seeing the FF movie because it seams to stray to much from being a fantastic Four movie and something else all together.

Would be like them making a Thor movie and using a midget to play Thor and instead of giving him a hammer making the weapon a feather duster and making him a her.

So hope one day Marvel gets the group back and returns the group to the normal status and we get a real Galactus and real Surfer this time around as well.

I might offend some people, but it's about time. F4 hasn't had a good story run IMO since 1994. That is just my opinion though and the movies... God the movies... They make me want to ... Anyways... Yeah.

Did you read Waid or Hickman's runs on the book?

They've had good runs and bad runs, currently I don't like the run but I'm more angry at the way Reed's been running around with the Illuminati and the way his team mates and his wife have given him a pass on it. I do believe that if the movie is a success then the Fantastic Four as I knew it will be gone for a very long time and they will craft the next FF title to match the movie.

If the current series wasn't ending, I do wish that they would have explored the interactions between Reed and Sue as she found out about his actions with the Illuminati and her subsequent infiltration into SHIELD where she was feeding Reed information.

I understand your concern about the FF movie. If this was a MCU property, would be inclined to agree with you. However, since this is a Fox movie, and an origin story, I don't see them making many changes to the books based on the events of the movie if and when the series returns. The movie origin ties directly to the Ultimate U FF so they already told that story and I don't think they will then override the 616 origin. Same thing for Doom. Nothing they do to him in the movie can change his portrayal in the comics. His story is too intertwined with the overall Marvel U, that significant retroactive changes would be extremely hard to make.

@cap10nate: It's not only Sue's reaction, but Ben and Johnny's as well. They didn't deal with that when he helped create Clor either. After what they've done I just don't like the character anymore.

I agree. I wish the Civil War actions would have had a longer impact than they did. As for what is going on with the Illuminati, we haven't seen either Johnny or Ben in the Time Runs Out future where we see Sue working with Reed. That's one of the many reasons that I am sad the book is coming to an end. I would have loved to see their interactions over that eight month time period, and how it impacted the whole group instead of just Sue and the children.