We had a chance to listen to the Alan Moore interview on Fanboy Radio, and in it he dropped a bit of a bombshell into the already ravaged crater that is the rights situation of Marvelman/Miracleman. You’ll recall that this long unavailable comics classic is unavailable because the rights are in dispute among Todd McFarlane, Neil Gaiman and possibly others. McFarlane and Gaiman already had one lawsuit with the rights as part of the stake, and further legal wrangling has crawled along.
The character of Marvelman was actually created by Mick Anglo, a British comics packager of the 50s and 60s. According to Moore, he wrote his version of Marvelman with the understanding that the rights to the character “had lapsed into receivership with the bankruptcy of the company that had published his adventures.That was the entire basis upon which I wrote my Marvelman stories.”
However, now, says Moore, “We’ve since found out that apparently this was all a pack of lies from the beginning.” Anglo had never lost the rights.
Anglo is still kicking at age 90. It’s believed that relatives (perhaps the Len Miller’s niece of this LitG report?) are helping him get back the rights – which he may have had all along – would then put him in clear ownership of the Marvelman material, and possibly lead the way to it returning to print.
Moore was hopeful but the situation sounds like it is far, far, far– like, way far — from being resolved. And thus, one of the great battles of comics continues on another front.
If Anglo has ownership, he wasn’t fully aware of it when I talked to him for my book seven years ago. Perhaps he has some rights since the property originated from him, but I highly doubt that it would be the original publisher’s family trying to help him. I’m positive that it is Mick’s family helping him and that’s probably a good thing.
It’s important to remember that Dez Skinn did deal with Anglo when the Marvelman revivial started in the early eighties. Mick even remembered some incidents about Eclipse.
What book is that, George? Plug it, baby!
That would be George’s fantastically good Kimota!, a very thoroughly researched and highly readable history of Marvelman/Miracleman. If you’re remotely interested in the character, you really need to read this.
It’s a story I have on the back burner…
Personally, I would argue that Miracleman/Marvelman was created by Bill Parker & C. C. Beck, since he was obviously a rip-off of the original Captain Marvel.
“Bombshell?” “Rip-off?” “Backburner”
Sound like New York Post headlines.
Heidi, Kimota has been out of print since 2003. After the first book came out, there was to be a second edition, with new material, if the relaunch ever occured… but there isnt’ really anything major to report. There’s little things happening behind the scences but nothing that appears to bring the book closer to print; I have been meaning to write an article about the history of MM since 2000.
If he owned it then he never lost it and doesn’t have to get it back.
You can only assign copyright to someone else in writing.
If he didn’t assign it then he has it now and doesn’t need to battle at all.
Since he probably DOESN’T own it (work for hire for publisher) and never stepped up to protect it before because he probably doesn’t own it this is more MOORE bullshit.
And before you get on my jock because of my superior knowledge…
Alan Moore disowns Hollywood because of the LEAGUE lawsuit at Fox, disses people and returns his money for Constantine and Vendetta and then agrees to be a Simpsons voice- for FOX? Biggest Hypocrite Ever!
“Alan Moore disowns Hollywood because of the LEAGUE lawsuit at Fox, disses people and returns his money for Constantine and Vendetta and then agrees to be a Simpsons voice- for FOX? Biggest Hypocrite Ever!”
It’s just harmless fun, lighten up dude you sound like Dez Skinn!
I know I will be buying the comic when it comes back you can bet on that.