Why were DC characters removed from Twisted Toyfare Theatre?

[Joe Henderson]

Is there an official explanation, beyond "certain legal issues" (which is all Wikipedia has to say about it)?

[Ryan Elliott]

DC has a stick up there ass.

[YouStayClassy]

I don't think the higher ups at Time Warner were happy with their properties being used in the off color humor of the mag. But that's just my speculation.

[Ray G.]

Yeah, this kind of stuff happens a lot with big companies. I guess this is one time when Marvel's "Fratboy atmosphere" is for the best.

[Vonn Hennigar]

Because Paul Levitz hates you.

[Brad N.]

Unfortunately it looks like Wizard needs better lawyers. Given that it's parody there isn't a damn thing DC can say or do about it legally. My guess though was DC had a stick up their asses and said something like no more supporting the magazine, no more exclusives, interviews, news, or cons or something to that effect. Wizard tucked their balls away and said "yessir"

[Thudpucker]

DC has a stick up there ass.

where ass?

[YouStayClassy]

Unfortunately it looks like Wizard needs better lawyers. Given that it's parody there isn't a damn thing DC can say or do about it legally. My guess though was DC had a stick up their asses and said something like no more supporting the magazine, no more exclusives, interviews, news, or cons or something to that effect. Wizard tucked their balls away and said "yessir"
I like to think they said "Yes Sir, Sirity Sir!"

[Ryan Elliott]

where ass?



It's been a long day.

[ItsDLEVY]

Unfortunately it looks like Wizard needs better lawyers. Given that it's parody there isn't a damn thing DC can say or do about it legally. My guess though was DC had a stick up their asses and said something like no more supporting the magazine, no more exclusives, interviews, news, or cons or something to that effect. Wizard tucked their balls away and said "yessir"

It's not a matter of how good their lawyers are - it's a matter of how much money they can devote to the battle. TimeWarner could keep Wizard in court forever, racking up legal fees until the whole organization is bankrupt. Even if they're "right," they might not be able to support the battle (and all the appeals) to prove it and recover their costs.

[The Cheap-Arse Film Critic]

More and more, DC seems to be the personification of your elderly Grandfather who just doesn't understand these modern times...

[The Hodag]

The official explanation is that DC's heroes barely escaped a death trap of fart, sex, and homo jokes. Even Darkseid's dungeons looked inviting by comparison. Be happy for them.

[The Hodag]

More and more, DC seems to be the personification of your elderly Grandfather who just doesn't understand these modern times...

Eh, is it really any different than Marvel shutting down websites left and right years ago? Or suing City of Heroes because players could create Wolverine lookalikes?

[The Cheap-Arse Film Critic]

Eh, is it really any different than Marvel shutting down websites left and right years ago? Or suing City of Heroes because players could create Wolverine lookalikes?

In a way, because there were genuine copy right infringement issues there. They went about it in a heavy-handed way, but they had a legal standing to do so. What Wizard does is parody, which, if done correctly, makes it exempt from most of those worries. DC made them stop simply because they didn't like their characters being part of the joke.

[The Hodag]

In a way, because there were genuine copy right infringement issues there. They went about it in a heavy-handed way, but they had a legal standing to do so. What Wizard does is parody, which, if done correctly, makes it exempt from most of those worries. DC made them stop simply because they didn't like their characters being part of the joke.

It's a bit curmudgeonly of 'em, but Wizard appears to've bent over to accomodate even when they were within their rights to continue. Not surprising from the Entertainment Tonight of comics, really. Scoops first, integrity second.

As for DC, I've got plenty of problems with 'em, but given that they've got Morrison on All-Star Superman and Seven Soldiers, that they'll take on risky projects like Solo and Plastic Man, that they have a functioning manga division, and that they boast a progressive line of mature readers comics that shames Marvel's MAX imprint, it's hard for me to think of them as the old man of the biz. Maybe in comparison to Fantagraphics, but not Marvel.

[kylethoreau]

Wizard is are bunch of damn bitches IMO, yeah I read the mag, but that's mainly for a lack of a better substitute. I wish something like Amazing Heroes would make a return.

and yeah it's parody, I think all that happend was DC make a little stink and Shamus came down and said no more DC parodies (since the tone in the strip indicates that they want to, but aren't allowed to by policy)

What's sad is Wizard used to be great, it's still good, for the most part, except for the unbalanced coverage (hell it took a MOVIE for Wizard to even give Harvey Pekar a real interview, and I don't even think someone like Chynna Clugston has ever been even mentioned in the magazine EVER)

ok sure, once in awhile they release Wizard's Edge, a mag that became a joke the second Optimus Prime popped up on the cover.

Wizard needs to realize that they're the publics MAIN pipeline into this community and act accordingly, focusing on the BIG THREE (DC,Marvel,and Image) isn't doing anyone any favors.

but that's just me.

I'm also in favor of dumping the price guide (or make a seperate mag JUST for that) and dump the toy shit, they have Toyfare dammit, and focus on the comic industry. But that's just me.

[nihilance]

Sure Wizard had a legal leg to stand on...but seeing as how DC is 40% of their bread and butter...did they really want to continue using DC characters in TTT at the possible loss of DC cooperating with exclusives and interviews? The arguement could be made that DC had as much to lose by not participating with Wizard, but how hard would it be for Time Warner to start a competing comicbook magazine that could put Wizard out of business...especially if it was the only place you could get exclusive and preview DC info?

[greg donovan]

It's a bit curmudgeonly of 'em, but Wizard appears to've bent over to accomodate even when they were within their rights to continue. Not surprising from the Entertainment Tonight of comics, really. Scoops first, integrity second.

As for DC, I've got plenty of problems with 'em, but given that they've got Morrison on All-Star Superman and Seven Soldiers, that they'll take on risky projects like Solo and Plastic Man, that they have a functioning manga division, and that they boast a progressive line of mature readers comics that shames Marvel's MAX imprint, it's hard for me to think of them as the old man of the biz. Maybe in comparison to Fantagraphics, but not Marvel.


i dont think integrity is even in second place on wizard's list. maybe 4th or 5th. maybe.

[NickT]

I'm confused, why exactly is it so terrible that Wizard didn't piss DC off?

[Marcdachamp]

What pisses me off is that Toyfare can't do it, but Robot Chicken (which airs on a network owned by AOL Time Warner) can. That's utter bull shit.

It's sad, because the TTT strips with DC characters were awesome. It has provided Toyfare with some good joke fodder, though.

[Evan the Shaggy]

I hardly notice. As long as the Thing is pulling down his pants and yelling, "Here are two more slices for ya Margaret, HAW HAW!" I'm gold.