Marvel Publishing Sales Pop in '06

-- Publishers Weekly, 2/27/2007

Marvel's publishing segment ended 2006 on a strong note, with sales up 22%, to $28.6 million, and operating income ahead 35%, to $11.6 million in the fourth quarter. For the full year, operating income rose 21%, to $44.1 million, on a 17% sales increase to $108.5 million. Trade paperbacks and hardcovers sold into both the book channel and the direct market led the gains. In the fourth quarter, comic book sales were bolstered by sales associated with the new Civil War series. Sales also benefited from a strong increase in custom publishing sales.

Marvel said that for 2007 it expects modest top-line and bottom-line growth from the publishing division.