This is the fourth part of a four-part series. You can find part 1 here, part 2 here, and part 3 here.
Superman logo from Action Comics #1
It’s impossible to tell what the ultimate ramifications will be from the Siegel/Time Warner decision. However, there are a couple of developments that we can look to as indicators:
Superboy – In 2004, DC Comics lost the rights to the name and all appearances of Superboy as a derivative work of Superman. DC immediately killed off an active hero named Superboy (even though he was substantially different from the Silver Age version and had a different civilian identity), renamed another character going by the name "Superboy Prime" to "Superman Prime", removed all references to Superboy from their comic books, and changed "Superboy" to "Superman" in the WB’s animated Legion of Super-Heroes program.
Action Comics #1 – In 2013, all rights to Superman’s first appearance revert to the estates of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. This means, if nothing else, they will have to right to shop any movies, TV shows, etc. based on Superman as described in that issues to whatever studios they so choose. But the Siegels and Shusters will only get the copyrights to those original appearances, not the trademarks. So the Siegels can shop the property around, but if that character looks too much like Superman as currently being presented in DC Comics, like the modern representation of the Superman Shield emblem (note the differences between the appearance of the shield in Action Comics #1 and the once from Man of Steel in 1986), DC can actually sue the Siegels and Shusters for trademark infringement.
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Superman logo circa 1986
As far as the comics go, both sides of this war have shown that they are willing to play hardball, so anything could happen. But as of right now, the most likely outcome is that the Siegels and Shusters will allow DC Comics to continue to produce Superman comics under a licensed agreement with the estates, much like they did with the William Marston estate over Wonder Woman. DC will almost certainly have to pay more than the $20,000 they pay to both estates, and the Siegels may have a stronger influence in the direction of the character.
On the other hand, Kal-El is starring in neither Action Comics nor even Superman.
He’s off-world, living on New Krypton, so it’s possible that DC will choose to leave him there, where they don’t have to pay as much. However, DC has tried a “world without Superman” approach before.
It didn’t last.
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