SUPER HERO WARS: Spawn vs Ultraman

Probably why McFarland wanted to cut him out of profits... Ego.

 

He'd probably say Ultraman - just to have a rare "in" with Sci's shrewdest entity Toho..

 

There are many versions of what happened. This is wiki

Dispute with Neil Gaiman[edit]
In 1993, McFarlane contracted Neil Gaiman to write Spawn #9. While doing so, Gaiman introduced the characters Cogliostro, Angela, and Medieval Spawn. All three characters were designed and co-created by Todd McFarlane and continued to be featured in the series after Gaiman's involvement, and some had tie-ins with McFarlane's toy company. Cogliostro had a prominent role in the live-action movie in 1997. McFarlane had agreed that Gaiman was a co-creator of the characters and paid him royalties for reprints, graphic novels, and action figures.[19] After a few years he ceased the payment of royalties and gave Gaiman notice that he owned all rights to the characters, citing the copyright notice from #9 and claimed that Gaiman's work had been work-for-hire and that McFarlane was the sole owner.[20]

In 2002, Gaiman filed suit against McFarlane and in response McFarlane counter-sued. Gaiman had partnered with Marvel Comics to form Marvels and Miracles, LLC which bankrolled the lawsuit.[19] The main goal was to determine the issue of ownership for another character Gaiman felt he had a stake in, Miracleman, which at the time McFarlane was believed to hold a sizable stake in after his buyout of the assets of Eclipse Comics. This issue was thrown out. Instead the court chose to rule on the breach of contract issue, the rights of ownership, and the copyrightability of the characters from Spawn #9. Several arguments were presented by McFarlane and all were rejected, leading to a sizable judgment against McFarlane andImage Comics.[19] The matter went to appeal and the judgment was upheld in a 2003 decision.[18][20]

Gaiman's rights as co-creator and co-owner of Cogliostro, Angela, and Medieval Spawn were acknowledged.[20] The court's view was that Gaiman and McFarlane's collaboration led to each contributing half of the work.[20] Gaiman wrote the story while McFarlane illustrated the character; because of this each held a 50% stake in the characters. Issue 9 was reprinted for the first time since the lawsuit was filed in the hardcover edition of Spawn Origins: Volume 1. In a reprint collection of the first twelve issues of Spawn, the contentious issue (along with Dave Sim's #10, featuring copyrighted character Cerebus) was excluded, but both issues have been reprinted in the hardcover and deluxe editions Spawn Origins: Volume 1.

 

To be fair, the only people who rewrite characters, backstories and general lore more than the comic culture is Toho. Heck they have rewritten Godzilla's backstory a dozen times - not to mention every time a popular enemy is featured he has a new back story. One time Ghidrah is from outer space, another time he is Japan's take on Chinese god/dragon lore and other times he created and controlled by villains from the future etc.
Toho created Ultraman from the UltraQ universe saying he is basically an otherworldly hero who gives away his powers due to remorse over accidentally killing a human (Hyata - who we know as the original Ultraman).
At one point we find out Ultra is entirely an energy source then later the Ultras are space gods.. At some point they are probably a dream and another they are entirely made of mushrooms (Matango).
Take your pick..