[Groop]Off-Topic Question for Mark

[Mark Evanier]

On Thu, 2 Nov 2000 12:21:10 -0800, "Gary Grossmann"
<grossfam@olywa.net> wrote:

>I saw in the CBG that Stan Lee has acquired Conan Properties, Inc.  If I
>understand that correctly, he has bought the rights to all things Conan.
>TOR Books, through some agreement with Conan Properties, had been publishing
>a couple of Conan paperbacks per year by various authors since the
>mid-1980's, but suddenly stopped a couple years ago.  My understanding was
>that the books were still selling well, but the TOR web site FAQ just gives
>a glib answer as to the why they stopped.
>
>So I was wondering, since you are a Stan the Man V.P., do you have any idea
>if there are any plans to start up the publication of more Conan paperbacks?

ME: First off, Stan Lee's company and I came to a mutual parting of
the ways a few months ago...just before the San Diego Con, in fact.  

But as I understand it, they haven't exactly acquired Conan
Properties.  They've made a deal by which Stan Lee Media has
"ownership" of just the character Conan as long as Stan Lee Media
stock remains above a certain specified level (and, therefore, the
shares in it which Conan Properties received for its interest remain
valuable).  In a way, it's kind of an illusory way to make it look
like Stan Lee Media owns Conan when, in fact, they really control it
and it may someday revert to Conan Properties.

In any case, last I heard, there were no plans for more paperbacks. 

------------------------------------------------
Mark Evanier's NEW Mailing Address is:
5850 W. 3rd St., #367, Los Angeles, CA 90036