How the Marvel Character Dr. Strange is following the norm
While there has been a bit of focus on the Buddhist monk effecting the cast of the next major Marvel super hero movie, there is little to suggest that the actual character is much more than the next installment in a series of characters which have found their way onto the cinema and television shows this year. From the marketing to the big screen Dr. Strange seems to revile in the normality of Marvel Marketing.
Using the more ambiguous characters to build sales
Let us face it. If you are not a die-hard comic book fan, then the odds of knowing some of the recent characters which have made it from Marvel to the screen have been a bit ambiguous. Prior to Dr. Strange, Luke Cage was introduced to Netflix in a series (rated M), before this Daredevil was made into a series. And while Daredevil is more popular, primarily due to the movie (which took the character out of being abstruse to being mainstream), it is still not one of the top characters.
Dr. Strange is a character which can be introduced to the cinema because other characters, primarily the Marvel Avengers and Marvel Legends which showcases iron man, a 3D model of hulk, Thor, and some of the other more popular “mainstream” figures. The result of using ambiguous characters in cinema has paid off well for Marvel. According o the Audi Bureau of Circulation, Marvel comics have seen he highest number in sales since he mid-sixties. The marketing strategy is nothing new. Entertainment has been using the method of bringing in older characters when a series or a show is popular and hen doing a spin off or a full-length movie from the character for years. Shows such as A Different World, Frasier, The Flash (who was introduced in Arrow) all have been from spin offs. And for the most part, they have paid off.
Not so strange mass marketing of Dr. Strange
Dr. Strange has made his way into the mass marketing with vigor. Primarily, the marvel games such as puzzle quest have integrated he character. However, it would not be surprising to see him pop up as a supporting character in the marvel universe game as well. What is a bit of a challenge for Marvel is to create marketing which highlights the character in order to bring awareness to Dr. Strange. The Marvel brand is already established and so having Dr. Strange presented as a side character to the branding or as a supportive role may not be the best bet. Where it pertains to the marketing of Dr. Strange, puzzle quest has done an ample job of showcasing some of the traits of the character (which is one of the main features of the game as each character has its own skill set power ups) which could help to build up the anticipation of the movie release.
The Stocks don’t lie, and that’s not strange
When looking at he NASDAQ:MRVL there has been an increase over the span of the past month with averages at 13.00 to around 13.5. Whether the increase in stocks is due to the integration of Dr. Strange into the Marvel mix, or if he company is seeing increased based upon its 3D models, games, comics, and supporting media is up for debate. What cannot be contended is that the company’s stock continues to rise. Being as the company has shown green in their reports for quite a while, it would be a bit arrogant to assume that Dr. Strange is going to present anything outside of the ordinary. Yes, the movie does present a new character, and this character is apt to make several more appearances (depending upon the box office numbers) in various marvel movies, games and media, but what character of the company is not mass produced, marketed, and then used repetitively? This is not a negative by any means, especially when you consider that they are going head to head with DC comics which has hit shows such as Gotham. Marvel should be examined and the strategic practices used to market our own materials.