Sitting down to talk public domain, world building and Brian Fies' incredible book, The Last Mechanical Monster!

Available here!

This week's highlight? 

I sat down with three other public domain creators to talk about our projects!

Two Big Updates!

First and biggest?

PublicDomainSuperHeroes.com 2.0 is up!

Thanks to my good friend Kane, my clunk old site is gone, replaced by a slick, very impressive new one!

Drop by, click some links, watch some videos, read some comics and the monthly free story.

And of course, BUY SOME BOOKS!

The second update is smaller, but no less cool.

Chapter 3 of Operation Paperclip, the Audio Adventure is now up at YouTube!

Enjoy! 

What Is Best In Life?

Conan would say :

 "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women."

The Conan fan in me appreciates that, but I respectfully submit an alternative.

It's having a great sidekick.

This month I published an omnibus of my House of Entropy stories and honestly, within the three novels are three of the all time great sidekicks.

M.I.K.I, the Modular Integrated Kinetic Intelligence that accompanies Buck Rogers and Wilma Deering on their space-faring adventure in The Metropolis of Mongo is the perfect combination of loyalty and sass.

 

Of course there's a B-D-B-D-B-D gag!

 

Penny, the psychic pentapus who accompanies Crash Corrigan on his gladiatorial quest on The Marine Moon of Mongo is the ideal mix of sarcastic big sister and capable ally.

 

That's PENTApus. I only have five arms!

 

Woola, the Barsoomian calot who is John Carter's loyal companion against The Martian Monsters of Mongo is part faithful hound, part best friend and as wonderful to read about as he was to write.

 

You think you know slobber-monster? Meet Woola.

 

Get your copy of House of Entropy Volume One: Mongo Revealed! today and meet the sidekicks!  

 

Available in Hardcover, Paperback and Kindle.
Click here to learn more!

 

Me. On a Cool Podcast!

 

The Kickstart is LIVE!

Please support my latest crazy venture! 

I'm trying to get a license for a little known character from the 1970s and I need YOUR help! 

 

House of Entropy Volume One: Mongo Revealed!

Collecting the first three novels from House of Entropy, along with the short story that started it all!

The Mongo Machine kicked off the adventures of three public domain heroes, Buck Rogers, Crash Corrigan and John Carter, re-framing them as WWII special operatives. Their first team adventure kicks off the three novels, The Metropolis of Mongo, The Marine Moon of Mongo and The Martian Monsters of Mongo!

House of Entropy Volume One: Mongo Revealed collects these stories into a single, easy to handle volume.

With FABULOUS new art by Art_Doot! Including the cover and 2 new covers for the original books!

 

Available in Kindle, Paperback and my very first Hardcover option!

 

Click the above links to pick up your copy today! And feel free to peruse the rest of my work at Amazon by clicking this link! 

 

 

Knightfall! Part 2 is coming!

It's not all about my project here. I'm still a fan of a lot of stuff, Batman at the top of the very long list! 

Part 1 of Knightfall was well done, so I'm really looking forward to part 2! And 3!

Never thought I'd see this adapted, let alone so well. 

 

Tales From The Stack: Fall 2026

It's official.

Public Domain Super Heroes is not just my self-publishing project any longer.

I'm a bona fide PUBLISHER.

Thanks to this:

 

Tales From The Stack: Fall 2026

 

It's my very first issue of what I hope will be a quarterly magazine. 

Collecting the talents of 8 amazing authors from Substack, this book is a new project that I hope you all will support.

It's available in paperback here.

If you prefer Kindle, that's here.

I may also offer it on my site as a PDF, but I'm mulling putting it in Kindle Unlimited to see if there's page reads there. If I do that, I can't offer the PDF while it's in that program. Stay tuned.

My thanks to Gabrielle Marie Kozak, Moscanovski, Bryan Ritchey, Percival Constantine, C J Charles, David Perlmutter, Kane Eyer and Jonathan Skarr for their talent and participation! 

Operation Paperclip - Chapter 2. The Audio Version!

Here's Chapter 2 of Operation Paperclip!

 

Operation Paperclip - Chapter 2

Read by Joshua Krensell-Steward, AKA Lonjanis.

His YouTube channel is here.

Swords In The House Of Horus - Chapter One

My buddy Candido Beriovo was kind enough to record the first chapter of Swords In The House Of Horus for me.

I think it rocks!

Candido and his wife Samantha do a wicked podcast called Geekin' Out With My Spouse that you can check out at Spotify. 

