ICv2 has the news that Marvel proposed a settlement in the lawsuit brought by Brian Hibbs of Comix Experience. This was expected from Marvel's latest financial filing where they budgeted money for just such a settlement. And, first of all, congratulations are in order to Brian Hibbs for standing up to Marvel and doing so in such a way that all retailers can benefit, even those that didn't support his attempt.

Unfortunately it sounds like the credit retailers will receive will be towards Marvel products, which makes it less likely the extra money for retailers will go to trying out new product. It will be much easier for them to apply it to their regular Marvel orders (or even, ugh, increase those orders) than to offset it by increasing their orders with other publishers.

But the real question from all this is, after having a baby and winning a lawsuit, will The Savage Critic finally return in 2004?