Why I don't think DC will lose Superman

Why I don't think DC will lose Superman

Below I listed 3 very good reasons for why I believe Superman's home will always remain at DC comics. Take this as you will but the 3 reasons are pretty solid.

Editorial Opinion
By LP4 - Apr 21, 2011 01:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman

Ok, as most of us here well know...the Superman lawsuit has been a hot-button topic for a while now. Many theories have been spreading like wildfire all over the online-world. Some theories going so far as to suggest even that MARVEL COMICS could end up acquiring Superman by the deadline year of- 2013.

In this editorial I will go on to list my reasons for why I don't think anyone needs to worry much about Superman or his potential "removal" from the DC Universe.

1) Marvel won't buy Superman because they are also enemies of Marc Toberoff. Now for those who may not have followed the case as much...Marc Toberoff is the legal representative (lawyer) of the Siegel estate. He was also the legal representative of the Kirby estate as well. The Kirby heirs hired Toberoff to help them in their quest to take Marvel to court and reclaim all copyrights of Jack Kirby (anyone notice a pattern here?) both the Siegel and Kirby estates hired Toberoff.

2) The Siegel heirs NEED DC/WB. Reclaiming the copyright would be useless to the heirs unless they contract the character out to a big company to commercialize. Otherwise they have a huge copyright but nothing to do with it. They could potentially make their own separate line of Superman comics (which is one theory I heard before) but I don't think they'd make much money off it because they are just a small family, not a company like DC. They won't have as much power to commercialize Superman as DC has been doing for over 70 years with the character. Not to mention- everyone + their grandma can only see Superman's home as being DC. Doing such a drastic move such as moving the character to another company could damage the integrity of the copyright itself. The Siegel heirs know this and so does DC/WB.

and lastly...

3) I called DC myself and asked them about the legal situation (I do call them from time to time to ask questions though their customer service completely blows). They weren't allowed to say much to me about the lawsuit over the phone (it's a delicate topic after all) but what they DID tell me was that I "have nothing to worry about" as cryptic as that answer was...and vague...it did give me that reassurance and it should give everyone else here the same reassurance that- WE HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. ^_^

Worst case scenario is...



But no matter what happens, we'll always have a Superman. No matter which one is left standing...
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LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 1:56 AM
^^ I wanna be impartial...but fu*k it. I grew up only seeing Superman's home with DC. He is the MAIN CORNERSTONE of the DC Universe. Removing him from that universe would be a travesty!

Superman = DC

Plain and simple ;D
LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 2:05 AM
Oh and before any Marvel fans start coming in here to sling mud with boasts about their company getting Superman. Ok, let's look at it from the worst case scenario...

Let's say Marvel DID buy the rights to Superman. I honestly don't see them profiting off of the character as much as DC has. Let's face it- Superman is synonymous with DC Comics. Like I said in my editorial, doing something as drastic as removing him from DC and putting him with another company would damage the mere integrity of the copyright. DC has commercialized Superman for over 70 years. There are soooo many Superman purists world-wide who I honestly can't see suddenly hopping over to Marvel just because they bought Superman. Superman-purists tend to be DC-purists (not to generalize of course) not only that but like I said...no company not even one as massive as MARVEL can possibly outdo the over 70 years of evolution Superman went through with DC.

I just can't see any company profiting off of Superman the way DC can. And if the other companies can't much $$$ off of Superman, then it becomes useless to the Siegel heirs (who obviously wanna make LOTS of money out of this) so the most obvious choice for the Siegels would be to cut a deal with DC/Warner and keep Superman there and still make steady profits.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 4/21/2011, 3:44 AM
LP4 @ Good job mate thumbs up! :)

Agree, anyways no matter what happens, I can't see Superman ever leaving DC Comics, not gonna happen, bar Bats he's the most important and milestone/main character they have, no matter what, their not going to lose him ever...

Marvel will just turn him into what they did with the Ultraverse etc... its a pity WB didn't buy Marvel instead of Disney... think how amazing that would have been, the big two under the same roof!

Yeah was a dream lol, anyways awesome read man, luv it!
LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 3:57 AM
@LEEE- Thanks buddy! Yeah I tried to make as detailed of an argument on here as possible to give our fellow DC-fans more hope that Superman will remain with DC.

FINGERS CROSSED!!!
Facade
Facade - 4/21/2011, 4:34 AM
I have faith Superman will stay with DC but I disagree with your reasoning. Whether Marvel hates the lawyer or not isn't reason to prevent a sale. Money talks and I'm certain if the price was right, they'd shake hands for a photo shoot. The heirs will have a buyer, it's Superman. And your last point isn't coming from anyone from authority. Whatelse are they gonna tell you? The truth?!
Hellsing
Hellsing - 4/21/2011, 5:14 AM
@LEEE WB buying Marvel no offence but thats one of the worst ideas I have ever heard, there as bad as fox so no thanks.

