Hollywood Art: System of sunnys

Ronald Owen Perelman is an investor, entrepreneur, owner, philanthropist, and engaged in multiple activities. As the son of an already successful businessman, his father Raymond Perelman serves as the most prominent example he can follow.

Through his company MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, he acquired Marvel or Marvel Entertainment Group. With this purchase, he gained control over all the characters that Marvel has developed over countless years. These characters will now be utilized by Ronald Perelman to generate revenue most effectively.

Since the company changed hands to a steadfast capitalist who understands the sales arena and personal interest, comic book sales have doubled their previous margin in the 1980s. When a company can sell a lot, it can start working just enough to achieve a point of equilibrium where supply and sales meet. Marvel has been printing comics non-stop since the capital infusion.

The atmosphere of joy and the sense of security has caught on with all the members of the company, just like many other companies that have been swept up by the Perelman effect.

The second aspect is to create unique editions for avid collectors. On another front, there's the expansion of the toy sector, alliances with other brands, and the company's overall expansion. In less than a year, they've sold 9.2 million copies. Toy sales are soaring, and the business environment is favorable for investment.

The approach of licensing for movies is a wildcard credited by the buyers. It's one of the strategies devised to expand the company into different channels, and offering some valuable licenses is a means to an end. The claims that these licenses are meant to reach new audiences, including children, teenagers, and adults who recall past times, are not entirely wrong.

Signs of potential failure are visible. What can Billy do? He can create cult series, ones that enchant people to such an extent that the urge to buy the comic is driven by the affection it has managed to garner. The fans he has now and in the future will be the ones to sustain comic book sales.

-Are you sure about this, Billy? - Anne questioned, with evident concern.

Billy had just dropped a bombshell after a heated argument about why they shouldn't print more issues of their best-selling series and should instead focus on print-on-demand or printing according to actual sales.

-Absolutely. Doesn't it strike you as odd? Our sales are skyrocketing. Look at the financial statements – almost a 150% increase. We're selling excessively. I can understand running the company at full throttle, but I can't accept the growth prospects you're suggesting. We'd be digging our own grave, - Billy replied.

-I still don't understand. We have a fantastic product that has captured the hearts of many readers, - Anne said.

-We'd go overboard. When people stop buying in excessive quantities, we'll run into trouble. I'm proposing that there's a comic book bubble forming, much like in the late 60s. There haven't been clear signs yet. According to Comicon statistics, the number of participants has increased by 30%, - Anne said.

-It is. A clear example is that in 1980, collectors began speculating on limited editions, like variant covers of the same comic with different artwork. Many companies started printing subpar comics without compelling stories, leading to nothing but a bubble, which still has its repercussions today. Thanks to that bubble, we have Captain Atom at an absurdly low price. Charlton Comics couldn't sustain itself after the bubble burst, - Billy explained.

-So, you're suggesting that the excess sales are partly due to collectors buying comics with the expectation of future resale? - Anne inquired.

-In short, it's all part of Marvel Comics' strategy, - Billy said.

He was heading to the study room's library where the lower shelves held stacks of newspapers from various companies.

-Here. I've highlighted the articles with everything I've been able to gather over the years about the developments that the comic book industry has been expanding since 1988, - Billy said.

The newspapers included The Washington Post, The New York Times, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. They all had something in common: small notes, opinion pieces, interviews, chronicles, and stories about the future of comics. Some expressed the creation of unprecedented series, and positive reviews, and emphasized the San Diego Comic-Con. Everything seemed to point in one direction.

-Viewed in this way, it makes it seem like everything is planned. Someone has been publishing these articles gradually to get people to start buying comics. But who would do something like this? - Anne wondered.

-Here you go, - Billy said, handing her a New York Times magazine that mentioned that MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, an investment company, had acquired Marvel Entertainment Group.

-Who is that company? I've never heard of them, - Anne said.

Going through the newspapers one by one, Anne was impressed by the well-connected narrative Billy had put together. Now everything was starting to make more sense.

-Who else but Wall Street, Anne? Who else would have the power to orchestrate so many connections? - Billy said.

He showed her the recent financial newspapers reporting on the increase in Marvel's stock prices. It all fit together perfectly, and the idea of such a deep strategy surprised her. She reevaluated all her feelings about pulling the strings.

Anne felt like her nearly eight years of study were a waste. A child had more financial insight than she, an almost-doctor in the academic field. She cleared away her insecurities and focused on the conversation, realizing she could learn with more attention and care. After all, the boy's business acumen wasn't as distant from ordinary people as his storytelling abilities were

-So, we need to focus on strengthening our capabilities. We won't hire more people. I'll dedicate myself to optimizing operations, reducing inefficiencies, and establishing basic savings, - Anne said, outlining her steps forward in a hasty manner.

-You could research better investment channels, maybe open up a new market through some intermediaries, --  Anne said with a smile. She was determined to follow her father's advice and read the newspaper every day.  --- Consider this a free lesson from your older sister. Crises are overcome in two ways: with financial health and diversification of investments. I'll detail a plan to prepare ourselves. It seems the bubble has just started, and we have time to avoid mistakes."

The young adult repeated those words to herself as if reminding herself to follow her advice.

-Two years. We have two years; beyond that, it's a risk. We can gradually expand into different sectors that won't be affected by the potential crisis, - Billy said, raising his fingers to emphasize the number two.

-The hamburgers! We'll take it slowly, just as we've done. I'll talk to Mr. Cloud and Jack Comman about possible ways to invest in the burger chain, - Anne said.

-Alright, now I have an hour to finish the next volumes, - the boy said.

The upcoming volumes to be released were "The Iron Giant," "Power Rangers," and the ongoing story of "Doom."

...