Friday 8 August 2014

Valiant They Were....Until They Got Cancelled.

Now, back in 1998, Valiant They Were was to be a fanzine with a comic strip featuring all the old IPC/Fleetway characters.  Approved by both companies.

Issue 1 was printed but then I got a call from the printer that he could print no more because of copyright infringement.  WHAT?

IPC and Egmont had been kept informed from day one, they had seen the strip-work and mock-up issues and even got pre-printing copies and no problems.  So WHY was there a problem now, after I had spent money getting copies printed (I only ever got the roughs as the printer destroyed all the printed copies fearing a legal suit!).

It seems that a slimy, toady little person somewhere in middle England, had told IPCs Intellectual Properties (copyright) department that I was using old copyrighted strips without permission.  No one had thought to check with the very top of the company.  So, 112 pages lie gathering dust.

I was told by IPC and its THEN owners that they were in no legal position to issue a desist order since copyright (as we know) was very questionable because of "the way things were done back then" -now the very top person at IPC says they want nothing to do with comics though they do maintain a library etc..

So why did I not go ahead then?  Because I said "**** it!" If slimy little toads seem to populate the 'industry' and had nothing better to do well screw 'em. The series may be used (its all secret -non-disclosure) but here is a chance to see the mock-issue covers except for number 3 and why not number 3....you'll need to wait to see/read.

So, slimy, Midlands toad -up yours!  (oh, and it may have been (I'm told it was) this very person who caused Paul Grist problems with IPC regarding the use of The Spider in Jack Staff).





2 comments:

  1. These covers look cool, Terry: the slimy Midland toad has dried up by now - the ALBION try has failed,
    so now it's time to do this again ! If there's still existing work ( not just the covers ) send it my way (mini sized scans that I can enlarge ) -there may not be enough for a series, but there should be enough to make a nice one off comic. The back story and the nostalgia alone should get it a few sales.

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  2. Greasy little bastids still going and trying to cause problems. But you know mw -it might take ten, twenty or thirty years BUT I will have my revenge and enjoy it.

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