At the 2010 Comic-Con in San Diego, Marvel Comics revealed that the latest superhero to join the cast of their 'Avengers' monthly comic will be 'Red Hulk,' a chromatically-altered version of their popular Hulk character.
Red Hulk will join 'Avenger' mainstays Iron Man and Captain America. The Marvel Comics announcement was met with a less-than-enthusiastic reaction from fans. Has Comic-Con become less about the fans and more about the marketing?
Implications - Still, fans of The Incredible Hulk series won't feel out of place reading about the Red Hulk as their powers and capabilities are virtually identical. You know the drill: Hulk gets mad, Hulk gets big, Hulk smash!
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Superhero Rebranding
- The introduction of new and rebranded superheroes presents opportunities to introduce fresh storylines and merchandise for targeted audiences.
- Comics Advertising
- Comic-Con can present opportunity for brands to market new and existing playthings and relevant products.
- Fan Marketing
- Establishing outreach campaigns aimed toward building brand-loyal fans offers immense opportunities for engagement, merchandise sales, and brand affinity.
Where This Applies
- Entertainment
- Introducing new superheroes and rebranded characters provides fresh storylines across different media to attract targeted audiences.
- Toys & Games
- Comic-Con and similar events present opportunities in the form of adjacent product lines as well as playthings specifically targeted toward superhero product lines.
- Advertising & Marketing
- Brands and comic artists can benefit from strategic partnerships and marketing activations to promote upcoming products across different channels and media outlets.
