When it comes to comic book history, Marvel has always been a pioneer in pushing creative and legal boundaries. One of the most unusual episodes took place in the mid-1970s, when Marvel Comics actually tried to trademark the word **“Zombie.”**
## The Rise of Marvel’s Zombie Craze
During the early 1970s, horror was making a big comeback in comics. After the relaxation of the Comics Code Authority, publishers began experimenting with darker and more supernatural themes. Marvel saw an opportunity and launched *Tales of the Zombie* in 1973, featuring Simon Garth, a classic horror character revived for the modern age. The series tapped into the growing fascination with horror, voodoo, and undead storytelling.
Its success gave Marvel the confidence to make a bold move—claiming ownership of the word “Zombie” itself.
## Marvel’s Trademark Filing in 1975
In 1975, Marvel Comics filed a trademark application for the word **Zombie** in relation to comic books. For a brief period, they were granted the trademark, which technically meant that other publishers couldn’t freely use the word “zombie” in their comic titles.
This was an unusual move because “zombie” wasn’t a Marvel creation—it had existed for centuries in folklore, literature, and even earlier films like *White Zombie* (1932). Still, Marvel’s strategy was simple: by holding the trademark, they could dominate the market for zombie-related comics during a time when horror was hot.
## The Problem with Trademarking a Common Word
While Marvel initially secured the trademark, it quickly became clear that enforcing it was nearly impossible. The word “zombie” was already widely used in pop culture, spanning books, movies, and even music. Enforcing the claim meant Marvel would have to legally challenge countless creators using the word in their works—an impractical and costly task.
As a result, Marvel’s hold on the trademark weakened over time. By 1996, the company had officially lost the claim to “Zombie,” and the word returned fully to the public domain of creative usage.
## Why the Trademark Failed
1. **Generic Term** – “Zombie” was already a common word tied to folklore and entertainment long before Marvel.
2. **Cultural Explosion** – The 1970s saw an explosion of zombie movies and books, making exclusivity impossible.
3. **Cost of Enforcement** – Even if Marvel wanted to fight, the number of infringers would have made lawsuits endless.
## Legacy of the Attempt
Though Marvel lost the trademark, their effort is still a fascinating footnote in comic book history. It highlights how competitive the industry was in the 1970s and how far Marvel was willing to go to secure dominance in new genres.
Today, the word “zombie” is everywhere—in comics, video games, music, and blockbuster films like *World War Z* and *Zombieland.* Had Marvel somehow succeeded, pop culture history might look very different, with one company controlling one of the most iconic words in horror.
Marvel’s attempt to copyright—or more accurately, trademark—the word “Zombie” in 1975 shows the strange overlap between creativity and business in the comic book world. While they briefly held the rights, the term was simply too widespread to lock down.
In hindsight, the failed trademark became a win for fans and creators everywhere, allowing “zombie” stories to thrive across all media without restriction. Marvel may have lost the legal battle, but they remain a key player in keeping the undead alive in pop culture.
