Writing on MediaPost’s online advertising blog, Cory Treffiletti notices the increasing presence of comic-book references in our daily lives, from movies like Spider-Man and Sin City to hit TV shows like NBC’s Heroes.
It’s all part of “the next important trend,” he writes: “the continued growth and expansion of comic book culture.”
So what’s that mean to online advertisers? Why, a market ripe for the picking, of course!
“If you want to reach your target audience, you need to know what they’re doing,” Treffiletti concludes. “Is it inevitable that a brand will begin to drop in product placement within graphic novels, or commission the creation of a graphic novel for its brand, targeting a storyline that would appeal to its audience?”
Yes, it’s inevitable — if by “inevitable” he means “already happening.”
Okay, so maybe Treffiletti isn’t so much predicting trends as running alongside them. Still, at least somebody’s taking notice. I guess.
November 16th, 2006 at 12:10 pm
Everyone associated with “Rush City” whored themselves.
There was absolutely NO benefit to consumers (aka comics readers) for this product placement.
This component of this trend is pretty awful.
November 16th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
I don’t care if there is product placement as long as it fits reasonably well within the story. I don’t want to see Spider-Man stopping his fight with Iron Man in Civil War to check out the latest McValue Meal, but I don’t care if a kid in New X-Men has on a pair of Nike shoes
November 16th, 2006 at 10:16 pm
It’s a sad trend, and not something I find necessary.
That said, it doesn’t bother me too much if comics like Rush City are kept to a minimum, and the product placement is unintrusive.
November 17th, 2006 at 7:51 am
”
Everyone associated with “Rush City” whored themselves.”
Whores? Really?
Like JJ Abrams did, from the start with ALIAS, taking lots of NOKIA cash and outfitting all the agents with cell phones…
Or maybe Joss Whedon, who took tons of Apple cash, and made sure Willow would do her searches on BUFFY with MAC laptops?
Grow up.
No one is being forced to read RUSH CITY
November 17th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
Wait…people actually bought Rush City?
November 17th, 2006 at 5:59 pm
I did! I don’t think I’ve been twisted into wanting a car that much in a long time.
November 19th, 2006 at 1:48 am
There’s a large difference between putting product placement in media and making media all about the product placement. Having characters using phones from Nokia? Fine. Having characters use Dell or Apple computers? Fine. Making a comic that’s a 3 dollar ad for a car? Not fine. Not fine at all. As long as product placement is more background noise than anything I’m all for it. As soon as it breaks from being background noise and becomes the main point is when it goes too far.
November 19th, 2006 at 8:35 pm
How is Rush City different from the BMWfilms? Those were great. Clive owen as a better trnsporter.
November 19th, 2006 at 9:48 pm
“Everyone associated with “Rush City” whored themselves.”
Whores? Really?
Like JJ Abrams did, from the start with ALIAS, taking lots of NOKIA cash and outfitting all the agents with cell phones…
***** Yes, JJ Abrams = Whore ********
Or maybe Joss Whedon, who took tons of Apple cash, and made sure Willow would do her searches on BUFFY with MAC laptops?
***** Yes, Joss Whedon = Whore *******
Grow up.
***** Try again - there is nothing demonstrably immature about complaining about product placement, especially when it brings NO benefit to the audience. Your insult is arbitrary and therefore speaks only to your own insecurity. It has nothing to do with me and therefore is very lame.******
No one is being forced to read RUSH CITY
****** And, this being a free country, no one is stopped from complaining about product placement in comics. ******
Comment by siuntres — November 17, 2006 @ 7:51 am
It’s pretty sad that you think accepting product placement by and for millionaire producers is mature. It’s just stupid. Product placement is creeping commercialism with no value to consumers.
But then I suppose you’re probably one of those people I can’t figure out who pay $30 to wear a T-shirt with a brand name on it because it’s a “cool” designer and you’re a “trendsetter” - when all you are (assuming that’s you…) is a sucker. Just as is someone who pays $3 for a 22-page car ad.
November 29th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
My name is Dr. Peter A. Maresco. I am a marketing professor at the John F. (Jack) Welch college of business at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.
One of my research interests is product placement in chick lit and teen chick lit novels. I was wondering if product placement exists in comics or if it will become more extensive in the future. Also, do you know if Magna novels contain product placement?
Thanks for taking the time to read this email.
Peter A. Maresco, Ph.D.