My Public Domain Timeline

This is a list I have compiled specifically for my project at publicdomainsuperheroes.com to give readers an idea of the scope of the plans for the universe I've created.

 

Ideally, every single one of these 200+ characters will one day appear in books, comics and multi-media projects within the Public Domain Super Heroes canon.

The list is divided into two major parts. First, those characters already in the public domain.

In some cases, the listed character's public domain status may be unclear or arguable. This list is not a legal document and anyone considering using public domain characters in their work should educate themselves on copyright and trademark law before proceeding. Also keep in mind that privately operated platforms such as Amazon are under no obligation to treat disputes over copyright or trademark the way a court would, so in most cases they're likely to side with the party with the most lawyers at their disposal.

Any character or team marked with an asterisk is one where the public domain status is particularly uncertain and legally fraught.

Characters in BOLD are already published in at least one Public Domain Super Heroes novel or short story.

Part 1 - Characters Already In The Public Domain:

Pre 1900:

Dr. Victor Frankenstein - Mary Shelley (1818)
Frankenstein's Monster - Mary Shelley (1818)
Captain Nemo – Jules Verne (1870)
Allan Quatermain – Cassell (1885)
Sherlock Holmes – Arthur Conan Doyle (1887)
Dr. John Watson - Arthur Conan Doyl (1887)
Professor Moriarty – Arthur Conan Doyle (1893)
Dr. Moreau – H.G. Wells (1896)
The Invisible Man (Griffin) – H.G. Wells (1897)
Count Dracula - Bram Stoker (1897)
Mina Harker - Bram Stoker (1897)
Abraham Van Helsing - Bram Stoker (1897)

1900-1939:

Tarzan (John Clayton) – All-Story Magazine (1912)
John Carter – All-Story Magazine (1912)
Professor Challenger - The Lost World (1912) 
Zorro (Don Diego de la Vega) – All-Story Weekly (1919)
Solomon Kane – Weird Tales (1928) 
Buck Rogers (Anthony Rogers) – Amazing Stories (1928) 
Kull (Kull of Atlantis) – Weird Tales (1929) 
Bran Mak Morn – Weird Tales (1930)
The Spider (Richard Wentworth) – Popular Publications (1933)
Red SonYa of Rogatino – Magic Carpet Magazine (1934) 
Dr. Occult - National/DC Comics (1935)
Crash Corrigan – Republic Pictures (1936) 
Sheena, Queen of the Jungle – Fiction House (1938)
Blue Beetle (Dan Garret) – Fox Feature (1939)
Hop Harrigan – All-American (1939)
The Masked Marvel – Centaur (1939)
Dollman (Darrel Dane) - Quality (1939)
The Flame (Gary Preston) - Fox Features (1939)
The Wizard – MLJ (1939) Bob Phantom – MLJ (1939)

1940-1949:

Captain Marvel/Billy Batson* - Fawcett (1940) 
The Wizard Shazam* - Fawcett (1940) 
Daredevil (Bart Hill) – Lev Gleason (1940)
The Spirit (Denny Colt) – Register and Tribune Syndicate (1940)
Kaänga – Fiction House (1940)
Dr. Satan – Republic Serial (1940) 
Copperhead -Republic Serial (1940) |
Dr. Sivana – Fawcett (1940)
Spy Smasher (Alan Armstrong) – Fawcett (1940)
Ibis the Invincible – Fawcett (1940) 
Bulletgirl – Fawcett (1940)
Bulletman – Fawcett (1940)
Black Condor (Richard Grey Jr.) - Quality (1940)
The Ray (Happy Terril) - Quality Comics (1940)
The Shield - MLJ (1940)
The Comet - MLJ (1940)
The Black Hood - MLJ (1940)
Steel Sterling - MLJ (1940)
The Fox - MLJ (1940)
Firefly - MLJ (1940)
Zambini - MLJ (1940)
The Scarlet Avenger - MLJ (1940)
Mr. Satan - MLJ (1940)
Captain Valor - MLJ (1940)
The Sphinx - Fox Features Syndicate (1940)
Captain Marvel Jr./Freddy Freeman* – Fawcett (1941)
Minute-Man (Jack Weston) – Fawcett (1941)
Captain Midnight (Jim "Red" Albright) – Fawcett (1941)
Captain Nazi* – Fawcett (1941)
Phantom Lady (Sandra Knight) – Quality Comics, Police Comics #1 (1941)
Plastic Man (Eel O'Brian) – Quality Comics (1941)
Blackhawk – Quality Comics (1941)
Miss America (Joan Dale) – Quality (1941)
The Hangman – MLJ (1941)
Mr. Justice – MLJ (1941)
Captain Flag - MLJ (1941)
Blackjack - MLJ (1941)
Miss Victory (Joan Wayne) - Holyoke/Helnit (1941)
Nyoka the Jungle Girl – Republic Serial (1941)
The Defender* - Timely Comics (1941)
Archie Andrews - MLJ (1941) Betty Cooper - MLJ (1941)
Jughead Jones - MLJ (1941)
Mary Marvel/Mary Batson/Bromfield* – Fawcett (1942)
Ibac - Fawcett (1942)
Airboy – Hillman Periodicals (1942)
Valkyrie – Hillman Periodicals (1942)
Woozy Winks - Quality Comics (1942)
The Weeper - Quality Comics (1942)
Veronica Lodge - MLJ (1942)
Reggie Mantle - MLJ (1942)
Uncle Dudley - Fawcett (1943) 
Mr. Mind – Fawcett (1943)
Sabbac - Fawcett (1943)
Blackout - Quality Comics (1943)
The Octopus – Register and Tribune Syndicate (1946)
Tawky Tawny - Fawcett (1947)

