We usually don't report on this sort of thing. However,
The Flash and the original
Batman television shows are certainly among the most-wanted-on-DVD series here at this site. The ramifications of the following toward DVD releases would seem to be obvious, both for the John Wesley Shipp TV series, and presumably for the 3rd season of the 1966 run of
Batman as well. Here's the dirt:
Newsday is reporting that Carmine Infantino, former President of DC Comics and creator of the Barry Allen version of The Flash, "
wants a federal judge to declare that he, not DC parent Time Warner Inc., owns the rights to the fastest man alive. Infantino says in his suit that he's also the creator of Batgirl, and he wants a court to acknowledge that too." The article goes on to discuss this in detail:
Infantino, who's won numerous awards for his illustrating, says his most famous character is the second incarnation of The Flash, whose real name is Barry Allen. He says he developed the character while working as a freelance artist.
The Flash was recreated by Infantino in 1956, when Allen, a police scientist, was splashed with chemicals and struck by lightning, leaving him with super-human speed, according to the Web site Comic Art & Graffix Gallery.
Infantino also takes credit for reviving the Batman comic in the 1960s, by giving the crime-fighter a new look and creating his fellow superhero, Batgirl. Infantino subsequently joined DC Comics, becoming president in 1973, the suit says.
(Infantino's lawyer, Nicholas) Perrella said Infantino gave DC Comics permission to use The Flash in comic books, not in other media.
The last sentence sounds an ominous note for DVD release of the 1990 run of
The Flash. Even though this show, and the Adam West version of
Batman as well, had been cited by Warner
in their last chat with the Home Theater Forum as not being targeted for release at this time, this new development throws an extra monkey wrench into the works. This issue will clearly have to be resolved before any new home video releases can be considered for
The Flash, and
Batman could release at most two seasons worth of episodes before running into this obstacle.
We are certainly not taking sides here at TVShowsOnDVD; if Infantino has been taken advantage of, then we certainly want justice to be done. If a court decides he owns these characters, he certainly should participate in their fate on home video, and in all other media. On the other hand, if Warner/DC owns these characters fairly and squarely, that's fine with us as well. The fans, of course, are the ones who have to take things slowly, while we wait on the fate of the fastest man alive.
Our thanks to the fine folks at
ToonZone.net for the heads-up about this interesting story.
