Gaiman and McFarlane clash over Spawn comic book rights

Usually cataclysmic battles between the forces of good and evil, right and wrong are consigned to the pages of comics. Not any more.

A bitter feud has spilled into the drawing rooms this week, as world renowned author Neil Gaiman has accused illustrator and arch-nemesis Todd McFarlane of stealing ideas for characters on the Spawn series.

Gaiman is the creator of The Sandman, one of the best-selling graphic novels and also the award-winning fantasy novel American Gods. McFarlane, is a Canadian artist who had previously illustrated for Batman and The Incredible Hulk.

The two were once friends and collaborators on Spawn which has been successfully turned into a TV series and a blockbuster movie over the years. Talk of a sequel are said to be far advanced.

British born Gaiman says McFarlane owes him for a demon detective and two bikini-clad angels they created together for the classic comic series, but said he will give any money he wins to charity.

His lawyer, Allen Arnsten has confirmed Gaiman’s position on the matter saying, “Our view is McFarlane just took some of the characters Neil was a co-creator of and just gave them different names. It’s a matter of principle.”

McFarlane has been quite equivocal about the whole disagreement and the impending court case saying, “I try not to get overly worked up about it.”

“Somebody smarter than all of us will tell us where this all will land.”