Comments on: SDCC ’09 | Robot 6′s Marvelman 101 guide

By: PTLindy

PTLindy — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:32:16 +0000

Funny thought, since Marvelman itself was a intentional ripoff of Captain Marvel (owned by Fawcett, now Time Warner via DC Comics), could DC turn around and sue Marvel for some form of copyright/trademark infringement? Wheee!

By: Dave B

Dave B — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:49:02 +0000

Leaving aside the possibility of completing the Gaiman arc, probably the most exciting prospect in all of this for many of us old-timers is to finally see some of the original Mick Anglo Marvelman again.

There’s only ever been a few isolated stories re-published or scattered about the net, and copies of the classic Marvelman, Marvelman Family and Young Marvelman with art so reminiscent of great Golden Age series are almost impossible to find (not to mention expensive and normally in grotty condition).

With over 700 issues between them, this must make the 1954-1963 Marvelman run the least available comics series around.

Shame …. but ever hopeful

By: Capper7

Capper7 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 21:12:24 +0000

There are also potential tradmark issues, which are separate from copyright issues. McFarlane may own the trademark for “Miracleman,” so keeping that name may not be an option. That might also explain the use of the original “MM” symbol – because the newer version may be a trademark owned by McFarlane. However, if McFarlane has any ownership rights in the copyright to the materials because of his purchase of assets from the Eclipse bankruptcy, those rights are likely tainted by the failure of Dez Skinn to properly obtain the right to use the character from Angelo in the first place. If all of the work in the 1980′s and 1990′s was an infringment of Angelo’s copyright, Marvel may now own all of the rights to those stories. I’m not sure about the intricacies of copyright law, but that may be the case. Marvel might just side to publish them and see who sues them.

By: Eric Sean

Eric Sean — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 01:08:51 +0000

Yeah, I noticed the same thing.

By: Rob Hansen

Rob Hansen — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:45:31 +0000

If you look at the ‘MM’ on Marvelman’s chest in the Quesada drawing you’ll note that it’s the original Mick Anglo one from the 1950s and *not* the modern one as seen on the covers reproduced above. That newer design would presumably have been owned by first artist on the Warrior series Garry Leach. This suggests that Marvel might not have acquired all the tights associated with the character after all since I can’t imagine using the older, cruder design was done as a matter of preference.

By: MIRACLEFAN

MIRACLEFAN — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:44:14 +0000

I wish they’d keep the name MIRACLEman.

By: Jack Tango

Jack Tango — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:14:44 +0000

Honestly? I don’t care all that much about this, not for reprint value, the possibility of ending the storyline, or introducing the character into the Marvel Universe.

I’ve read the Moore stuff and enjoyed it greatly, and yes, it’s disappointing that Gaiman didn’t get to finish his storyline but, honestly, this is a pastiche property being dusted off and trotted out for a quick buck. Miracleman/Marvelman worked under Moore and Gaiman because it was the Superman Archetype, under the Captain Marvel style, doing things those characters would never do. This is as exciting, to me, if Marvel bought Supreme from Rob Liefeld and started reprinting those.

I dunno; they bought some Alan Moore/Neil Gaiman stories. The character, as he is, isn’t much of anything. Just a legal landmine for the past few decades.

Now, I know I’m in the minority on this, but that’s cool. To each their own and, obviously, your mileage may vary.

By: Fanboy

Fanboy — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:14:34 +0000

I just found the first six issues of Alan Moore’s run, and I’m really excited at the prospect of getting the rest of this series. I already bought that Marvelman shirt marvel has been selling. Should be interesting to see what they do with the character.

By: Scavenger

Scavenger — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:28:29 +0000

I’m hoping they wind up keeping him as Miracelman, as I think it’s a much better name than MarvelMAn.

By: notme

notme — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:02:09 +0000

You missed another source of (Marvel/Miracle)man information, a resent episode of iFanboy

By: Christoffer

Christoffer — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:59:39 +0000

Thanks for the info! I just might pick up the trades if the old stuff is ever released

By: Philip A Moore

Philip A Moore — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:56:22 +0000

I also don’t think you would have a problem with Alan Moore because he gave his rights to to Gaiman wich is a moral victory and one that Alan would respect even if it isn’t worth anything on legal paper

I for one will look forward to seeing Gaiman and buckingham togeather again not just because he did Miracle Man but because Bucking ham stile has improved and has more experience to draw on (no pun intended) the same goes with neil this will be a much better book then it would have been because of this

good day

By: Philip A Moore

Philip A Moore — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:40:54 +0000

What alot of people don’t know and it wasn’t published here is that Marvel Man was Alan Moores main reason for not working for Marvel. he got ticked that they sued over the name name Marvel Man as far as his attetude he has siad in at least one interview that if they helped fix the Marvel Man mess he might work with them.

Joe Que actully tried to fix the problem and it seemed like by gone were by gones but then that was before a printing accsedent with the Captain Britain trade paper back were they for got to give Alan special recognition

Good day

By: mckracken

mckracken — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:38:18 +0000

miracleman by moore reads good, but still adolescent power fantasy at its core.

and yuck those gaiman follow up issues are crap. (though to be fair most of gaimans purple kitsch prose is not my cup of tea)

By: J. Jonah

J. Jonah — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:42:57 +0000

Yeah, Mark Buckingham’s work in Marvelman is more beautiful than his work today. However, I think he merely altered his style for Fables to suit the stories – which proves what a huge talent he is.

By: ColdSlither

ColdSlither — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:43:38 +0000

Actually, this is incorrect. He was originally called Marvelman and Marvel made them change the name because it was not their property. So he was changed to Miracleman. Now that Marvel owns him, it is Marvelman once again.

By: DrunkJack

DrunkJack — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:38:20 +0000

I do believe I have a complete set of Miracleman Apocrypha (a 3 issue series of Miracleman related short stories by some top notch talent, framed by Gaiman and Buckingham) somewhere, I know I have at least the first issue (with the James Robinson/Kelly Jones Kid Miracleman story, which lives up to the character’s disturbing nature). And I was able to read a copy of the whole series.

People will not believe Mark Buckingham’s early work, it’s a world away from what he is known for now.

By: Will Dockery

Will Dockery — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 11:53:53 +0000

This is some good stuff… I’ll be sending people here who ask simply “Who is Marvelman/Miracleman?!?” which i expect to hear a bit of as I rave about upcoming events, good and bad.