@LP4 i'll give you one reason why they won't lose the rights, MONEY. If it does look like there going to lose the rights then they'll loosen there purse strings. and I am Marvel fan and a big superman Fan I don't want to see superman in the MU ever. He should stay at DC, and Superman WAS DC's big title but over the years he's been over shadowed by Batman and now Green Lantern. DC need fix up and find a good writer, who can actually write good stories.
naterator
naterator - 4/21/2011, 9:16 AM
@Darkmatter....interesting points...i think i read this before...in an article you did.

@LP4....we all would love to NOT WORRY but this whole mess is a little unsettling.....OFF TOPIC: Isnt it nice that i comment on your articles? you should try taking a gander at mine...if you get the chance. ;)

i still have high hopes that we will see something EPIC of the kind in the future,,,
kriswone
kriswone - 4/21/2011, 9:25 AM
Personally, I think WB/DC is the best place for superman, I am sure marvel does not want the property (TOO many obvious reasons why.) But I bet FOX would take it in a heart beat, they love trashing things.

Check out my Multiplayer review of COD:BLOPS

http://g33kgaming.com/?p=10
LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 9:44 AM
@Darkmatter- Yeah I always figured Supes was the most disney-oriented guy in comics- He's bright, happy and optimistic and the way he flies around, VERY disney.

But still...his home is with DC/WB. But I will confess...Superman themed roller-coasters and environments at Disney would be schweet. Except even IF Disney got Superman, it won't be the same Superman. It'll be the very first one which makes me wonder what might happen to the current one...will he just fade out of the mainstream?

@Fartypants- Actually i already addressed your issue when i said up-top- "no company not even one as massive as MARVEL can possibly outdo the over 70 years of evolution Superman went through with DC.

I just can't see any company profiting off of Superman the way DC can"

Also the person I spoke to on the phone worked at DC COMICS. I don't think they are permitted to actually LIE over the phone. I called back a few months later and a different DC representative answered, I asked them about the case and the other person told me "everything will be fine" in regards to Superman. What I THINK happened is, WB/DC MUST have come to a deal with the Siegel heirs. I just don't think it's making its way into the news.

Anyway, this is bullshit what the Siegel heirs are doing. They are ruining a character and his loyal fanbase.

LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 9:51 AM
@Darkmatter- But also you don't quite understand. I think even if Marvel/Disney got Superman, they will probably never use him. As you know- Captain Marvel is a DC character very similar to Superman. When DC acquired the character from Fawcett Comics...they shelved Cap Marvel for most of his existence, allowing him to gather dust and barely ever used him.

If Marvel were to acquire Superman the same way DC acquired Cap Marvel, I can see Marvel doing the same thing- Shelving Superman and never using him. A character as iconic and legendary as Superman should never be shelved and gather dust.

Plus they also might not wanna use him because of how well known he is as a DC/Warner property, they might fear by using him, he'll outshine the classic-MARVEL characters ie- Iron Man, Spider-Man, Hulk etc-

That's supposedly the same fear DC had about using Cap Marvel too much was because he was traditionally a Fawcett Comics character and with the lawsuit still fresh on their minds from that time...that is why they always made sure that during most of the fights between Superman and Cap Marvel, (even though Cap Marvel has MAGIC based powers) they would kind of...dumb down his power and make Superman either WIN or put up a better fight than he should have. I dont' want the same shit done to Superman over at Marvel...where they either never use him or dumb him down big time.
LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 10:20 AM
@Darkmatter- Well...wherever he goes...he will always be my most favorite superhero. If Marvel/Disney did get him, I'm just saying- THEY BETTER [frick]ING USE HIM. But i would love to see Superman themed stuff at Disneyland.

I don't know...but changing the character of Superman would be [frick]ing lame. I don't want a different origin, rogues-gallery and city. That's just lame.

WTF will Lex Luthor do with his time? I guess they would have to rotate Superman's rogues gallery to other heroes...LAME.

Oh and you're wrong, he won't have all the same powers as modern-day Supes. He will only have the powers introduced in Action Comics #1...he was well known for Super-Jumps as opposed to flying -_-

Superman is defined by 2 things- his suit and flying. If they change the suit design a bit and remove his ability to FLY...that aint a recognizable Superman and trying to cater that to the general audience will be a very tricky deal.

Superman won't be able to fly, ice-breath, heat-vision or any of the other modern-abilities he has...even his- soul sight which i love.

