The Dark Knight Rises was a blockbuster, but as the final installent of a trilogy, the future of the Batman series was unclear—until now. The next installment for the genre-redefining Dark Knight is as a spokesperson for Canon cameras in China.

In a series of new ads, the Dark Knight promotes Cannon's line of point and shoot digital cameras, with the superhero personally using—from his utility belt no less—the IXUS model. "Out of the darkness comes color" reads the tagline, meant to draw attention to the brand's superior image capture in low light. Canon has even built a special Dark Knight microsite to promote the partnership.Continue reading...

GM abruptly ousts CMO Joel Ewanick over details of Manchester United sponsorship deal and future of GM's new Commonwealth agency relationship is questioned, while automaker also found to be making risky sub-prime loans.

Apple case against Samsung carries implications for its gripes against Google, as report says Apple discussed investing in Twitter.

Avon CEO is requested to meet with federal prosecutors.

Best Buy founder reportedly mounting a buyback effort.

Chili's touts lunch menu in new video campaign.

Coca-Cola reorganizes and ramps up marketing of Sprite to Millennials.Continue reading...

Chipotle sales slowdown leads to stock-market plunge.

Kodak risks grow after loss of patent fight.

Samsung passes 10M sales benchmark for Galaxy S3 but iPhone prevails.

Bentley plans SUV.

Cnooc stakes $15B for Canada's Nexen. 

DreamWorks buys Classic Media.

Facebook pace of revenue growth closely watched.Continue reading...

China is the second latest economy in the world, every significant brand's future is impacted by its growth (or collapse!); but who's got the time?! Check out our weekly hotpot of reads that will make you look like a keen China observer during any conversation about China. Above, a 2012 Comic-Con promo for DC Comics' three-part series, Batman in Shanghai, ahead of The Dark Knight Rises Aug. 30 opening in China. And below: the iPad makes a quiet arrival, Adidas no longer "Made in China," the NBA, "House Slaves," robots (ROBOTS!) and more.Continue reading...

Warner Bros. issues statement as The Dark Knight Rises opens somberly as Denver gunman kills 14 at screening, while movie opens strongly at box office.

Heineken offers $4.1 billion to buy out JV partner for Asia Pacific Breweries stake as Kirin's next move pondered.

Chick-fil-A homophobia shamed by actor Ed Helms.

Apple's original iPad prototype revealed as new iPad launch in China today fails to cause a fuss.

BlackBerry woes broken down to five mistakes by nymag.com.

Comcast prepares ultra high-speed broadband.Continue reading...

Apple reportedly ordered by judge to run "Samsung didn't copy the iPad" ads.

AT&T fires back at Verizon with shared-data plans.

Bank of America and Credit Suisse launch new cost cuts.

Capital One to pay $210 million in fines over deceptive credit practices.

Duke Energy pins CEO swap on handling of troubled Florida nuke plant.

Facebook to offer voter-registration platform in Washington state.

GM buyout plan poses deadline dilemma for retirees.

Hermes sales slowly rise.Continue reading...

Mix Mountain Dew, Batman and Dale Earnhardt Jr., and somehow it all makes marketing sense. Just ask PepsiCo, which has been tying those elements and more together in a blowout summer marketing campaign around The Dark Knight Rises, which of course hits theaters this weekend.

In fact, PepsiCo believes the campaign is clicking on so many bat-cylinders that it's taking the initiative global in the first-ever worldwide marketing campaign for the iconic soft drink, scaling beyond the U.S. campaign for The Dark Knight Rises that kicked off in May, including a dewgothamcity.com microsite.

"Dew fans in the U.S. and around the world have incredible passion for the Dark Knight franchise," Brad Jakeman, president of PepsiCo's global beverages group, said in a press release. "We are excited about continuing to find unique and authentic ways to connect with Dew fans and fuel the growth of the brand around the world."

Mtn Dew is activating its campaign in nearly 20 countries across the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, inviting Dew and Dark Knight fans in all markets to its "Go Inside Gotham City" promotion which includes its new, limited-time flavor, Mtn Dew Dark Berry, inspired by the brooding caped crusader; more than 800 million bottles and cans featuring on-pack campaign graphics; digital access to exclusive content associated with the movie; and a multi-channel advertising campaign including a TV commercial designed to whet fans' appetites for the movie and the beverage.Continue reading...

It was inevitable that Bane, the villain from this week's Batman reboot, The Dark Knight Rises, and Bain, the Wall Street investment firm run by Republican candidate for President Mitt Romney, would collide. With the new Batman film out this week, the time was ripe.

After the jump, a gallery of some of better (and worse) Bane-Bain fan photoshop work as well as a legitimate question if the crossover could actually improve Mitt Romney's stiff, joyless brand as the GOP frontrunner gears up for November's US presidential election.Continue reading...