"All of the Marvels": Author Douglas Wolk on the "biggest story ever told"; CBS News, May 1, 2022

CBS News; "All of the Marvels": Author Douglas Wolk on the "biggest story ever told"

"Since the Dawn of Time (technically, the 1960s, to be precise), a tale has been building: a single connected narrative involving thousands of characters, and millions of pages of comics. The Marvel Universe, says writer Douglas Wolk, contains the biggest story that has ever been told. "It all happens in the same setting," he said. "Stories that happened in 1961 or 1962 have consequences in comics that are coming out this week."

Wolk, a Marvel expert, patiently explained to correspondent Luke Burbank (a non-comic-book person) that Marvel might be the longest-running and most voluminous story told in human history … and it's all connected, meaning if The Hulk stubbed his toe back in 1979, Captain America could be dealing with the consequences in 2022.  

"All of those events are its history, its past, what it can draw on for this perpetually-evolving story," said Wolk. "Not just a continuous story going on for six decades, but the continuous story going on in many, many threads at once that can cross each other at any time.""

Neal Adams, Comic Book Artist Who Revitalized Batman and Fought for Creators’ Rights, Dies at 80; The Hollywood Reporter, April 29, 2022

Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter; Neal Adams, Comic Book Artist Who Revitalized Batman and Fought for Creators’ Rights, Dies at 80

"Adams also worked tirelessly to promote better working conditions and, radically at the time, creators’ rights, especially for their work. He early on recognized the value of creators and was a thorn in the side of publishers, demanding compensation for himself and others when their characters were adapted off the page.

He, along with Stan Lee, formed the Academy of Comic Book Arts, hoping to start a union that would fight for benefits and ownership on behalf of writers and artists. Lee wanted an organization that was more akin to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the two parted ways.

In the late ’70s, when a new federal work-for-hire law was being enshrined, Marvel and then editor-in-chief Jim Shooter distributed contracts that stated freelancers could not assert copyright over their creations. As detailed in Reisman’s 2021 Lee biography, True Believer, Adams sent around a copy of the contract, scrawling on top, “Do Not Sign This Contract! You Will Be Signing Your Life Away!” While it caused a ruckus and awareness, the effort didn’t have its intended effect as Marvel flexed its muscle and threatened anyone who tried to unionize with a drying up of the freelance well."

Mephisto's Most Powerful Servant Got Marvel Sued by the Hells Angels; ScreenRant, February 10, 2022

JOSHUA ISAAK, ScreenRant; Mephisto's Most Powerful Servant Got Marvel Sued by the Hells Angels

"Hells Angel, appearing in 1992, was named Shevaun Haldane and had quite a traumatic start to her stint in comics when Mephisto brutally killed her father. She was later trapped into serving the satanic villain, but eventually broke free of his clutches. Unfortunately, she couldn't break free of the Hells Angels lawsuit, which stipulated that Hells Angel infringed on their name. Surprisingly, Marvel acquiesced to the gang's demands and changed Shevaun's character name to Dark Angel...but that only landed the company in more hot water when they were the subject of yet another lawsuit.

In addition to donating over $30,000 dollars to charity, Marvel now had to change the name to Dark Angel. Alas, the name was owned by Hart Fisher's Boneyard Press for another comic. Boneyard filed suit and the house that Stan Lee built had a choice to make: either change the character's name yet again, or fold and cancel the publication of Dark Angel. That's the choice Marvel made, and in Issue #16, the Dark Angel brand was put to rest."

Ben Reilly And Miles Morales Continue Clash Over Spider-Man Trademark; Bleeding Cool, December 15, 2021

Rich Johnston, Bleeding Cool; Ben Reilly And Miles Morales Continue Clash Over Spider-Man Trademark

"You couldn't have planned it better, could you? On the 26th of August, Patrick S Ditko, the brother of the late Steve Ditko and administrator of his estate, registered two notices of copyright termination against Marvel Entertainment for the first appearances of Doctor Strange and Spider-Man in comic books. And in the comic books, The Beyond Corporation is fighting to steal/keep the trademark to Spider-Man, granting it to their Peter Parker replacement Ben Reilly, but denying it from Miles Morales."

Marvel's New Spider-Man is Taking The Name from Miles Morales; ScreenRant, December 13, 2021

LIAM MCGUIRE, ScreenRant ; Marvel's New Spider-Man is Taking The Name from Miles Morales

"The Beyond Corporation is using Marvel's newest Spider-Man to make sure Miles Morales doesn't continue using his usual superhero name as a potential legal battle continues to build up. In Amazing Spider-Man #81 by Marvel Comics, the corporation tells Ben Reilly needs him to protect the Spider-Man name and that he's contractually obligated to enforce their trademark against Brooklyn's web-slinger. Reilly begrudgingly agrees, setting up a conflict between Marvel's new Spider-Man and Miles Morales."

