One comic book hero (Spiderman) was inspired by creator Stan Lee watching a spider climb up a wall. Another (The Incredible Hulk) came about when Lee combined the story of Frankenstein with The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Now comes one that is based on a coffee-swilling businessman who has no superpowers but managed to create one of the world’s most well-known brands.

Howard Schultz: The Man Behind Starbucks chronicles the life and times of the brand’s CEO as he takes the company from a hippiefied java joint in Seattle's Pike Place Market to a global behemoth in just 32 pages—or the time it takes to consume a venti skim latte and a cinnamon swirl coffee cake.

"After reading (autobiography) Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life Without Losing Its Soul by Howard Schultz, I thought he would be a great subject for a comic book,” Darren G. Davis, the head of publisher Bluewater Productions told Ad Age. “I love telling stories of people who are inspirational like Schultz and have a great back-story."Continue reading...

The annual San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) kicks off today, and as ever, it's a massive promotional platform for brands.

Founded as the "Golden State Comic Book Convention" in 1970 by a group of San Diegan comic book fans, the annual fanfest has evolved to include video games, toys and other forms of genre entertainment. That's why Hollywood beats a path south to the show every year — to generate buzz among the estimated 250,000 comic book, sci-fi, fantasy, anime, and video game fans hitting town for the four day pop-culture fix.

One of the biggest movies being touted this year: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, which marks the cast's last appearance as Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner hyping the Nov. 16th final bow with a 1pm ET (above) panel. Also red-hot: Iron Man 3, with Robert Downey Jr. and co-stars on hand to promote the movie scheduled for May 3rd of next year.Continue reading...

Air France replaces CEO, Mercedes-Benz USA CEO is ousted in Daimler exec shuffle, and Olympus shares plunge as its CEO is fired.

Apple sells 4 million iPhone 4S units in first weekend, as Samsung sues to block the device in Japan and Australia and HTC loses Apple patent case in US. Steve Jobs' Silicon Valley memorial service reportedly filled with humor and music, as company prepares to honor late co-founder and report earnings on Tuesday. Starbucks and Apple are also partnering in the UK on free music downloads.

Mattel eyes UK's HIT Entertainment, home to Thomas the Tank Engine and other kids' properties.

Bank of America posts $6.2 billion quarterly profit, while Goldman Sachs reports $428 million loss.

BlackBerry customers receive free apps and tech support to make amends for outages.Continue reading...

Dunkin' Donuts is leaving no bear claw unturned in its quest to wring every last bit of promotion out of its partnership with Marvel's Captain America: The First Avenger, which opens Friday.

The commercial Dunkin' has been running to call attention to its line of Captain-inspired products is creative and fun. Then there is pressuring Captain America star Chris Evans into admitting that producers have told him just how that shield gets buttered.

But that's not all for Dunkin' Donuts' tie-ins, nor Captain America's. Bring on Comic-Con, Harley-Davidson and... Norton Anti-Virus?Continue reading...

Old Spice Guy — aka footballer turned actor Isaiah Mustafa — is in a new ad. And this time, the brand he's promoting is Isaiah Mustafa. The most recognizable men's hygiene pitchman of his (and perhaps any) time has himself in an unauthorized trailer for a film that does not yet exist: Marvel Comics' action hero Luke Cage.

It's the actor's latest, and most elaborate, effort to lobby Marvel to give him a shot at becoming one of the most famous black superheroes of all time — in fact, the first black superhero, as Marvel introduced Cage in 1972. Continue reading...

We've been keeping tabs on how Arnold Schwarzenegger is staging his post-politics personal comeback as an entertainer. Today at the MIPTV conference in Cannes, the world's biggest TV marketplace, the former governor of California unveiled his latest incarnation: cartoon superhero.

The press release for Arnold Schwarzenegger's upcoming kids' TV animated series, The Governator, offers this description:

"Who has special 'Speak Sprays' (disguised as breath freshener) that let him speak a foreign language? Who has an electronic 'Fly Spy' with a mini-cam that activates through his ring, and tracks through his 'G Shades'? Who has Bubble Trouble (bubblegum), that splats to form a face mask secret identity. With his 3 amazing teenage cohorts, his underground lair of super vehicles, and his digital super suits, who delivers the ULTIMATE in both comedy and action?"

Forget who. Why?!Continue reading...

* Space-time continuum suffers massive tear as preposterous memes from two different decades collide (above).

* Calling the child in all art directors and the art director in all children: Name that Crayola color.

* Evil Emperor George Lucas sues Jedis for trademark infringement.

* Zynga promotes its social games, upsets everyone.Continue reading...

WePad is the iPad's most recent opposition. [Boston Herald]

McDonald's breakfast loses customers to Subway. [CNN Money]

Corona sets its sights on Hispanic drinkers. [Brandweek]

'Iron Man 2' campaigns now include Stan Lee. [BrandFreak]

Abercrombie wants employees to stay on the ground. [WSJ]

Candie's reveals unretouched Britney Spears ads. [NY Mag]Continue reading...