September
12 Notes: Marvel biz reports, Shrine show

A few pre-weekend notes:

According to a report at Motley Fool, Marvel plans to keep production on its upcoming films in Hollywood and is looking to the state of California to provide the kind of tax incentives and rebates they can receive by going elsewhere. Piece quotes "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau as telling Deadline Hollywood Daily that the company got an eight-figure rebate check for shooting in Canada.

Meanwhile, ICV2 picks up on Marvel CEO David Maisel saying that direct market sales now account for about 60 percent of the company's publishing business. That's down from 89 percent in 2001 and 84 percent in 2002, and reflects the company selling more of its products through the bookstore markets.

The Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention returns Sunday to the Shrine Expo Center, featuring special guests James Kyson Lee of "Heroes," the cast of the upcoming Sci Fi Channel movie "War Wolves," actress Adrienne Barbeau and "Spongebob" voice actor Rodger Bumpass.