Edit: so far Shuma Gorath (from Marvel’s Dr Strange in 1973) is the only example. Know another? Please let us know
According to Wikipedia, the Beholder is a Dungeons and Dragons original creation and it is copyrighted. Its first appearance was in 1975.
In case you are not familiar with these, a beholder is basically a floating eye with tentacles that also have eyes, often able to shoot rays off the eyes. You have probably seen some similar creature type in a myriad other media such as videogames, tv shows and whatnot.
Now I’m really surprised something like this only surfaced in the 70s. Is there anything similar in any type of media or culture prior to the 70’s? The only thing that pops to mind is the ancient biblical angels with abstract forms and many eyes, but I’m hoping someone here can show me more and better examples.
Or not. I don’t know.
I wonder if they had to pay to use something similar in Big Trouble in Little China.
iirc Wikipedia doesn’t mention Big Trouble in Little China as copyright infringement, but it mentions that example as something similar, whereas other media does get mentioned as infringing copyright.
Apparently the only one who got to use a beholder as such and not get a lawsuit was Pixar, who managed to get permission from WotC. I guess this means both have similarly strong lawyers
Did Wikipedia mention that what it sees, Lo Pan knows?
I wonder if they could have been inspired by the writings (and some illustrations) of HP Lovecraft? I’m no lore expert there, but a Beholder wouldn’t be out of place by the side of some of the others.
