A new “Infinity Saga” Loki Loungefly backpack and matching wallet are now available at Universal Orlando Resort.
The Infinity Saga Loungefly Products
These are part of the same set as the Captain America and Iron Man Loungefly products we previously reported on, and all are available in the Marvel Alterniverse Store at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
The Infinity Saga is the name given to the first several phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe revolving around the Infinity Stones. Though the MCU is owned by Disney, their contract with Universal allows the competitor theme parks to sell Marvel merchandise inspired by the cinematic franchise.
Loki Loungefly Mini Backpack – $85
The backpack and wallet are inspired by Loki’s classic green and black outfit, with his golden horned helmet depicted on the front of the backpack.
The green pleather has a shimmer effect, while the gold and black sections are shiny and reflective.
Some of the black sections are sparkly.
The backpack has golden metal zippers.
The golden pieces on the sides of the bag are decorated with circles and winged designs.
The backpack straps are made of the sparkling black fabric.
The back of the bag is green, with “Master of Mischief” printed in yellow near the bottom.
A green plaque for The Infinity Saga is on one side.
Loki Loungefly Wallet – $55
Loki’s helmet takes up most of the front of the wallet, with the horns overlapping the edges.
The helmet is set against the shimmering green pleather.
Black and green pleather pieces criss-cross on the opposite side, below The Infinity Saga plaque.
Inside, the wallet’s pockets are made of green and black fabric.
The ID pocket has a helmet shaped cutout, and the background fabric is black and patterned with gold helmets.
The old silver and green Loki Loungefly mini backpack is also still available at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
The Complicated Marvel Entanglement Between Universal and Disney
In a 1994 agreement, Universal secured the theme park rights to the Marvel brand east of the Mississippi River, and eventually opened Marvel Super Hero Island along with Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 1999. All of this happened before the Hollywood superhero box office boom we know today. Bryan Singer’s “X-Men” was released in 2000 with great success, soon followed by Sam Raimi’s revolutionary 2002 iteration of “Spider-Man.” The latter became the highest-grossing film based on a comic book of all time upon release, and prompted major investment in a vast array of DC and Marvel film forays.
In 2008, Marvel Studios produced “Iron Man,” initially distributed by Paramount Pictures and foundational in the creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel the following year, and this is where the theme park complications arise.
Since the Marvel Cinematic Universe has ballooned to unparalleled popularity, some guests may be confused to see Captain America or Wolverine at a Universal park, while nearby Walt Disney World seems to be missing these characters entirely. While Disney does technically own Marvel, the older agreement regarding the intellectual property holds firm.
Disney officially owns Marvel, and is now involved with all of Marvel’s films; however, the 1994 agreement stands in full legality and respect. Universal is under no obligation to forfeit their rights to the various characters and franchises. That being said, the interwoven nature of Marvel’s various partnerships from the past, including Sony’s previous involvement, causes issues for both parties.
At a recent Disney shareholders’ meeting, CEO Bob Iger was asked about these restrictions, and he responded:
We certainly would love to be able to do more with Marvel in our parks, but I’ll leave it at that.
Because of the nature of the various agreements, sometimes MCU-related merchandise is available at Universal Orlando Resort, even though the MCU is Disney’s domain.
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