What it was: Rarely will you see DC and Marvel working in collaboration together, the Big Two of the comics industry being in even fiercer competition now each is owned by a larger multimedia conglomerate (Warner Bros and Disney, respectively). Getting them to cooperate for the rare crossovers like JLA/Avengers is a feat in itself. The one time they've been in perfect harmony was when they decided to use their considerably sway to copyright the term superhero. Yes, DC and Marvel hold the joint legal rights to the term, meaning that nobody but them can publish or produce any merchandise, comics, books, or films that use the world. What it changed: Anybody who publishes a comic about superheroes outside of DC and Marvel can't use the word superhero. At least, not in any of their product names or descriptions. The Big Two make a killing on slapping cease and desists on anybody who does try to the most recent victim being indie book A World Without Superheroes.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
