I just need some info about Superboy (Kon-El)

[nj06]

Okay I was wondering what all of you think about the following statement I found on wikipedia about Superboy:

Even though DC Comics does not own the rights to the "Superboy" name, Geoff Johns and Dan Didio claim the decision to kill off the character had nothing to do with the court case, and that they could have just renamed the character. Following Infinite Crisis, Didio compared Superboy's death to Spock's death in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (who was subsequently resurrected),[49] and he also that was "as dead as Blue Beetle."

-source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conner_Kent

So besides the whole legal battle about Superboy, do you think his character will be brought back , even under a different name, or do you think that he is gone for good?

[Conner_Kent]

I say he will be brought back, does anyone know for sure.....not a chance lol.

See when the lawsuit was in place DC could not print the name "Superboy" in the comics so he was always mentioned as Conner or Kon-El.

Now in the new Last son stroyline they have a new kryptonian boy and are in a way calling him "Superboy" so the legal dispute must be over and DC might have bought or leased the rights back, and hopfully Conner will return some time during WW3 and yell at robin and wondergirl for making out

[umbc8]

Well, since Superboy-Prime is still mentioned occasionally (and I'm pretty sure the addition of the -Prime doesn't change the use of the name), it probably wasn't due to the legal issues.

Since it is the world of comics, of course he could come back. Granted it could be awhile (Hal Jordan and Ollie Queen took about 10 years to come back, Jason Todd took almost 20 years, and Bucky was gone almost 60 years before he returned), but I think he'll come back. He was too big a part of the DCU, and other characters lives, to be forgotten. However, having said all that, Barry Allen is still dead after 22 years and it doesn't look like he's coming back any time soon.

Maybe this next big event the DC is currently counting down to will mark the return of Kon-El.

[SensorBoy]

Just replace him with a Daxamite (Made-in-China version of Kryptonians). They cost like half as much.

[nj06]

I hope he comes back, he was one of my favorite Titans. But, due to legal issues I don't really see that happening anytime soon.

[jadrax]

As I understand it:

A couple of writers have confirmed that DC legal has told them they cannot use Superboy.

The issue is not ownership of the name itself, (AFAIK DC owns the Trademark on that and its not under dispute.) The Issue is the copyright of the concept of Superboy, in all his forms. Simply changing his name does not actually solve that issue in any way.

Basically DC may not have the rights to use a Male Young Kryptonian, (Or any race with similar abilities to a kryptonian,) in there books currently. I am told not only does this specifically covers Young Clark Kent and Kon-El/Conner. It may also cover such characters as Freddy Freeman in his Captain Marvel Junior role, which may have prompted the changes in Trials of Shazam and mandated him not being included in MSOE.

However, most of this is a grey area, as each element would have to be tested in court, which could go either way. Which means although DC/WB seems happy to risk it on some properties (Smallville, Series one of the LOSH Cartoon,) they will not on others. (DC Comics.)