1950 and later:

Doll Girl - Quality (1951)
Fighting American - Prize (1954)
Gorilla-Man (Ken Hale)* - Marvel (1954)
Mister Element (Albert Desmond)* - DC Comics (1957)
Gorilla Grodd* - DC Comics (1959)
Starro The Conqueror* - DC Comics (1960)
Justice League of America* - DC Comics (1960)
Matter Master (Mark Mandrill)* - DC Comics (1961)
T.O. Morrow (Thomas Oscar Morrow)* - DC Comics (1962)
Shaggy Man* - DC Comics (1966)
The Question (Vic Sage)* - Charlton Comics (1967)

Part 2 - Characters Entering the Public Domain By Creation Year/Public Domain Year

1931/2027

The Shadow (Kent Allard/Lamont Cranston) – Street & Smith (1931)
Dick Tracy – Chicago Tribune Syndicate (1931)

1932/2028

Conan the Cimmerian** - Weird Tales (1932) (**There is evidence Conan is already public domain due to lapsed renewals)

1933/2029

Doc Savage (Clark Savage Jr.) – Street & Smith (1933)
Lone Ranger (John Reid) - The Lone Ranger Inc. (1933)
Tonto - The Lone Ranger Inc. (1933)

1934/2030

Flash Gordon (Flash Gordon) – King Features (1934)
Mandrake the Magician – King Features (1934)
Lothar - King Features (1934)

1935/2031

Bride of Frankenstein - Universal (1935)

1936/2032

The Phantom – King Features (1936)
The Green Hornet (Britt Reid) - Green Hornet Inc. (1936)
Kato - Green Hornet Inc. (1936)

1937/2033

Slam Bradley - National/DC Comics (1937)

1938/2034

Superman (Clark Kent) – DC/National (1938)
Zatara - DC (1938)
Crimson Avenger (Lee Travis) - DC (1938)
Lois Lane - DC (1938)

1939/2035

Batman (Bruce Wayne) – DC/National (1939)
The Flash (Jay Garrick) – DC (1939)
Hawkman (Carter Hall) – DC (1939)
Sandman (Wesley Dodds) – DC (1939)
Ma Hunkel - DC (1939)
Commissioner Jim Gordon - DC (1939)
Ultra-Humanite - DC/National (1939)
Dr. Death - DC (1939)
Ma & Pa Kent - DC (1939)
Joan Garrick - DC (1939)
Sub-Mariner (Namor) – Timely (Marvel) (1939)
The Angel (Thomas Halloway) – Timely (Marvel) (1939)
Human Torch (Android) – Timely (Marvel) (1939)

1940/2036

Green Lantern (Alan Scott) – DC (1940)
The Spectre (Jim Corrigan) – DC (1940)
Dr. Fate (Kent Nelson) – DC (1940)
Hourman (Rex Tyler) - DC (1940)
Atom (Al Pratt) - DC (1940)
Robin (Dick Grayson) - DC (1940)
Jimmy Olsen - DC (1940)
Perry White - DC (1940)
Inspector Henderson - DC (1940)
The Justice Society of America - DC (1940)
Lex Luthor – DC (1940)
Joker – DC (1940)
Catwoman – DC (1940)
Wotan - DC (1940)
Clayface (Basil Karlo) - DC(1940)
Hugo Strange - DC (1940)
Hath-Set - DC (1940)
Tony Zucco - DC (1940)
Captain America (Steve Rogers) – Timely (1940)
Bucky Barnes - Timely (1940)
The Vision (Aarkus) – Timely (1940)
Red Skull – Timely Comics (1940)

