Following migrations to Marvel Comics by comics based on Pixar films and The Muppet Show, it seems likely that Donald Duck, Uncle Scrooge, Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney's Comics and Stories will be the next Disney comic books to leave BOOM! Studios. The Los Angeles-based publisher has been producing comics based on Disney properties since 2008 to considerable success, but the lack of new issues in Diamond Comic Distributor's Previews catalogue indicates that Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck will probably be joining their corporate siblings at Marvel, which Disney acquired in 2009.Besides the conspicuous absence of BOOM! Studios' "Classic Disney" comics in the Previews catalogue for July, the publisher has also removed from its website subscription links to those specific titles. The scenario is identical to that of The Muppet Show, which has remerged at Marvel.

When Disney acquired Marvel in 2009, the obvious assumption was that all of the company's comics-based initiatives would be consolidated under the Marvel Comics banner, and that's exactly what's been happening. While it makes sense, it's still kind of a shame. BOOM! Studios has demonstrated the commercial viability of the Disney characters in the comic book space, and the comics they've produced have been well received by critics. Indeed, Marvel's plans for the franchise(s) has so far amounted to reprints of BOOM!'s existing material in magazine format, with no further initiatives yet announced. One has to wonder how outlandish is the concept of Marvel simply contracting BOOM! to facilitate its Disney line, given the publisher's good track record with the material.

In the meantime, BOOM! Studios will continue to publish its remaining Disney titles under the kaboom! imprint for younger readers. Those books include Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers, Darkwing Duck and Ducktales.

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