Troubling Times

Glen: Outsiders have kidnapped some of our property. We must respond with our deadliest weapon.
Jane: [Sinister] The lawyers.

The Simpsons, Episode 5F23, "The Joy of Sect."

Marvel comics is suing the online computer game City of Heroes, according to Gamespot. Apparently players of that game have created characters that bear a striking resemblance to Marvel properties Wolverine and the Hulk. Said one Prominent Marvel Spokesman. "I have one word for those punks over at City of Heroes. It's Clobbering Time." Which is three words, but since I made that statement up, it's ok.

Seriously though this is bad news. If Marvel can pull this off, how can online roleplaying games survive? How much money could the Tolkien estate get if they sued everybody who created character that were reminiscent of the characters in the Lord of the Rings?

Anyway it's a troubling action on the part of a company that also gives us 18 X-Men related comics a month. Still they did finally give old Chuck Austin the ax, so I guess they aren't all bad.