1941/2037

Wonder Woman (Diana) – DC (1941)
Green Arrow (Oliver Queen) - DC (1941)
Speedy (Roy Harper) - DC (1941)
Aquaman (Arthur Curry) - DC (1941)
Dr. Mid-Nite (Charles McNider) - DC (1941)
Starman (Ted Knight) - DC (1941)
Hawkgirl (Shiera Sanders) - DC (1941)
Vigilante (Greg Saunders) - DC (1941)
Johnny Quick (Johnny Chambers) - DC (1941)
Star-Spangled Kid (Sylvester Pemberton) - DC (1941)
Stripesy (Pat Dugan) - DC (1941)
The Shining Knight (Sir Justin) - DC (1941)
Firebrand (Rod Reilly) - DC (1941)
Steve Trevor - DC (1941)
Doiby Dickles - DC (1941)
Penguin – DC (1941)
Scarecrow – DC (1941)
The Whizzer (Robert L. Frank) - Timely (1941)
Thunderer (Jerry Carstairs) - Timely (1941)
The Black Marvel (Daniel Lyons) - Timely (1941)
The Destroyer (Keen Marlow) - Timely (1941)

1942/2038

Wildcat (Ted Grant) - DC (1942)
Mr. Terrific (Terry Sloane) - DC (1942)
Liberty Belle (Libby Lawrence) - DC (1942)
The Guardian (Jim Harper) - DC (1942)
The Newsboy Legion - DC (1942)
Etta Candy - DC (1942)
Holliday Girls - DC (1942)
Two-Face – DC (1942)
The Shade - DC (1942)
Rag Doll - DC (1942)
Prankster - DC (1942)
The Puzzler - DC (1942)
Dr. Poison - DC (1942)

1943/2039

Alfred Pennyworth - DC (1943)
Miss America (Madeline Joyce Frank) - Timely (1943)
Vandal Savage – DC (1943)
Cheetah – DC (1943)
Brain Wave - DC (1843)
Toy Man (Winslow Schott) - DC (1943)
Cavalier - DC (1943)
Crime Doctor - DC (1943)
Tweedledum & Tweedledee - DC (1943)

1944/2040

Solomon Grundy - DC (1944)
Giganta - DC (1944)
Mr. Mxyzptlk - DC (1944)
Psycho-Pirate (Charles Halstead) - DC (1944)

1945/2041

Superboy (Clark Kent) - DC (1945)
Monacle - DC (1945)
Turtle - DC (1945)
Black Adam (Teth-Adam) – Fawcett (1945)
Blonde Phantom (Louise Grant Mason) - Timely (1945)

1946/2042

Crazy Quilt - DC (1946)

1947/2043

Black Canary (Dinah Drake) - DC (1947)
Star Saphhire - DC (1947)
Fiddler - DC (1947)
Rose and Thorn - DC (1947)
Icicle (Joar Mahkent) - DC (1947)
Gentleman Ghost - DC (1947)
Wizard - DC (1947)
Namora - Marvel (1947)

1948/2044

Riddler - DC (1948)
Mad Hatter - DC (1948)

1949/2045

The Rival - DC (1949)
Moose (Marmaduke Mason) - MLJ (1949)

1950/2046

Deadshot - DC (1950)
Dilton Doiley - MLJ (1950)

1951/2047

Captain Comet - DC (1951)
Killer Moth - DC (1951)
Red Hood - DC (1951)
Midge Klump - MLJ (1951)

1952/2048

Phantom Stranger - DC (1952)
Firefly - DC (1952)

1953/2049

James Bond - Fleming (1953)

1954/2050

Godzilla - Toho (1954)

1955/2051

Krypto - DC (1955)
Martian Manhunter - DC (1955)

It should be noted, that many characters underwent evolution over time, adding powers and backstory as they were re-made and re-imagined over the years. The date of their entry into the public domain covers only the character at that moment, so things like Superman's heat vision do not automatically enter the public domain the day the character does.

As always, creators using any public domain character, plot or concept are advised to do careful research before publication.

A List! All The Public Domain Characters I've Used (So Far) & What I've Changed In Each!

Here’s a list of the characters I’ve pulled from the public domain and beside each, any significant changes from the original that I’ve added.

Kull of Atlantis. Usually portrayed as a King, I’ve gone with a younger version, wandering in my Earth’s prehistory, rather than Robert E. Howard’s pre-Hyborain Thurian Age.

Solomon Kane. Essentially unchanged.

Red SonYa of Rogatino. She only ever appeared in a single Robert E. Howard story. The biggest change is that she doesn’t speak like a Howard pastiche character.

Tarzan. My version is Chinese. You read that right.

Sherlock Holmes. My version is (redacted) and that affects every aspect of his character and mystery solving. Soon to be revealed. (It’s a doozy, folks!)

The Invisible Man (Griffin). He’s now a mercenary smuggler, along with a crazed scientist. More to come.