Hawkeye Kate Bishop Comic Cover Recreated With Hailee Steinfeld; SCREENRANT, November 29, 2021

Nathan Graham-Lowery, SCREENRANT ; Hawkeye Kate Bishop Comic Cover Recreated With Hailee Steinfeld

"Fan artist Mizuri has recreated the cover to Kate Bishop's solo comic series with Hawkeye's Hailee Steinfeld in his latest piece of fan art. Steinfeld stars as the young hero in the Disney+ series, who trains under original Avenger Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) during the holiday season. The first two episodes of the six-part series were released on November 24...

Australian fan artist Mizuri has shared on their Instagram account a recreation of issue 1 of Kate Bishop's first solo series, 2016's Hawkeye written by Kelly Thompson, and illustrated by Leonardo Romero. The piece recreates Julian Totino Tedesco's artwork but instead incorporates Steinfeld's MCU portrayal into the piece. Alongside the artwork, Mizuri praised the series first two episodes and Steinfeld's character, revealing they chose to do the piece to help test out a new drawing tablet."

Spider-Man trademark battle unfolds in comics as a real life copyright dispute brews in real life; gamesradar+, November 10, 2021

Chris Arrant  , gamesradar+; Spider-Man trademark battle unfolds in comics as a real life copyright dispute brews in real life

"While a legal battle is brewing over the copyright of the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man, a similar trademark battle is beginning to unfold in inside the actual comic books at Marvel."

Marvel Reveals Who Really Owns Iron Man and Mr Fantastic’s First Inventions; Comic Book Resources, October 10, 2021

Amer Sawan, Comic Book Resources; Marvel Reveals Who Really Owns Iron Man and Mr Fantastic’s First Inventions

"WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Deadpool Infinity Comic #1, now available on Marvel Unlimited.

Deadpool's attempt to sneak into a auction for most of the Marvel Universe's villains was prompted by an information leak from the true owners of Iron Man and Mister Fantastic's patents. In the event of their deaths that is. Which has already happened. Quite a few times in fact, so the actual legal rights are a bit up in the air. 

But the question of who owns the intellectual property isn't as important as the question of who Tony Stark and Reed Richards settled upon as the best candidate to look after their life's work. The two geniuses thought it over long and hard and selected Damage Control to be their beneficiary, as revealed in Deadpool Infinity Comic #1, by Gerry Duggan, Lucas Werneck, Geoffo, Rachelle Rosenberg and Joe Sabino."

Peter Parker Losing his Trademark in Amazing Spider-Man #75 (Spoilers); Bleeding Cool, October 6, 2021

Rich Johnston, Bleeding Cool ; Peter Parker Losing his Trademark in Amazing Spider-Man #75 (Spoilers)

"And the Beyond Corporation has the trademark to Spider-Man. Could Peter Parker be in breach of himself right now?"

A Spider-Man Comic Was Written By A.I. And The Result Is Madness; Screen Rant, August 31, 2020

Kevin Erdmann, Screen Rant; A Spider-Man Comic Was Written By A.I. And The Result Is Madness

"Some DC Comics fans may be familiar with the Batman script that's long been trending on the internet created by Keaton Patti. He wrote it using a bot he forced to watch 1,000 hours of Batman films, resulting in a wild and wacky script of epic proportions. Recently, Marvel Comics reached out to Keaton, asking him to have his bot create a Spider-Man story in the same vein as part of their 25th issue of the current Amazing Spider-Man series. The result is one of the greatest and most hilarious short Spidey stories of all time.

The story itself is featured at the end of Spider-Man #25. Titled "Robo-Helpers," it was written by Patti's bot, reportedly after having it read every Spider-Man comic ever, with the art coming from humans Dan Hipp and Joe Caramanga."

Marvel's Kevin Feige Says It's 'Wonderful' to Have X-Men, FF Rights Back; Comic Book Resources, April 16, 2019

Colin Hickson, Comic Book Resources; Marvel's Kevin Feige Says It's 'Wonderful' to Have X-Men, FF Rights Back

"Despite their prominence in Marvel Comics, many fans were disappointed that the X-Men and the Fantastic Four were not included in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since their film rights were owned by 20th Century Fox. However, with Disney's purchase of the rival studio, Marvel has regained access to the two franchises, and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige couldn't be happier.

