Style and Focus News Bites

** Style and Focus PR would like to send out late condolences to the families of: Lena Horne, Dixie Carter, John Forsythe, and Lynn Redgrave.

** Congratulations to CW actors Jensen Ackles and Danneel Harris on recently getting married. The couple wed in Dallas over the weekend. (People magazine).

** After 'Iron Man,' Marvel hopes its other characters are as successful. The comic book publisher is hoping that Tony Stark and his red and gold super suit — once unknown outside comic book circles — show how second-tier superheroes can become billion-dollar franchises. The big question surrounding Marvel since the acquisition has been how much value its library brings to mainstream audiences that have never heard of Namor the Sub-Mariner, Dr. Strange or Ant-Man.

Before the release of the first "Iron Man" in 2008, few people outside those who frequent comic book stores had heard of billionaire Tony Stark and his red and gold super suit. Now he has generated more than $1 billion in worldwide box office and is Marvel's bestselling consumer products property, exceeding even Spider-Man.

Now Disney is hoping that Iron Man provides Marvel a model for turning subprime superheroes from its 5,000-plus character library into investment-grade franchises.

Now that Iron Man is a bestselling brand with worldwide appeal, Philips said, Marvel intends to keep him that way with new waves of products that will continue to be released until "Iron Man 3" hits theaters. (LA Times)