Masters of the Universe Classics Lieutenant Andra action figure Used in DC's Injustice Series without proper credit
This commission I made in 2022 reminded me of how artists sometimes don't get credited when a work is just "used" by a big comic book company without giving any proper credit.
Way back in March of 2016 I decided to make a custom Lieutenant Andra for the auctions market. Andra had appeared as a character in the Marvel Star run of comic books but her design was very simple. Naturally, I updated her design by adding certain elements like her skirt (Which is a cast of the Thor figure, mixed with Wonder Woman parts) etc.
Lieutenant Andra as seen in the Marvel Star Masters of the Universe #9 issue: "The Hate Stones" in September 1987
The auction ended and for a few years, that was it, until in 2018, the Injustice DC vs MOTU crossover event was published. By that point I had stopped buying comic books so it wasn't until 2020 when a customer commissioned me a LT. Andra that I realized my design had been used without permission, nor credit to the original designer: ME.
Neither DC Comics, nor the artist Freddie Williams II contacted me, or asked permission to use my design, which you can CLEARLY see was lifted from my creation:
I didn't pursue any legal action, nor counsel. Not sure I even have a case. At the moment I felt a bit of flattery (As I wrote back then) I was even advised by a prominent artist to keep my mouth shut and not make a fuss about it, but as the fight for artist's rights has increased, I feel I should not keep my mouth shut with how displeased I was to find this.
Many customizers are getting their works stolen by big companies, and nobody says anything.
Last year, one of the final commissions I took was for Andra for my friend Penny Dreadful and of course I could not refuse. The updated design just has a better ponytail and tiara that were donated from a Mara figure.
I recounted the whole ordeal in the video so it remains for future generations to see.
Needless to say, this was an INJUSTICE.
Watch the video here:
