Archie's New Editorial Exec Opens The "New Crusaders"

[Blade X]

Too bad Archie lost the rights to The Fly.

When and how did this happen?

[EmperorKell-El]

I can't wait for this series, man.

[emb021]

[QUOTE=The Valeyard Too bad Archie lost the rights to The Fly.[/quote]

When and how did this happen?

Recently. To Joe Simon. Simon was the one who created The Fly and the Lancelot Strong Shield for Archie years ago. I can only assume that part of the deal was ownership or part ownership of the characters, tho why his estate demanded them back now I have no idea.

[Ed Love]

More than likely has to do with the changes in copyright law. With the last extension, a provision was added that for characters created by freelancers and sold to the companies, the creators could get the rights back or the companies had to pay and renew the contracts. For example, DC paid Martin Nodell for Alan Scott and the Green Lantern concept all over again. In this case, the company and the creator did not reach an amicable deal and the characters are back with Simon. However, Archie does get to own the rights to derivative works such as Fly-Girl and presumably the name Fly-man. This means Simon's character is stuck as a kid who turns into an adult hero ala Billy Batson, a concept shortly abandoned when other creators took over the title for Archie and had Thomas Troy grown up. And, Lancelot Strong cannot be referred to as the Shield.

[Jeremy A. Patterson]

Charlton Vs. MLJ takes a look at the many looks of the Shield: http://charltonvsmlj.blogspot.com/20...er-shield.html

J.A.P.

[Alex A Sanchez]

I love the design for Fireball- it's hard to nail an original "fire power guy" costume. I just got a new iPad- can't wait for this!

[Professor Moriarty]

I love the design for Fireball- it's hard to nail an original "fire power guy" costume. I just got a new iPad- can't wait for this!

have to give them credit, considering the original Fireball costume, they didn't have much to work with.

[An Ear In The Fireplace]

Why doesn't Archie simply pay the Joe Simon estate for the use of The Fly? The property isn't worth anything to the estate unless someone uses it--and what better publisher to use The Fly than the one that published the original adventures? Win-win all around.

[jsf]

have to give them credit, considering the original Fireball costume, they didn't have much to work with.

No doubt. The guy looks like the original Blue Beetle without a mask.

[idkidd]

Why doesn't Archie simply pay the Joe Simon estate for the use of The Fly? The property isn't worth anything to the estate unless someone uses it--and what better publisher to use The Fly than the one that published the original adventures? Win-win all around.

I hope they do come to an arrangement like that to benefit jointly in the use of the character. It'd be interesting to know how the family (or other families of creators) view situations like this: the odds are that there is very little money to be made from "The Fly" and, if any money DOES eventually come, it likely will be far off. The challenge, I imagine, is having a relationship with the estate where you can explain this to them and they actually BELIEVE you and not think you are just out to screw them like so many others. Then, develop an arrangement where you can both benefit should lightning strike. But FIRST, the publisher has to decide if any of this is actually WORTH this headache: maybe it's better to just come up with a homage knockoff character or variation of some sort and just move forward from there. Fun stuff!

Regarding this relaunch though, I am SUPER excited and I LOVE the design of "Fly-Girl" -- in fact that image is now my desktop background!

[Ed Love]

Why doesn't Archie simply pay the Joe Simon estate for the use of The Fly? The property isn't worth anything to the estate unless someone uses it--and what better publisher to use The Fly than the one that published the original adventures? Win-win all around.

With, Archie having little success in past years with the heroes they own outright, they may be loathe to pay for a license to another since they have plenty gathering dust. If their new take is successful, they might start looking to the Fly and Lancelot Strong again.

Or, it could be simply that as Dynamite found out with Fighting American, Joe Simon has the right and is willing to say "no". It's possible his heirs might be more agreeable, but Archie still has to be interested in doing so.

I wish Archie would get it for simply I like the "adult" Thomas Troy better. Kids that turn into adult heroes are hard to do right (although the Parobeck drawn IMPACT version was a lot of fun) and will always seem to be a little too Captain Marvel.

[An Ear In The Fireplace]

Maybe with the Avengers movie, some studio will want to capitalize on the idea by doing the Crusaders.