While last quarter’s media sales were still up, the NPD Group is expecting US consumers to spend less on entertainment this year compared to 2007, mainly because of the recession. Although the recession in 2001 didn’t cause any decrease in revenue, it was in the time of the relatively new DVD format and new gaming systems like the PlayStation 2.

This year doesn’t have high flyers like these, although the HD-DVD failure may help the overall HD disc sales. Afterall, consumers don’t like two formats and are now sure they’re not buying something that will be useless in a year or two.

The NPD research shows 37% was anticipating to spent less on entertainment, while only 18% expected to spent more. It is however, just based on a survey. People don’t do the same things as they say or even think. You may even question how much they really know about what they spent. I could answer a question about my spending on DVDs last year and what I’m expecting this year, but you won’t get any scientific conclusions from it.

So far for my little rant.

Famous for his work on ‘Spider-man,’ ‘X-men,’ ‘Iron Man’ and other well known characters, 85-year-old Stan Lee made a deal with Virgin Comics to create 10 new comic heroes. Sure to bring some of them to the silver screen, they will first be introduced in 10 graphic novels next year.

“Stan Lee is unquestionably one of history’s greatest storytellers,” the Virgin Comics’ creative officer told Variety. “To collaborate with him, and have him guide and nurture artists and writers through Virgin Comics, will be one of the legacies of this company.”

Some potentially good material for a couple of movies. With ‘The Dark Knight,’ ‘The Incredible Hulk,’ and ‘Iron Man’ opening this summer, together with a bunch of other big budget movies, I wonder if they’ll all be profitable.

‘21′ earned a little under $10 million last weekend at the overseas box office. Taking the number one spot (as expected) from ‘Horton Hears a Who!,’ which made $9.5 million, it’s clear these are slow days outside the US too. Third came in ‘Street Kings’ with Keanu Reeves, doing $8.8 million.

The number two at the US box office, ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall,’ was only released in Australia and had a good opening with $1.7 million. Just like America, the rest of the world is getting ready for this summer’s movie overload.