He will only have his super-strength, invulnerability to bullets and super-jumps which i guess blends in with Marvel's real-world type of scene.

Stupid ass Siegel heirs.

LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 10:31 AM
I edited my comment a bit about his powers, please look again above your last comment. Also his job won't be the same name either- instead of Daily Planet it will be Daily Star. And like i said above-

- "Superman is defined by 2 things- his suit and flying. If they change the suit design a bit and remove his ability to FLY...that aint a recognizable Superman and trying to cater that to the general audience will be a very tricky deal.

Superman won't be able to fly, ice-breath, heat-vision or any of the other modern-abilities he has...even his- soul sight which i love.

He will only have his super-strength, invulnerability to bullets and super-jumps which i guess blends in with Marvel's real-world type of scene"

My apologies if you already read it but the powers are a biggie with Superman.

And I can actually see Lex Luthor tormenting Batman more than GL. I know lately Lex has been an Orange Lantern but typically he's the opposite of Bruce Wayne- billionaire but EVIL. I can see Lex setting up a LexCorp in Gotham City and being a business rival to Bruce.
LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 10:34 AM
But the lawsuit claims DC gets to keep the powers. So you're saying that even if Marvel got Superman, he could have all the same powers he does at DC only they'd be more derived from Marvel? Ok I can dig that...
LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 10:38 AM
I don't know...I just don't see this whole situation doing any good for the Superman-fanbase. Lately, we've already been suffering a lot- Smallville has floundered the image of Big-Blue. Superman Returns nearly re-killed the entire Superman movie franchise and like you pointed out- he's lost popularity to GL and Batman.

I love Superman. I want what's best for him. I just can't see it getting any better with Disney/Marvel.

I don't even know if Disney would dedicated an entire theme for Superman at their parks, you think they'd do that for the flagship character of their former rival???

WB has always been a big rival to Disney just as DC was to Marvel. I can't see Disney making rides and themes for Superman at their parks considering he's been the WB/DC posterboy for over 70 [frick]ing years.

But I will admit as a HUGE Superman fan,it'd do my heart good to see an entire DIsney theme and multiple rides for Superman as opposed to one rollercoaster at Six Flags like he currently has.
LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 10:40 AM
Yeah I know all about Hyperion. Part of some team like the JLA right? "Squadren Supreme" right?
LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 10:42 AM
Unless you think Disney might wanna pimp him out and make themes for Superman at their parks just to mock WB.

That is a possibility.
LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 10:50 AM
Hmmm...so you actually believe Disney would make theme environments for Superman then. Hmmmm...I would hope they do.

I just don't know about this whole thing. Superman has always been the flagship/posterboy for DC/Warner.

For him to go over to Marvel/Disney would be horrible because he loses his status as the TOP hero...he will no longer be the 'grandfather' type figure he is in DC.

He will be in Marvel as a newbie. And he'll be bumped down a few notches in favor of the more traditionally MARVEL heroes.

LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 10:53 AM
In DC he is looked up to. In Marvel, HE'LL be the one looking up to other heroes. That is a pitiful fall from grace scenario right there.

Superman has better status over at DC. Makes no sense to put him at Marvel where his status will be diminished just because the greedy little bastard Siegel heirs.

Fu*k this whole situation. Superman-fans are always getting shafted. We always get fu*ked over.
LordHuck
LordHuck - 4/21/2011, 11:00 AM
Money will solve this and nothing else. If Superman comes up to auction then its down to a risk vs reward senario.

If Disney or anyone else thinks they can make even a small profit from buying Superman then it’s a done deal. Even if they just break even on the deal but hurt their competitor in the market it would still be worthwhile to buy superman.
LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 11:03 AM
I don't see them prioritizing Superman over their more traditionally MARVEL set of heroes.

But I always saw Superman and Cap America in a similar vein to a degree.

I just can't see Marvel 'drag the character in the mud' when he represents everything they are against. Marvel is usually more of the- darker, more real-world/down-to-earth heroes. Superman is none of those things.

You think Marvel is well-aware of his fanbase? I mean wtf do they really know about the guy? All I know is...I remember Stan Lee did say one time that he wished he had created Batman, because he likes Batman. I don't ever remember Stan Lee ever mentioning Superman. I know Marvel has made tons of Superman parodies (as mocking jokes) but I don't think Marvel really even likes Superman all that much.

LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 11:21 AM
@Darkmatter- Superman costs a lot of money. He alone is worth more than any marvel characters for the simple reason that he is so old. He is so old, that HE ALONE predates the entire Marvel comics company itself.

