I moved to New York City for the sole purpose of interning at Marvel Comics, which I did in the spring of 2001. It's by far the best job I've ever had, even though they paid me in free comics—which are really hard to use as rent money.
I grew up reading Spider-Man, X-Men and Captain America comics. When I didn't have any friends the kind folks at Xavier's School for Gifted Children took me in. Sometimes I look for cool stuff to say to chicks, and Magneto, Mary Jane Watson-Parker or the Human Torch give me swooning words. (Yes, I'm also a huge Superman fan and I've dressed up like both Batman and Robin for Halloween, all DC properties but those are different stories).
I don't really care for Disney stuff. I liked it when I was a kid, and some of the stuff they do now is fine. I don't go out of my way to watch the movies, visit the theme parks or water down a culture's heritage. I'm not anti-Disney, but I'd really prefer they keep their giant, four-fingered, white-gloves off my beloved superheroes.
I don't see much good coming out of this merger. I really don't want Wolverine to be forced to shave off his chops because now he has to follow Disney's company policy of no facial hair. I don't want The Punisher to put down his assault rifle and pick up a magic wand so he can command broomsticks. I don't want Hannah Montana to guest star as an Avenger. I really don't want the Fantastic Four to start singing songs written by Elton John—even though that would probably suck less than "Fantastic Four 2."
Perhaps the merger will give Marvel some money to do some better cartoon stuff or more movies. DC Comics is under the AOL Time Warner corporation, and they consistently produce better stuff except for "Superman Returns" and the awesome idea yet shitty execution of "DC Vs. Mortal Kombat."
Only time will tell. Hopefully nothing will change, but I'm too old, bitter and cynical to believe that.
But I'll always be a member of the Merry Marvel Marching Society. ‘Nuff said.
Unless, you know, I've got to sing the Mickey Mouse theme song.