Superhero Fans Stop A Northrop Venture -- WSJ
09 Octobre 2017 - 9:02AM
Dow Jones News
By Doug Cameron
This article is being republished as part of our daily
reproduction of WSJ.com articles that also appeared in the U.S.
print edition of The Wall Street Journal (October 9, 2017).
Marvel Entertainment dropped a planned joint venture with
Northrop Grumman Corp. on Saturday after fans of its superheroes
attacked the company via social media for its potential ties with
the defense contractor.
The Walt Disney Co. unit, best known for franchises including
Spider-Man and the Avengers, had planned to launch the venture at
the New York Comic Con event with a self-produced film on space
exploration featuring Northrop employees and a magazine tie-in
aimed at promoting science education.
The launch was flagged in a tweet on Friday, but fans quickly
attacked a online teaser promoting the first issue of a new
Avengers comic featuring NGENs -- short for Northrop Grumman Elite
Nexus -- that was subsequently pulled from its website. On
Saturday, Marvel canceled the launch.
Northrop Grumman, the nation's fifth-largest defense company by
sales, was left considering its options.
"This was part of our broader effort to reach new audiences and
bring attention to the value of science and technology," Northrop
Grumman said in a statement. "We are disappointed that Marvel chose
not to proceed with the partnership."
Northrop is involved in some of the most classified U.S.
programs including the new B-21 Raider long-range bomber and space
systems for the intelligence community.
Its products were enough for critics on social media to make
comparisons with Marvel's Tony Stark character -- also known as
Iron Man -- who closed his fictional family defense firm after
deciding it did more harm than good.
The planned partnership between Marvel and Northrop Grumman
developed rapidly over the past two months, according to people
familiar with the discussions, with two more short films planned.
Aerospace and defense companies have invested in activities related
to science, technology, engineering and math -- or STEM -- in an
effort to address a shortage of engineers and other staff.
Lockheed Martin Corp. has sponsored a school bus modified with
internal video screens to recreate traveling on the surface of
Mars.
Marvel said education was also its prime motivation but that
"spirit" hadn't come across.
"The activation with Northrop Grumman at New York Comic Con was
meant to focus on aerospace technology and exploration in a
positive way," the company said in a statement. "Marvel and
Northrop Grumman continue to be committed to elevating and
introducing STEM to a broad audience."
Marvel and Walt Disney didn't immediately respond to a request
for additional comment.
Write to Doug Cameron at doug.cameron@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 09, 2017 02:47 ET (06:47 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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