alternatehistory.com

I have posted this idea around six years ago, but I thought I would repost it because I recently had a couple thoughts. According to former Marvel Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, Bill Sarnoff, Executive VP of Publishing at Warner Communications offered to license the publishing rights of DC Comics' characters to Marvel in 1984. Though Shooter had written a proposal that would publish seven titles (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Justice League, Teen Titans, and Legion of Super-Heroes), Marvel president Jim Galton ultimately told WB that they were not interested because "the characters didn't sell."

Assuming that a random ASB changes Jim Galton's mind, what would affect the comic book, and possibly the entire entertainment industry?

The gears have been turning in my head for a while, but I have not been able to muster enough ideas to write a proper TL, but there were a couple that I wanted to share:

This article mentions that once a company reaches a 70% market share, they are in danger of being sued as monopoly. Marvel (according to shooter) had around a 69% with DC had 18%. Had this agreement gone through: Marvel would have a 87% market share if you combined it with DC's, but it is also possible that Marvel's share could go past 90% if their DC line proved successful.

That same article mentions that First Comics (a minor publisher during the 80s) sued Marvel for monopolistic practices OTL. Assuming that First files an anti-trust suit in this hypothetical scenario, how would that go? Perhaps some other smaller companies (like Comico) would join in the suit to unsure Marvel's downfall.

Another wrinkle I want to add in is Cadence Industries' liquidation that led to Marvel's sale to New World Entertainment in 1986. Assuming that a lawsuit exacerbates Cadence's demise, would that result in Marvel getting chopped up with the pieces sold off to separate buyers if the courts rule in First's favour? I would assume that DC's character's would revert back to Warner if that is the case.

Lastly I wanted to posit this as well (paging @Nivek and @RySenkari where I contribute to their TL): would the Marvel lawsuit establish a precedent for Nintendo's anti-trust suit, and possibly a harsher ruling against Big N.

That's what I have at the moment, thoughts?
Top