Should I change the name?

Planet Revels · Jan 3, 2007

My current WIP is a crime novel that's based mostly in Prison. The main character is the villain. He's an Irish-AMerican criminal named "Marco Flynn".

You may know the third Spider-Man movie is coming out this summer. One of the villains in the movie is "Sandman". Sandman's real name as you may know is "Flint Marko". I didn't realize this when I started writing my novel. I'm over half way done with it, but it seems like I should just change the name and avoid anything. It's too bad though, because the name really grew on me as did the character. The name fits him too.

Any suggestions?

veinglory · Jan 3, 2007

If you hadn't pointed it out the connection would not have occured to me.

Planet Revels · Jan 3, 2007

What if the guy's name was Kent Clark?

veinglory · Jan 3, 2007

More like Ken Cluck, given your example--which would be enough to kill the sense of familiarity entirely.

Linda Adams · Jan 3, 2007

By the time you finish it, submit it around, get it published, the movie will probably be ancient history (I remember someone commenting that a five year old movie was "so old!").

johnzakour · Jan 3, 2007

I sure don't see it as a problem at all.

Inkdaub · Jan 3, 2007

I think the name is fine. Is the Sandman related to Juggernaut? Juggernaut's name is Cain Marko.

Chasing the Horizon · Jan 4, 2007

Well, I don't watch Spider Man so the names could be exactly the same and I still wouldn't know. Even if I did, I wouldn't care. The only thing with names that bothers me is when I'm reading a book and one of the characters has the same name as one of my characters. I keep getting confused.

*note to self: next time choose more unusual names than 'Jack' and 'Rose'!*

kristie911 · Jan 4, 2007

I wouldn't worry about it. Leave it. If your agent or publisher has a problem with it, they'll ask you to change it then.

J.S Greer · Jan 4, 2007

Marvel could have a problem if it actually sells, because the similarities are too close to be coincidence. That damn subconcious...

MidnightMuse · Jan 4, 2007

Took me a minute to see the correlation, maybe I'm slow today.

Shaddup.

But I'd leave it alone and let your agent decide when the time comes. Even Kent Clark took me a few seconds, and it still wouldn't bother me, unless your character also worked at a newspaper for his day job while wearing silly tights and a cape in his off-time.

ChaosTitan · Jan 4, 2007

Marvel won't care. You're fine.

Begbie · Jan 4, 2007

Unless your MC turns into sand (is that what Sandman does?), I wouldn't give it a second thought.

Akuma · Jan 4, 2007

You're fine. Even if someone discovers your "secret", they'll more than likely just see it as a little quirk put in by the author.

Besides, who cares about a superhero/villain's real name? I mean, I love it if people dropped my name and called me Venom.

Or Carnage.

Or Shredder.

Oh, God, that would be so bad ass.

Carmy · Jan 4, 2007

I can't see any need to change your MC's name.

farfromfearless · Jan 4, 2007

I recently acquired the name "fridge" at work (accidentally tackled out communal fridge), that's about as bad ass as I'm gonna get these days.

PeeDee · Jan 4, 2007

I'm a comic book geek, and that connection still would never have crossed my mind. You're fine.

I've always hoped to meet someone in real life who's really named Eddie Brock (Venom). But alas, I never have.

LeeFlower · Jan 4, 2007

you're fine-- that name's not close enough to be a problem at all.

If it was a story about a superhero/villain who had similar powers or a similar storyline, there'd be an issue. But under the circumstances, I really don't see why Marvel would even care. There's no way it could possibly damage their sales, after all.

Planet Revels · Jan 7, 2007

Thanks everybody. I thought about it, and I'm actually kind of happy with it. I know alot of screenwriters in hollywood (Kevin Smith, Tarantino, etc.) give names to characters to pay tribute to the things that they admire.

Brickie · Jan 8, 2007

One thing that struck me though - He's Irish-American and his first name is Marco?

Fair enough, people pick names from different ethnicities. But moving in Irish-American circles, people are going to assume, when he tells them his name, that he's Mark O'Flynn.

Maybe that can be worked into the story, but it's worth noticing - he would.

PeeDee · Jan 8, 2007

Brickie said:
One thing that struck me though - He's Irish-American and his first name is Marco?

Fair enough, people pick names from different ethnicities. But moving in Irish-American circles, people are going to assume, when he tells them his name, that he's Mark O'Flynn.

Maybe that can be worked into the story, but it's worth noticing - he would.

....that's a great detail, and you should definitely consider using it. I love that.

Planet Revels · Jan 9, 2007

Funny you mention that. Never really crossed my mind. Thanks alot. The guy's name is actually Marc, but his dad always called him "Marco".

Should I change the name?

Planet Revels

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Planet Revels

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Linda Adams

Soldier, Storyteller

johnzakour

Dangerous with a Keyboard

Inkdaub

wrapped in plastic

Chasing the Horizon

Blowing in the Wind

kristie911

Happy to be here

J.S Greer

Feel the power!

MidnightMuse

Midnight Reading

ChaosTitan

Around

Begbie

Quite a character

Akuma

Rare Writer Pokemon

Carmy

farfromfearless

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

LeeFlower

Lurker Extraordinaire

Planet Revels

Brickie

just ... don't ask

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

Planet Revels