Business | Disney's $4-billion purchase of Marvel could create legal problems for the Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando theme parks. Antitrust experts say that the 15-year-old licensing agreement between Marvel and Universal will give Disney access to proprietary information about the competing resort, making both companies vulnerable to charges of price-fixing and other anti-competitive behavior.
Disney and Universal have signed an agreement in which corporate Disney promises not to share any information with its theme-park division gained through the Marvel-Universal license. [The Daily Disney]
Business | Former Marvel Vice Chairman Peter Cuneo, who made as much as $4.8 million in the Disney merger, discusses the publisher's rise out of bankruptcy and its legendary frugality: "People joke about Marvel counting paper clips every month, and really that's only a small exaggeration. We wanted all of our employees thinking about spending every day. Marvel's offices are spartan, because the leadership doesn't want to waste money on accoutrements, on non-productive spending." [Forbes.com]
Publishing | Writing for one of Fortune magazine's blogs, John Fortt wonders whether Apple might turn to Disney/Marvel for crucial content for the newly announced iPad. (And I wouldn't Disney jump on board? After all, Steve Jobs is Disney's largest shareholder.) [Brainstorm Tech]
Publishing | Speaking of the iPad, Deb Aoki rounds up reactions to the media slate from several manga publishers and creators. [About.com]
Publishing | Author/editor/designer Chip Kidd plans to release a follow-up to Bat-Manga! The Secret History of Batman in Japan, the 2008 collection of Jiro Kuwata's 1960s Batman comics. [ICv2.com]
Creators | Cartoonist Kazu Kibuishi discusses the print collection of his webcomic Copper. [Graphic Novel Reporter]
Creators | Brothers Ethan Nicolle (age 29) and Malachi Nicolle (age 5) chat about their new Internet-sensation webcomic Axe Cop. [News10.net]
Creators | Michael Cavna talks with Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter John Campanelli about scoring that rare interview with reclusive Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson. [Comic Riffs]
Comic strips | Here's Campanelli again, on how fans still mourn the loss of Calvin and Hobbes 15 years after the strip's end. [Plain Dealer]
Webcomics | The Escapist is holding a contest to find a twice-weekly video game-themed webcomic. [The Escapist, via Comics Worth Reading]
Blogosphere | Blogger and manga critic David Welsh has ended his weekly "Flipped" column after five years to focus on more "casual, conversational writing." The feature originated at the now-defunct Comic World News before moving to The Comics Reporter. [The Comics Reporter]
Blogosphere | Christine Hanefalk and Ryan Lindsay have joined the blogging crew at The Weekly Crisis. [The Weekly Crisis]
Comics | This list of the "10 Most Bizarre Comic Books" doesn't even scratch the surface. [Oddee]