Professor Challenger. Essentially unchanged.

Captain Nemo. Essentially unchanged, moved a bit forward in time to allow him to still be alive circa WWI.

Ibis the Invincible. One of a very small number of PoC lead characters from the 1940s comics, I’ve made him my ‘Ferryman” character, responsible for finding, vetting and escorting each era’s champion (Captain Marvel) to meet that era’s Shazam and be burdened with the power. I’ve made him (sorta) immortal. And he bakes.

Captain Midnight. Once a male hero of comics, screen and radio, I’ve retooled her as a gay, bodybuilding woman who masqueraded as a man through WWII so she could fly bombers against the Axis.

The Spider. The original Spider was essentially a serial killer who used his wealth and secret identity to target criminals. My version is Richard Wentworth’s daughter, Rikki, who operates as The Spider in Silk City. She’s essentially a flirty, sexy Batman. How fun is that?

Dr. Satan. Taken from his single appearance in the 1940 serial film, Mysterious Dr. Satan, my Dr. Satan is essentially unchanged.

Spy Smasher. Essentially unchanged from his comics appearance in Fawcett Comics in the 1940s except for a colour scheme update, my version is a post war vigilante hunting Nazi scientist war criminals, while simultaneously his civilian persona (a C.I.A. operative) is tasked with bringing Spy Smasher in, since the government is using those same war criminals in scientific projects.

Hop Harrigan. I’ve given Hop a limb difference which led to his nickname. He’s basically my Six Million Dollar Man.

The Flame. Gary Preston was the super hero The Flame. My version maintains all those powers, including the bonkers idea of teleporting through flame, but he’s a Prince of the planet Pyrodania, real name Gar Ypres-Ston. He’s the alien equivalent of an African-American and he’s gay.

Crash Corrigan. Essentially the same as his single appearance in the 1936 serial, Undersea Kingdom, except he’s gay too.

John Carter. Essentially unchanged except for being a WWII soldier, rather than a Civil War veteran.

Buck Rogers. Essentially unchanged except for moving slightly ahead in time to be a WWII soldier.

Wilma Deering. The character is now a fellow American military officer during WWII rather than being someone Buck meets in the future.

Minute-Man. Essentially unchanged.

Fighting American. Essentially unchanged.

Miss Victory. Essentially unchanged, though she is the strongest one on her team, apparently inheriting her strength and speed through the female line in her family. More to come.

The Shield. Essentially unchanged.

Uncle Sam. Essentially unchanged.

Illyria, Queen of Spies. Essentially unchanged.

Dan Garret. As yet to take up the mantle of the Blue Beetle, Garret is a cop in Silk City, moonlighting as a security guard.

The Green Sorceress. My version is (possibly) descended from aliens and has green hair and skin, along with undisclosed plant based abilities.

Copperhead. My version of Bob Wayne (yes, that’s really his name) is very similar to the hero of the 1940 serial, Mysterious Dr. Satan, but I’ve fleshed him out and given him some neat serpent based super-powers. He also might just have a cousin named “Bruce” but so far he’s only mentioned an uncle Thomas…

Captain Marvel. My version is pretty different. I derive the powers of SHAZAM from Indigenous mythology rather than Greco-Roman as in the original. My Billy Batson is a girl. Captain Marvel is still male when she transforms and THAT is a huge part of my long term plan for the universe. Much, MUCH more to come.

SHAZAM. Usually portrayed as an old Merlin-esque wizard, mine is an elderly indigenous woman. In my mythology, the power passes from Shazam to Shazam, age to age, as does the power of the champion.

Captain Marvel Jr. My version of Captain Marvel Jr. is very similar to the original, but my version of Freddy Freeman is an indigenous youth who is also a trans-boy. The wish fulfilment aspects of the Shazam power are in full play in this case and as with Captain Marvel, that is essential to my long term plot.

Mary Marvel. My version of Mary is essentially unchanged with the exception of her civilian identity being an indigenous girl.

Uncle Marvel. My version of Uncle Dudley doesn’t dress up or pretend to have powers. Like his nieces, he is an indigenous person.

Tawky Tawny. My version is Toni, owner of Toni’s Talkies, possibly the last DVD rental store on earth. She is Uncle Dudley’s lady friend. More to come on her.

Captain Nazi. I’ve made Captain Nazi a bit different. One of my original villains, Perdita DeVachron, inhabits the clone of her late brother, the once formidable (and original) WarWulf who fought for the Axis. She gains the power of SHAZAM through nefarious means in Never, Mind!

Mr. Mind. My version of the alien worm is a bio-engineered parasite who feeds on negative emotion, magic and the powers of super heroes. He is a tiny, green, red and black worm with teeth along his flanks, mildly psychic and wholly terrifying.