Money matters: The New York Post looks at the comics industry's financial roller-coaster:

"By 1998, Marvel had filed for bankruptcy protection, and comic stores were going out of business in droves. Overall revenues dropped to $255 million by 2000.

"Things finally started to turn around in 2002, when the first Spider-Man movie hit theaters.

"Comic book sales rebounded slightly, and Marvel posted a modest profit.

"But publishing only accounts for 21 percent of Marvel's revenues, or $73 million in 2003.

"That has some analysts worried about what would happen if Hollywood's appetite for Marvel characters, and the accompanying licensing and toy revenues, dries up."