>>5288017Sales have little to do with it. Outside of the CGI movie that's in development hell, Popeye has had very little in the way of recent merch, yet someone still knows who he is. Peanuts getting a new film probably surprised a lot of people because it's been sliding out of the public eye for years, but still, people know what the franchise is because it's been burned into us for so long it's not going anywhere.
Reinventing Superman recently was probably more damaging than anything because part of what makes Superman so lasting is that he doesn't change. He dresses in that familiar costume, he flies, he has specific powers, he's weak to kryptonite, he fights a bald guy. Changing a character that's been static for decades doesn't always go over so well. Batman can change, because Batman is more complex and has been constantly changed around. Seems every 20 years or so Batman gets an overhaul because sales have slumped.
Barbie is THE fashion doll, even if her actual sales these days are poor. Monster High might be a sales giant now but long-time pop culture doesn't care. The average person on the street can't name it.
Some things have just been around so long they will always be around even if they aren't selling.
