History Trivia / DeathsHead

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes:
** Collected editions and digital comics mean that as of 2022, ''almost'' all of the ''Death's Head'' stories are, finally, easily available, including ''The Body in Question'' Marvel UK graphic novel, the ''ComicBook/DeathsHead2019'' series, most of the ''ComicBook/DeathsHead1988'' series, most guest appearances and his 'death' in the first ''ComicBook/DeathsHeadII'' series.
** As of June 2023, all stories featuring licensed characters are omitted from reprints and digital editions - which covers his initial guest appearances in ''Transformers'' and ''Doctor Who Magazine''. [[Characters/DoctorWhoSeventhDoctor The Doctor]] guest starred in one issue of the 1988 series, which is also unavailable as a digital comic and hasn’t been reprinted since the original licensing agreement ended.
** The original reprint of the 1988 series, ''The Incomplete Death's Head'' included some new framing sequences which are no longer available. These mostly focus on ComicBook/DeathsHeadII rather than the original character.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: As per Marvel UK editor John Freeman, licensing arrangements for the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' comic mean that if Marvel hadn't secured copyright beforehand, Death's Head might have been Hasbro property. He might still have been able to make guest appearances in other comics, and might even have been allowed a solo title - but, like ComicBook/RomSpaceKnight, he would then have been erased from the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, ExiledFromContinuity and, potentially, rebooted as part of the IDW shared universe for the Hasbro characters.
* WordOfGod from Creator/SimonFurman is that his VerbalTic is modelled on a RealLife British politician, though he's refused to reveal who it is.

** Collections and digital comics mean that as of April 2022, ''almost'' all of the ''Death's Head'' stories are, finally, easily available, including ''The Body in Question'' Marvel UK graphic novel, the ''ComicBook/DeathsHead2019'' series, most of the ''ComicBook/DeathsHead1988'' series, most guest appearances and his 'death' in the first ''ComicBook/DeathsHeadII'' series.
** However, the stories featuring licensed characters are omitted - which covers his initial guest appearances in ''Transformers'' and ''Doctor Who Magazine''. The Doctor guest starred in one issue of the 1988 series, which is also unavailable as a digital comic and hasn’t been reprinted in recent collections.
** The original reprint of the 1988 series, ''The Incomplete Death's Head'' also included some new framing sequences which are no longer available. However, these mostly focus on ComicBook/DeathsHeadII rather than the original character.
* PopCultureUrbanLegends: Multiple sources, including Creator/SimonFurman himself, allege that Marvel maintained Death's Head's rights by rushing out a one-page comic (commonly referred to as "High Noon Tex" after a line spoken by Death's Head in the strip) that was featured in various other Marvel UK comics before his ''Transformers'' debut, circumventing the company's agreement with Hasbro. However, artist Bryan Hitch's signature in the final panel reads "Hitch '88", indicating that it wasn't drawn until the year after Death's Head debuted in ''Transformers'', and there's no actual indication that the strip was published until May of 1988, meaning that Marvel likely engaged in some other chicanery to keep Hasbro away from Death's Head.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: As per Marvel UK editor John Freeman, licensing arrangements for the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' comic mean that if Marvel hadn't done whatever they did to lock down the character's rights, Death's Head might have been Hasbro property. He might still have been able to make guest appearances in other comics, and might even have been allowed a solo title - but, like ComicBook/RomSpaceKnight, he would then have been erased from the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, ExiledFromContinuity and eventually rebooted as part of the IDW shared universe for the Hasbro characters.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: Downplayed.
** Collections and digital comics mean that as of April 2022, ''almost'' all of the ''Death's Head'' stories are easily available, including ''The Body in Question'' Marvel UK graphic novel, the ''ComicBook/DeathsHead2019'' series, most of the ''ComicBook/DeathsHead1988'' series, most guest appearances and his 'death' in the first ''ComicBook/DeathsHeadII'' series.

* PopCultureUrbanLegends: Multiple sources, including Creator/SimonFurman himself, allege that Marvel maintained Death's Head's rights by rushing out a one-page comic (commonly referred to as "High Noon Tex" after a line spoken by Death's Head in the strip) that was featured in various other Marvel UK comics before his ''Transformers'' debut, circumventing the company's agreement with Hasbro. However, artist Bryan Hitch's signature in the final panel reads "Hitch '88", indicating that it wasn't drawn until the year after Death's Head debuted in ''Transformers'', and there's no actual indication that the strip was published until May of 1988 - in an issue of ''Transformers'', no less - meaning that Marvel likely engaged in some other chicanery to keep Hasbro away from Death's Head.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: As per Marvel UK editor John Freeman, licensing arrangements for the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' comic mean that if Marvel hadn't done whatever they did to lock down the character's rights, Death's Head might have been Hasbro property. He might still have been able to make guest appearances in other comics, and might even have been allowed a solo title - but, like ComicBook/RomSpaceKnight, he would then have been erased from the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, ExiledFromContinuity and eventually rebooted as part of the IDW shared universe for the Hasbro characters.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: As per Marvel UK editor John Freeman, licensing arrangements for the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' comic mean that if Marvel hadn't rushed out the "High Noon Tex" one page story, Death's Head might have been Hasbro property. He might still have been able to make guest appearances in other comics, and might even have been allowed a solo title - but, like ComicBook/RomSpaceKnight, he would then have been erased from the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, ExiledFromContinuity and eventually rebooted as part of the IDW shared universe for the Hasbro characters.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The licensing arrangements for the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' comic mean that if Marvel hadn't rushed out the "High Noon Tex" one page story, Death's Head would have been Hasbro property. He might still have been able to make guest appearances in other comics, and might even have been allowed a solo title - but, like ComicBook/RomSpaceKnight, he would then have been erased from the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, ExiledFromContinuity and eventually rebooted as part of the IDW shared universe for the Hasbro characters.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The licensing arrangements for the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' comic mean that if Marvel hadn't rushed out the "High Noon Tex" one page story, Death's Head would have been Hasbro property. He might still have been able to make guest appearances in other comics, and might even have been allowed a solo title - but, like ComicBook/RomSpaceKnight, he would then have been erased from the Franchise/MarvelUniverse and ExiledFromContinuity when they lost the rights.

** However, the stories featuring licensed characters are omitted - which covers his initial guest appearances in ''Transformers'' and ''Doctor Who Magazine''. The Doctor guest starred in one issue of the 1988 series, which is also unavailable as a reprint or digital copy.

** The original reprint of the 1988 series, ''The Incomplete Death's Head'' included some framing sequences which have been omitted.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The licensing arrangements for the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' comic mean that if Marvel hadn't rushed out the "High Noon Tex" one page story, Death's Head would have been Hasbro property. He might still have been able to make guest appearances in other comics, and might even have been allowed a solo title - but, like ComicBook/{{ROM}}, he would then have been erased from the Franchise/MarvelUniverse and ExiledFromContinuity when they lost the rights.

** The original reprint of these stories, ''The Incomplete Death's Head'' included some framing sequences which have been omitted.

** KeepCirculatingTheTapes: Downplayed.

** WordOfGod from Creator/SimonFurman is that his VerbalTic is modelled on a RealLife British politician, though he's refused to reveal who it is.