Comic Book RIP-OFFS Are NOT a Big Deal! || Comic Misconceptions || NerdSync

One of the most recurring debates between comics fans is what character is or isn't a shameless rip-off of another character. Whether it's Marvel vs. DC or vice versa, people can always find some way to attack or defend characters from either side. But honestly, does it even matter? Today, we're taking a look at what it truly means to be "original" and how everything was inspired by something that came before it. So, is it really a big deal when one publisher steals from another?

Every Wednesday, Comic Misconceptions explores the incredible stories, fascinating ideas, and mind-blowing theories regarding comic books and the rich history and culture that surrounds them!

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RELATED VIDEOS:

Is Deadpool a Rip-Off of Deathstroke?

Who Owns the "Captain Marvel" Name Rights?

Was X-Men a Rip-Off of Doom Patrol?

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SOURCES:
Superheroes!: Capes, Cowls, and the Creation of Comic Book Culture
Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
Everything is a Remix - Documentary
Embrace the Remix - TED Talk
What is Original? - TED Radio Hour
Where Good Ideas Come From - TED Talk
Where Good Ideas Come From - Short
What Does Technology Want?

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[AvianSavara]

Comics are such a ripoff of cave paintings.

[thehungryshrek]

Just realised something...

Every popular main shonen anime character made after 2004 is inspired by Luffy or Naruto, Luffy and Naruto are inspired by Goku, Goku was inspired by Supeman, Superman was inspired by Hercules, so the greeks invented Shonen anime and Half life 4 confirmed.

[ruyman]

Not only character but also ideas are rip offs. You can argue who was first superhero team up. For example
the avengers(1963),
justice league (1960),
fantastic four (1961),
the mighty crusaders(1965),
the thunder agents (1965),
the league of extraordinary gentlemen (1990)
But none of this can compare to the oldest superhero team up the Argonauts (460-450 BC)

[MarvelandDC]

Technically every fictional character is a rip off. Not just superheroes and supervillains but any fictional character. Everything is unoriginal to some degree and extent. When I first got into superheroes and comics, I never considered Marvel and DC characters copies and rip offs of one another. They're just similar but also original and unique in their own way. In the very end, it doesn't matter.

[NoahWeisbrod]

I suspect that one day Deadpool will refer to himself as a rip-off of Deathstroke. Because that's the kind of thing Deadpool would say.

[bigbadspikey]

"Copying is absolutely fine so long as were the ones doing it"...Fine Bros.

[Jaroolz]

OKAY. I'M GONNA TRACE BACK MY FAVORITE CHARACTER.
THOR= THE NORSE GOD THOR.

[gwkowe]

If we all truly believed rip-offs were inferior, we'd all be driving Ford and using Netscape.

[cursekatana]

I think if the "rip off" is a good character on its own it should be accepted

[frightening_volleyball]

who really cares if is dc ripping off marvel or marvel is ripping off dc what matter is if the character is good or not I dont care that the nova core may or may not be a ripoff of the the green Lantern core

[DANESSJ]

Spider-Man is probably the most unique comic book character ever. Seriously every popular or iconic superhero today has a rip off or an inspiration. Superman = Sentry, Batman = Moon Knight, Namor = Aquaman, Deathstroke = Deadpool, Wolverine = Lobo, Green Arrow = Hawkeye, Flash = Quicksilver.
There is no DC equivalent to Spider-Man, the only one that comes even remotely close is Daredevil but he's a marvel character. I can't think of anyone else who can swing through city sky scrapers and match spidey's athleticism, wall-crawling, wall-running and amazing flexibility (no-pun intended).

[octoaxegames]

Rip-offs are one of my favorite aspects of comics. It's always fun to discuss where the inspiration came from, and I agree with you that it's not really relevant when it's blatantly obvious that a character is a rip-off of another, but it's really fun to point out when it is ;)

[Bryan-drqy]

I don't really care if certain characters like Hyperion draw big inspiration from characters like Superman, I start to get annoyed when the character is handled 100% the same with no changes at all. Dead pool may or may not have drawn inspiration from Deathstroke, but their personalities are completely different.

[AHeroAlmost]

I think I might make my own Youtube channel talking about comics

[bobbydrake]

Scott, I love your channel, and I love the way you always go in so much depth. We should accept even the "rip offs", there is no logical reasoning to explain why we fight so much as fans, when it doesn't have any direct effect on us. And the whole whole DC vs Marvel wars online are kinda silly, because we are all fans of all these characters deep inside us. I actually wouldn't mind digging into the influences of my favorite characters, so exciting. Once again, thank you, for analysing these topics and giving us a new insight into the comic realm.

[joeygustafson]

This video was a huge relief, I've been planning this book I want to write for about three years now and it seemed that every week an original idea I had would end up being very similar to a popular idea or concept. I'm relieved to hear that I can still use all my ideas even though they slightly resemble other pre existing comic books, movies, or tv shows.

[Pikazilla]

This guy on the Goku vs Superman forums said that "Superman is so lame, he never should have even existed"
my reply "well then Goku wouldn't have existed, at least as the same way we know him today"

[jabezcreed]

The only unforgivable ripoff would be if the 2nd character has the same origin story, etc. Like if Marvel had made a Superman ripoff that came from a dying planet, was raised by Earthly parents, had limitless powers, and became a pivotal character in the Avengers. Hyperion is an obviously similar character given a similar origin on purpose, but Marvel never intended him to be Superman. Thus he is not a ripoff. It's borrowing from a sort of archetype alien-hero-among-us that DC created.

[SpencerP]

I'm a songwriter and my favorite quote is

"Good artists borrow, Great artists steal"

[orikane]

I totally agree that Deadpool is a rip-off of Deathstroke, but does it really matter? Deadpool is a parody, a way of comic relief and actually very original. So even though Slade Wilson came first, Wade was a very different cretion. Rip-offs are cool, sometimes :D