"The specifics of what it means remains to be seen, but overall it's wonderful and it feels like these characters have come home", Feige said in an interview with Variety. "It will be nice to have what every other [intellectual property] holder that I can think of has, which is access to all their IP.
Imagine if Donald Duck was at another studio. Imagine if Goofy or Moana were someplace else and you didn’t have access to them even though they are yours.""

Shazam! Vs. Captain Marvel: The Bizarre Battle Over a Name; Comic Book Resources, January 27, 2019

Brian Cronin, Comic Book Resources; Shazam! Vs. Captain Marvel: The Bizarre Battle Over a Name

"Eventually, most fans will only known [sic] the hero formerly known as Captain Marvel as Shazam. It's a bit of a shame, but that's how the intellectual property rights fell."

The darker side of Stan Lee’s legacy; Vox, November 14, 2018

Alex Abad-Santos, Vox; The darker side of Stan Lee’s legacy

"As fans, we should celebrate Lee’s work and the wondrous comic book worlds he helped create. At the same time, it doesn’t take away from Lee’s legacy to also acknowledge the comic book writers, artists, editors, colorists, and everyone who worked with him to produce those characters and universes — the people who don’t, and perhaps never will, enjoy the same level of recognition."

How Stan Lee Helped Bring Humanity to Superheroes; Comic Book Resources, November 13, 2018

Brian Cronin, Comic Book Resources; How Stan Lee Helped Bring Humanity to Superheroes

"Spider-Man's introduction in Amazing Fantasy #15 achieved two notable goals. One, it took the idea of Reed Richards' cosmic ray screw-up leading to the creation of the Fantastic Four to a whole other level, as now Peter Parker's selfishness almost directly led to the death of his beloved Uncle Ben, giving Spider-Man a painful reminder why he has to be a superhero and two, it took a teen hero and had him not as a sidekick or a younger version of an older hero, but as THE hero."

Marvel Icon Stan Lee Leaves a Legacy as Complex as His Superheroes; The Daily Beast, November 12, 2018

Spencer Ackerman, The Daily Beast; Marvel Icon Stan Lee Leaves a Legacy as Complex as His Superheroes

"Stan Lee supercharged Marvel Comics into one of the most important cultural forces on the planet. But how much credit does he really deserve?"

Marvel Uses DC Comics to Fight for ‘Jean Grey’ Trademark; Bleeding Cool, February 4, 2018

Rich Johnston, Bleeding Cool; Marvel Uses DC Comics to Fight for ‘Jean Grey’ Trademark

"Marvel was invited to respond to submit evidence that “the applied-for mark is used to identify the goods in addition to identifying the character.”

Oh, and while they were at it, confirm that Jean Grey is not a real living person.

Well, Marvel has now responded, and is using evidence of its claims, almost 700 pages’ worth, of images of valid trademarks — mostly from DC Comics — to make its point.

Which is basically a) yes, we can, b) you’ve done it for other people before, and c) you’ve done it for us before."

How the Copyright Act of 1976 Left Comic Artists, Like Jack Kirby, at the Mercy of Big Studios; New Hampshire Public Radio, 10/24/16

[Podcast] Devan Roehrig, New Hampshire Public Radio; How the Copyright Act of 1976 Left Comic Artists, Like Jack Kirby, at the Mercy of Big Studios:

"Jack Kirby and Stan Lee worked together at Marvel for almost a decade - they came up with the X-Men and the Hulk. And you may have heard of another character Kirby co-created: his name is…Captain America.

But for nearly 20 years Marvel and Jack Kirby engaged in harsh public battle over creative rights and fair compensation."

DONALD TRUMP BECOMES A MARVEL SUPERVILLAIN IN "SPIDER-GWEN"; Comic Book Resources, 7/2/16

Kevin Melrose, Comic Book Resources; DONALD TRUMP BECOMES A MARVEL SUPERVILLAIN IN "SPIDER-GWEN" :

"In an alternate Marvel Universe where Gwen Stacy, not Peter Parker, was bitten by a radioactive spider, and Samantha Wilson is Captain America, the classic supervillain M.O.D.O.K. resembles a certain real estate mogul turned reality TV star turned presidential candidate: Donald J. Trump.

In this week's "Spider-Gwen Annual" #1, writer Jason Latour and "an awesome assemblage of artists" offer a tour of Earth-65 with a collection of short stories that includes She-Hulk as a pro wrestler, the origin of Koala Kommander, and an all-too brief showdown between Captain America and M.O.D.O.K. -- wait, make that M.O.D.A.A.K. (Mental Organism Designed As America's King)."