TMC
11-03-2014, 03:19 AM
http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2014/11/02/comic-book-questions-answered-why-arent-there-any-marvel-comics-on-the-big-bang-theory/
The thing that I think confuses most people is that CBS has no real connection either way to DC or Marvel Comics, so it seems weird that they would have a preference either way. However, the hook is that CBS does not own the show, Big Bang Theory – CBS just airs it (and make advertising revenue off of it). The show itself is owned by Warner Brothers, who also own DC Comics, which is why you mostly see DC Comics products on the show and almost never Marvel Comics (although occasionally you’ll see them use Marvel merchandise like Hulk hands).
Note that this only for visual stuff. Trademarks. You can talk about, say, Spider-Man or Wolverine, all you want. You can’t just show a Spider-Man or Wolverine comic book without permission. And since the show is owned by Warner Brothers, they just stick with DC Comics for the trademarked material (plus Dark Horse Comics).
For instance, when Raj dressed as Thor, note that he is NOT dressed as the trademarked Marvel Thor, but rather just a generic version of the mythological being…
And when Amy, Bernadette and Penny get into a big discussion about how Thor’s hammer works, they never actually show them with a Thor comic book.
The thing that I think confuses most people is that CBS has no real connection either way to DC or Marvel Comics, so it seems weird that they would have a preference either way. However, the hook is that CBS does not own the show, Big Bang Theory – CBS just airs it (and make advertising revenue off of it). The show itself is owned by Warner Brothers, who also own DC Comics, which is why you mostly see DC Comics products on the show and almost never Marvel Comics (although occasionally you’ll see them use Marvel merchandise like Hulk hands).
Note that this only for visual stuff. Trademarks. You can talk about, say, Spider-Man or Wolverine, all you want. You can’t just show a Spider-Man or Wolverine comic book without permission. And since the show is owned by Warner Brothers, they just stick with DC Comics for the trademarked material (plus Dark Horse Comics).
For instance, when Raj dressed as Thor, note that he is NOT dressed as the trademarked Marvel Thor, but rather just a generic version of the mythological being…
And when Amy, Bernadette and Penny get into a big discussion about how Thor’s hammer works, they never actually show them with a Thor comic book.