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Who owns superheroes?

Inspired by Dynamo 5 #10

For years, it seemed like comic books owned superheroes by virtue of being the introductory medium. For a long time it seemed like Marvel Comics and DC Comics exclusively owned superheroes (even going so far as to trademark the words “superhero” and “super-hero”).

Nowadays, many people would claim that Hollywood owns superheroes. Lately, superheroes seem to be most lucrative as fodder for movie scripts. Then again, maybe licensing owns superheroes. Go to your local dollar discount store, Target, and Wal-Mart - Marvel and DC characters are plastered on everything from t-shirts to backpacks to mugs to bed sheets to pajamas to cake decorations.

But at the end of the day, I think fans own superheroes. The beauty of the superhero concept is that these larger-than-life protagonists are metaphorical for the latent potential we all have inside of us. The reason Dynamo 5 can be an incredible interpretation of the superhero without being published by the Big Two, without a movie, and without licensing? It’s written and visualized by fans.

The passion behind the creation of the Dynamo 5 is evident in every issue. It’s a testament to the creators’ love for superheroes and their amazing possibilities. Without the fans, there would be no one to watch the movies, no one to buy the pens and trinkets, and certainly no one to run Marvel or DC. Just like tall tales and mythology, it takes a devoted audience for storytellers and artists to bring superhero dreams to life.