Not certain. The author is a game designer, writer, and player so it's possible he might have had more than a little contact with the game.

However, I recall that there was at least one superhero group that used the name, The Champions, and as far as I can tell there was never action taken by the comics group, Marvel, against the RPG makers.

I think in a case like this the use of such a generic name and, more or less, standardized characters might invite the attention of the legal staff but they might also conclude that it would not be worth pursuing.

pgavigan