Today the comic book publishing industry pondered the dramatic news that Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has struck a $4 billion deal to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:MVL).

The merger will bring 5,000 comic book characters into Disney's massive collection of popular cartoons and films. On the Morning Media Menu, we discussed the merger as well, quoting some of the best Disney/Marvel crossovers from around the web.

More importantly, Publishers Weekly reminded readers that in addition to film and licensing, Marvel has carved out a strong place in the publishing industry: "Marvel's periodical comics line has been the industry leader for most of the past decade, and graphic novel sales have also surged with such titles as the homegrown Marvel superhero series, Civil War and 1602, and graphic novel licenses from bestselling prose novelists Stephen King and Laurell K. Hamilton."