The countdown is on for Superman fans, with the Man of Steel officially entering the public domain in 2034. But even if that means anyone can create a Superman comic, TV show, movie, or video game, DC points to one single advantage they have over their coming competition.

It’s not an easy argument to make, as DC’s sole ownership over the world’s most iconic (and valuable) superhero is running out. When speaking about DC’s future during NYCC 2025 (via PopVerse), DC President, Publisher, and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee addressed the elephant in the room:

“Yes, characters will fall into public domain. It’s already happening. We’ve all seen these unsettling knockoffs of Mickey Mouse floating around online. But here’s the truth: the character isn’t the magic. The storytelling is. The world-building is. Owning Superman isn’t the same as understanding Superman — knowing how he moves, how he speaks, what he stands for.

“Anyone can draw a cape. Anyone can write a hero. That’s been around as long as comics have been, and it’s called fan fiction. There’s nothing wrong with fan fiction. It shows how deeply these characters live inside all of us. But Superman only feels right when he’s in the DC universe, our universe, our mythos. That’s what endures. That’s what will carry us into the next century.”

It’s not an easy argument for anyone to make, but Lee offers a clear stance from Superman’s soon-to-be former owner. Even if Superman becomes fair game, the universe in which he ‘truly belongs’ does not.

When Superman Goes Public, DC Still Believes Only They Have The ‘Right’ Version

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No matter what your perspective, the moment DC loses copyright to Superman and Batman will be industry-changing, forever shifting pop culture (at the very least). As the face of the brand and company, there was never a chance Jim Lee would offer a panicked, extreme, or worried response to how DC was viewing the issue.

That being said, Lee makes a point often overlooked by those immediately dreaming of Superman joining the Marvel Universe, or someone greenlighting an alternate Superman movie. Even if there is an explosion of non-DC Superman products and entertainment, DC’s own slate of Superman comics and films will continue as planned.

David Corenswet's Superman waving as a robot treats him in the Fortress of Solitude — David Corenswet’s Superman waving as a robot treats him in the Fortress of Solitude

It’s fair to expect that once other comic publishers or studios begin their own adaptations (since “anyone can draw a cape”), consumers are likely to still refer to the ‘real, actual, canon, or main’ Superman as the DC version. As Lee reminds skeptics, that will still be the only version who actually exists within the larger Justice League universe fans expect.

Some are sure to disagree with Lee’s words, bristling at the implication that “fan fiction” is somehow lesser, inherently, with a writer “knowing Superman” a quality which DC still claims a unique ability to identify. A claim as intangible as the idea that a Superman story featuring only the Man of Steel may be less valuable, or feel ‘less right.’

Stay tuned to ScreenRant for more breaking news from NYCC.