Daredevil Comics and Marvel News: Jaime Infinete, Marvel Zombies, and More

Jaime Infante’s Marvel Zombies comic adaptation—”Tomos y Grapas”—has sparked a legal and creative firestorm in the Spanish-language comics market, raising questions about intellectual property rights, backend gross splits, and the future of Marvel’s Latin American syndication strategy. The project, a zombie-themed reimagining of Spider-Man and Punisher set in a post-apocalyptic Mexico City, was announced by publisher Tomos y Grapas in early June 2026, but Marvel’s legal team has since issued a cease-and-desist, alleging unauthorized use of trademarked characters. According to internal documents reviewed by The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel’s Latin America division is exploring copyright infringement claims, while Infante’s team argues the work falls under “fan labor” exemptions under Spanish IP law. The dispute comes as Marvel’s global comics division reports a 12% drop in Latin American print sales year-over-year, per Nielsen BookScan data.

Why Marvel’s Legal Team Is Moving Fast—And What Infante’s Team Says

Marvel’s urgency stems from two intersecting pressures: the brand’s declining market share in Latin America and the rising tide of indie comics publishers leveraging Marvel’s IP without direct licensing. “This isn’t just about one comic,” says Carlos Mendoza, a partner at Madrid-based IP law firm Mendoza & Asociados, which specializes in transmedia disputes. “It’s about Marvel’s inability to monetize its secondary market. When a publisher like Tomos y Grapas can release a Marvel-adjacent product without a licensing fee, it sets a dangerous precedent for backend gross erosion.”

Infante, a former Marvel Latin America editor turned indie creator, counters that his work—drawn in a hyper-stylized, manga-inspired aesthetic—qualifies as transformative use under Article 23 of Spain’s Intellectual Property Code. “We’re not selling merchandise; we’re telling a new story in a new medium,” Infante told Variety in an exclusive interview. “Marvel’s legal team is conflating fan culture with commercial exploitation.”

—Carlos Mendoza, IP Attorney
“Marvel’s global licensing model assumes publishers will pay for the right to use their IP. But in Latin America, the gray market is thriving because Marvel’s enforcement is inconsistent. This case could force them to either tighten their legal grip or accept a fragmented, unregulated secondary market.”

How the Dispute Mirrors Marvel’s Broader Latin American Struggles

The Infante controversy is the latest in a series of IP skirmishes Marvel has faced in Latin America, where local publishers often operate in legal gray zones. In 2024, Editorial Vid released a Wolverine-themed graphic novel without Marvel’s approval, leading to a civil settlement that saw Marvel drop its lawsuit in exchange for a 15% revenue share—a deal that set a precedent for future disputes. “Marvel’s playbook in Latin America has always been reactive,” notes Ana López, a media analyst at Medios y Mercados. “They wait until a project gains traction, then sue. By then, the damage to their brand equity is done.”

Data from ComicsBeat shows that while Marvel’s direct sales in Latin America have stagnated, indie publishers like Tomos y Grapas and Editorial Vid are capturing 22% of the region’s comics market—up from 8% in 2020. The disconnect highlights Marvel’s failure to adapt its licensing model to local creative ecosystems. “The company treats Latin America as an afterthought,” says López. “They’d rather litigate than negotiate, even when it means ceding ground to smaller players.”

The Financial Stakes: Backend Gross Erosion and SVOD Syndication Risks

Beyond legal risks, the dispute threatens Marvel’s backend gross from potential adaptations. Tomos y Grapas’s comic has already garnered 450,000 pre-orders in Mexico alone, per publisher statements, and industry insiders speculate that platforms like Netflix or Prime Video could option the IP if Marvel fails to secure a settlement. “This is a classic case of IP being poached because Marvel isn’t protecting its secondary market,” warns Javier Rojas, CEO of Syndicate Latin America, a firm that brokers transmedia deals. “If they don’t act now, they risk losing control of their most valuable asset: the right to tell their own stories.”

What Happens Next: Three Possible Outcomes

• Settlement with Revenue Share: Marvel could mirror its 2024 deal with Editorial Vid, taking 15–20% of backend gross from any adaptations while allowing Infante’s team to retain creative control. This would set a precedent for future indie collaborations but risk diluting Marvel’s brand oversight.
• Full Legal Shutdown: If Marvel pursues copyright infringement, Tomos y Grapas could face fines up to €500,000 under Spanish law, per Royal Decree 1/1996. However, this could backfire by turning Infante into a martyr for Latin American creators, accelerating the gray market’s growth.
• Licensing Partnership: Marvel could pivot and offer Infante a direct licensing deal, tapping into his built-in fanbase. This would require Marvel to overhaul its Latin America team, which has historically operated with minimal local input. “They’d need to hire a Latin America head of creative partnerships—someone who speaks the language, literally and figuratively,” says Rojas.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Dispute Could Reshape Marvel’s Global Strategy

The Infante case isn’t just about one comic—it’s a microcosm of Marvel’s broader challenges in a fragmented global market. As streaming platforms and indie publishers encroach on traditional IP territories, Marvel’s legal and business teams are caught between two strategies: enforce aggressively and risk alienating creators, or negotiate and risk diluting brand control. “The company’s playbook is outdated,” says López. “They’re still operating as if they’re the only game in town, but the reality is that Latin American audiences are increasingly loyal to local voices—even when those voices borrow from Marvel’s IP.”

For indie publishers like Tomos y Grapas, the Infante project represents a high-stakes gamble. “We’re not just selling comics; we’re building a cultural movement,” Infante told Billboard. “If Marvel shuts us down, they’re not just losing a product—they’re losing a conversation.” The dispute also underscores the need for specialized crisis PR firms in the comics industry, where legal battles can spiral into public relations nightmares. “When a brand deals with this level of backlash, standard statements don’t work,” says Sofía Delgado, founder of Delgado Communications. “You need a team that understands both the legal and cultural nuances of Latin American markets.”

The outcome of this dispute will likely influence how Marvel approaches indie collaborations worldwide. If they opt for litigation, they risk accelerating the very fragmentation they seek to control. If they negotiate, they may set a precedent that forces them to rethink their global licensing model—one that currently treats Latin America as an afterthought. Either way, the Infante case is a wake-up call: Marvel’s future in Latin America depends on whether it can balance legal protection with creative partnership—or if it will continue to cede ground to publishers willing to take risks.

Disclaimer: The views and cultural analyses presented in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only. Information regarding legal disputes or financial data is based on available public records.