If Disney were to purchase Superman, they would have to drop every last dime from their wallets to get him and in that case you are right- they wouldn't haul out all that money just to shelve him and let him gather dust, they'll use him a lot probably more than WB ever did.

I don't know though...I'm just happy you and I had this healthy-debate. We both brought up good/solid points and we both seem well-informed.

This is what debates SHOULD BE on this site from now on. Healthy and respectful.
LordHuck
LordHuck - 4/21/2011, 11:30 AM
How long before a lot of these characters hit the public domain anyway? For works or characters created before the copyright act of 1978 there is not as much protection.

I have to think there is a reason that Disney has not been pimping Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck very hard in the past 20 years. Do they foresee a future where those characters will be public domain?

I think I read a while back that the current limit for copyright for stuff prior to 1978 was 95 years from it was 1st created. If that is true then it means Superman would fall to public Domain in just 21 years?

Copyright law is complicated and I don’t understand it very well. Conan the Barbarian recently fell into Public domain. Will all comic/literary characters eventually go the same way? Or are there provisions to keep them tied to an owner forever?
LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 11:31 AM
Hahaha ok you might be right about everything. In that case I hope you are and you have me sold- plus Disney does seem better at making CBMs than Warner Bros. WB already fu*ked up the last Superman film. But Disney seems to have nailed Cap and Thor films.

I figure Superman getting the Disney treatment could be good.

Everyone wants Superman. I'm not just saying that either. For a character who is stale and out of date...he is REALLY FU*KING EXPENSIVE AS FU*K.
LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 11:33 AM
@LordHuck- You seem very smart and well-informed on these copyright laws. I honestly have no idea either for. I'd have to learn from you =P

But yeah, Supes is pretty old. I would think he'd be one of the first to hit the public domain though Mickey Mouse is even older.
LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 11:35 AM
I wonder how much Superman actually costs though. Holy shit. He's THE MOST expensive comicbook character in existence.

Disney will wanna break even in that high of an investment, so maybe they would pimp out Superman big time.

LordHuck
LordHuck - 4/21/2011, 11:46 AM
If Superman is indeed eligible for public domain in a couple decades that might help to keep his value lower than we perceive it to be.

He might not be the most expensive comic book hero, considering the possibility that when you buy him you might only get 20 years.

Would that make characters like Iron Man more valuable if he has say 50 years before he were to hit public domain?
LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 11:49 AM
@LordHuck- Holy crap that would suck. The value of Superman possibly going down...that doesn't sound good.

I have a question about movies to anyone else reading this. I keep thinking the Snyder reboot will be the final Superman film for WB.

If Disney were to acquire Superman, can we expect to see more films? And if so...I wonder how different they'd be. They would probably avoid anything with Chris Reeve since the Reeve-Superman was more of a WB thing.
mastarockafella
mastarockafella - 4/21/2011, 12:28 PM
I like the article. No legal terminologies. Explanation is plain and simple and I totally agree with your reasons why Superman would remain with DC especially the second reason.
GrandWrex
GrandWrex - 4/21/2011, 1:06 PM
this may seem very emo and immature but honestly if WB/DC is gonna lose the rights to superman i hope the world does end in 2012
Checkmate
Checkmate - 4/21/2011, 1:14 PM
Marvel/Disney need to focus on buying the rights back to their own characters before they go on buying Supes.
Plus, even if they did get Supes, they wouldn't get Lex, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, and other things. Pretty much the only thing that would be recognizable of the characters would be names and origin.
LP4
LP4 - 4/21/2011, 5:50 PM
@GrandWrex- Agreed man, just please god end the world if we lose Supes. LOL

@mastrockafella- Thanks dude!!!

@Bane- Exactly, I want both sides to agree on something. Siegel and Shuster would never want their character to get ripped away from the company that helped him evolve for over 70 + years and possibly fading out of existence due to that.
TheMildMannered
TheMildMannered - 4/22/2011, 2:35 AM
This might be really immature but I'd hate to see Supes go to Marvel for one of the main reasons being that Marvel animation is lame. DC animation is so good and goes beyond being cartoons.

Not hating at all, Marvel is awesome but its like Star Wars and Trek. I love both but I don't ever want to see Enterprise v. Death Star no matter how epic
Checkmate
Checkmate - 4/22/2011, 1:48 PM
@TheIntruder- Actually, Perry wouldn't, and neither would the Daily Planet. Lois would be though.
http://dcboards.warnerbros.com/web/thread.jspa?threadID=2000238561&start=30&tstart=0
Follow the address and have a read.
wonderme
wonderme - 4/23/2011, 3:08 PM
Why would you think that DC would lose there biggest charicter of all time.
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