The context is three women supporting their friend as she's dying of cancer.And is that John Byrne helping Tom Batiuk out on art?
More possible Byrne on "Funky Winkerbean": here and here
Batiuk's use of superheroes to illustrate the heroisms people perform every day -- whether it's facing a disease, supporting a friend, or overcoming a fear -- is a wonderful & positive use of the genre.
It isn't like Byrne hasn't been aped before, and it's not like the man is disinclined to demand a credit.
ReplyDeleteMan though, could the guy have skirted the line of copyright infringement anymore? Huntress, Wonder Woman, and a specifically undeniable She-Hulk. Afraid the banner of satire wouldn't be protection enough?
Oh, and shout out to H-Town! Wah-whut! :)
ReplyDeleteSee, I thought "Raven/Big Barda" for the first one; but the other two, damn, that is awful infringy, at least to my completely unlawyerly eyes. As for the She-Hulk, can you own "green chicks"? I think the Wonder Woman is the most identifiable. Anyhow, I was just ruminating on it.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Marvel or DC will sue, because otherwise it would come off as "We do not support helping your cancer-ridden friends!!!"
ReplyDelete>It isn't like Byrne hasn't been aped before, and it's not like the man is disinclined to demand a credit.<
ReplyDeleteBut Byrne drew Funky Winkerbean for a couple of months when Batuik was off sick, so if it looks like Byrne art in Winkerbean, there's a really good chance that it is.
It is Byrne. He did four strips for, all dealing with super-heroes.
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