A Public Domain Super Hero MOVIE

YouTuber Austin McConnell has created something extraordinary. 

Over the last 4 years, he taught himself 3D animation and without the aid of AI has brought us a 90 minute movie about a long forgotten public domain super hero.

I will admit, Atlas is not in my list of heroes and he's odd and obscure enough that I have no plans for him, myself.

That said, what McConnell has accomplished here is amazing. This is a great film. Not a great amateur film, a great film, period. 

 

Operation Paperclip - The Audiobook!

This is chapter one of a new project, putting my very first Public Domain Super Heroes story into the world in an audio book!

 

Read by Joshua Krensell-Steward, AKA Lonjanis.

His YouTube channel is here.

The plan is to record the entire story, then perhaps the novel (The Element of Evil) where it’s published as a back up feature.

 

Enjoy!

If You're New Here...

Just to reintroduce myself to everyone.

I'm Greybishop. Or James L. Richardson if you're a book reader.

I have been posting blog articles here for more than 20 years.

I have a huge, interconnected universe I'm publishing, here. 

 

11 Books. More On The Way. With YOUR help.

 

There are currently 11 books in that universe, with more on the way.

If you're enjoying what you find here, please consider buying a book. It's how I make my living and I could use your support.

If you buy a book and enjoy it, please consider leaving an honest review at Amazon. That's the only way I'll survive to keep writing more books. Reviews are what keep the lights on around here.

Your patronage is appreciated! With your help, there will be new content here on a regular basis.

If you would like to offer more direct support, a paid subscription to my Substack would be most helpful. You will get exclusive perks for your monthly support, including access to full novels. 

You are why I do this.
 

An Interview With The Executor of the Literary Estate of Lin Carter!

I had the privelege to interview Robert M. Price, the executor of the literary estate of the late Lin Carter. We spoke at length about our mutual love of swords & sorcery.

It was a lively discussion and I am grateful to Mr. Price for his time! 

 

The interview is presented unedited and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the views of my guest. 

I Get To Be The Interview-ee!

These days, I do a lot of interviews with authors and creators at Substack. They're fun and I always learn something from the talented and dedicated folks I speak to.

This time? I'm the interview-ee!

Thanks to Geekin' Out With My Spouse for the guest spot! They're on spotfiy, so check them out! 

 

An Irish Odysseus? Aye!

 My new release is the start of my version of the Odyssey.

I substitute Cormac Mac Art for Odysseus and this first book is a compressed siege of Troy, set in coastal France during the reign of King Arthur.

That’s right. I’ve included King Arthur and Merlin in Public Domain Super Heroes.

Can you think of a better historical/mythical fit? I can’t.

And it all still fits within my framework. No multi-verse.

No time-travel. No do-overs.

So, fun fact. Cormac actually uses a horse to breach the fortress.

How?

Well, you’re just gonna have to read The Odyssey of the Gael to find out!

 

A horse! My kingdom for a horse!

 And a broadsword, a wizard, a king and an ancient enemy too!

Something New...

Seeing them all in a single frame like this is very, very cool!

Trying Kindle Unlimited, Again.

I decided to put my latest book on Kindle Unlimited.

So if you're a member, you can read it for free, for the next 90 days!

Public Domain Super Heroes - House Legends: Volume One

Six short stories, each offering a glimpse into the unfolding plot behind Public Domain Super Heroes.
Previously published as back up tales to various books in the Public Domain Super Heroes universe, this collected edition is a perfect entry point into the story, offering different stories from every era of the history of the universe.

The Gauntlet of Nabu: A Solomon Kane Tract
Solomon Kane must discover the secret of the gauntlet before the evil within devours an innocent family!
Red SonYa of Rogatino Secrets of the Amazons
Red SonYa travels to the fabled isle of Tamasira, but it may not be the paradise she imagines!
The Mongo Machine.
Buck Rogers, John Carter and Crash Corrigan must destroy an alien machine before the Nazis use it to turn the tide of war!
Operation Paperclip
Spy Smasher confronts Dr. Satan and his evil robot!
Snakes & Ladders
Copperhead tracks a mob boss through Ouroboros City to get revenge for the murder of his mentor!
The Sizzling Spider & The Sinister Skull
The Spider and a team of star spangled heroes must stop the Skull of Nabu from falling into the wrong hands!

 

A perfect entry point into the PDSH universe!

 Of course, I'd love you to buy a copy, but if you're a KU reader, please enjoy the book!

And, as always, an honest review is the biggest help you can give me and my project.

A purchase helps today. A review helps for life! 

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)
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.