Using other comics in my own

jessegrillofilm · Dec 24, 2010

I was wondering if I was able to refer to other comics in my own. My comic is about a comic collector and I wanted to have quite a few panels showing his comic collection. Am I able to show a spider man comic or will I get sued? Can I just make up fake comics that are lifts of these comics? Maybe a wolverine type character with 5 claws or something like that? How can I protect myself that won't affect the story.

BigWords · Dec 24, 2010

You can use covers in that way, as long as you don't actually have your character interacting with the copyrighted characters in any way (i.e. a dream sequence) - there are a few indie titles out there which have used this device already.

jessegrillofilm · Dec 25, 2010

Alright, lets say I have a Kick Ass style comic where the hero steals aspects from other comics. Would I be able to use real characters or would I have to create fake characters? Lets say he reads a wolverine comic and wants to steal the claw idea. Could I use actual wolverine?

BigWords · Dec 26, 2010

Claws are fair game. Not only has the idea been used by Wolverine, there is Tim Vigil and David Quinn's Faust, and I'm sure there was a parody "Wolverine" in Cerebus - If you are going to have the MC use elements of the comics he reads, then it is probably better if you use the idea of the blades in the hands, but not the character of Wolverine specifically.

Max Vaehling · Jan 28, 2011

Sometimes it's necessary for a story that the character you're referring to is that character. If that's the case in your story, go for it and claim artistic license if anybody asks. But as BigWords said, don't use them AS characters.

If it doesn't have to be this specific character, you may be safer creating a similar one. Also, if that character is a Disney character.

Using other comics in my own

jessegrillofilm

BigWords

Geekzilla

jessegrillofilm

BigWords

Geekzilla

Max Vaehling