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Since the late 1960s, two comic book publishers have had an edge on using the term “Super Hero” – but not anymore.
According to Reuters, a U.S. Trademark Office tribunal canceled a set of “Super Hero” trademarks jointly owned by Marvel and DC. For those who need a refresher, Marvel is home to the Avengers and in recent years has become even more well-known through the Marvel Cinematic Universe. DC is home to Superman, Batman and the rest of the Justice League.
Though the two companies are rivals, Marvel and DC jointly own four federal trademarks covering the terms “Super Hero” and “Super Heroes,” per the Reuters report. It said the oldest of which dates back to 1967.
That was 50 years after the term “superhero” appeared in 1917 in newspaper reports about people going above and beyond to do good deeds, according to Comic Book Resources. Later, the phrase popped up in an advertisement for the Doc Savage radio serial. Comic Book Resources’ research indicates that “Super Hero” was first used in 1941’s Star Spangled Comics #7 from DC.
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