Supermanin theMarvelUniverse? It’s not as preposterous as it sounds, though one Senior Editor at the publisher noted the logistical difficulties it might present. Withthe rights to the Man of Steel entering public domain in ten years, integrating their own version of theDChero into Marvel lore is something they could do, but will they?
A fan raised the question inthe Q+A section of Marvel Editor Tom Brevoort’s weekly Substackpost, and though Brevoort treated the idea as a long-shot, he also coyly noted “you never know.”
Meaning, Marvel might not have plans to appropriate Superman now, but a lot of things can change over the course of a decade.
The Original Superman Becomes Public Domain In 2036; Could He Show Up In The Marvel Universe?
Marvel Editor Tom Brevoort Rates The Chances As Unlikely (But Not Impossible)
As the far-flung year of 2036 draws closer and closer, the fact that theearliest incarnation of Supermanwill enter public domain has become an increasing fascination for comic book fans. Several notable figures in the comic industry, includingDeadpoolcreator Rob Liefeld, have even expressed their intention to use the character when the copyright lapses.
So, it is natural that readers might wonder whether Marvel has considered the possibility of adding public domain Superman to the Marvel Universe. Editor Tom Brevoort, whose tenure with the company stretches back decades, fielded this question on Substack, and he gave this answer:
Well, you never know, Jeff, but I think it’s unlikely that Marvelwould start using Superman at that point, simply because protecting your own specific interpretation of the character once he’s a public domain figure can be a bit challenging. And why would you invest resources in a character and a property that you can’t readily use safely across all lines of business?
Brevoort’s response, though only speculative for now, offers a fascinating insight into the logistics behind such a move.
That is, it’s as simple as just writing Superman into Marvel lore. Marvel’s Superman would need to be legally distinct from DC’s, and that is what is “challenging” about the possibility, according to Brevoort. And even if the publisher were up to the challenge, there is still the matter of whether the move is good business.
Marvel Isn’t Likely To Risk Burning Its Bridges To DC Just To Get Its Hands On Superman
But Only Time Will Tell
Marvel and DC Comics have a nearly century-long rivalry for domination of the comic book industry, but at the same time, they have collaborated numerous times. Fans already have an idea ofwhat Superman in the Marvel Universe would be likebecause of the companies' crossovers over the years, with a new one coming soon.
If Marvel were to replicateDC’s most famous hero, it would certainly sour relations between the companies. So, more than the potential legal challenge,the damage that would be done to Marvel’s relationship with DC is probably the most prohibitive barrier to a public domain version of Superman joining the Marvel Universe.
Yet, as even Tom Brevoort said, “you never know.” The dynamic between DC and Marvel might be totally different in 2036, or anambitious creator like Jonathan Hickmanmight have pitched a revolutionary Marvel Superman story that the publisher couldn’t pass up. So, unlikely as it might be, fans will continue to speculate aboutMarveldoing its own version ofDC’sSuperman.
