User blog comment:Jamie/Episode 16 - Gender Benders and Racelifts/@comment-24561400-20140808005940/@comment-24901406-20140810205017

If the movies aren't creating new readers they are certainly shifting the attention of the current readers towards comics related to the movies. Look at the sales of Rocket Raccoon #1 (admittedly there were other factors in there, but even ignoring them sales were huge).

When it really comes to it though, the tie-ins are just one part of it and ultimately the two parts of Marvel are essentially separate, with the movies cherry picking the bits of the comics they like then adding their own bits here and there. The problem is the comics keep making these bizarre moves and people keep assuming it is because of what the movies are doing, for example the recent push of the Inhumans seemingly taking the role of mutants (not happening in the MCU, the two will be distinct and separate) or the upcoming take over of Captain America's role by Falcon (which in the movies will be Bucky rather than Falcon as happened in the aftermath of Civil War).

If these moves were to "set up" movies then clearly Kevin Feige and his friends have no interest in them, which leaves the "symbiotic relationship" in a rather strange place.