"Stealing" Ideas

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:39 -0700

You know, I just started a post about the movie, "The Incredibles", but I just thought of something else about that movie that's interesting. Do you suppose someone might say that in creating the character of "ElastiGirl" that they "stole" the idea from Mr. Fantastic, the Marvel character from the Fantastic Four.

My point is, you can copyright a character but not a character type. You can't say, "From here on out, nobody can make a superhero that stretches." Of course, I think Plastic Man came first, anyway, and maybe even the Elongated Man.

There is also a character in the movie called Dash who is somewhat similar to the Flash.

Just some food for thought!

Shinobi-no-Ryu · Post by **Shinobi-no-Ryu** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:57 -0700

Oh dear, I have to explain this again, Anyway, Mr. Fantastic was before Plastic Man and Elongated Man, way before. Fan Four was before WWII.

And not only is "Elasti-Girl" similar to Mr. Fantastic, but Mr. Incredible is similar to Ben Grimm or The Thing and the daughter is similar to Ms. Fantastic or the Invisible Woman.

And think about it, the DC universe and Marvel universe has taken each other's ideas SO many times. Hawkeye is to Green Arrow as Captain America is to Guardian, the JLA is to The Avengers as Superman is to Iron Man and Batman is to Spider Man and Daredevil and Sentinel. All very similar ideas.

They didn't steal it from Marvel as much as they sort of paid tribute to it.

The whole idea of the Incredibles is what would happen if Superheroes retired and then had to come back? Right? The characters are "classic" characters that fit the "human" personality of the character. Strong Man, Fast Man, Ice Man, Invisible Woman, Stretchy Woman.

Superheroes have been around for so long that it's nigh impossible to create a new super-power.

miyamoto musashi · Mon Nov 15, 2004 13:59 -0700

heres one

the ability to shoot flowers from calculators.

4NT · Post by **4NT** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 19:14 -0700

Shinobi-no-Ryu wrote: Anyway, Mr. Fantastic was before Plastic Man and Elongated Man, way before. Fan Four was before WWII.

I agree that it is more paying tribute than stealing; after all there are few original ideas out there.

As far as Fantastic Four, it was created by Marvel comics in 1961, long after World War II.
Plastic Man first appeared in "Police Comics" #1 by Quality Comics, created by Jack Cole in 1941. It was later picked up by DC.

Maybe that's what you were trying to say and I just misread it?

Shinobi-no-Ryu · Post by **Shinobi-no-Ryu** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 22:12 -0700

4NT wrote:
Shinobi-no-Ryu wrote: Anyway, Mr. Fantastic was before Plastic Man and Elongated Man, way before. Fan Four was before WWII.
I agree that it is more paying tribute than stealing; after all there are few original ideas out there.

As far as Fantastic Four, it was created by Marvel comics in 1961, long after World War II.
Plastic Man first appeared in "Police Comics" #1 by Quality Comics, created by Jack Cole in 1941. It was later picked up by DC.

Maybe that's what you were trying to say and I just misread it?

Yeah my dyslexia kicked in. My fault. Sorry.

Sebastian · Post by **Sebastian** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 7:06 -0700

"The Incredibles" are a parody, when you do a parody you don't steal the idea, at least that's how I think. Of course you can't steal an idea and then say you made a parody.

miyamoto musashi · Tue Nov 16, 2004 15:17 -0700

dyslexics of the world untie!