The original kernel of Public Domain Super Heroes was a simple one. I was thinking about how Superman will become public domain in 2034 and despairing what I've seen done with other 'big name' characters as their copyright protections expired.
If the pattern holds, there will be a bunch of D-grade horror films made with characters like Superman and Batman and then not much else. Mickey Mouse, Popeye and poor old Winnie the Pooh have gotten this treatment and it just seems such a waste of potential.
So.
My idea for Superman, post copyright? Well, that's under wraps for the moment, but I'd like to think it's a doozy. But what good's an idea if I don't have the money to bring it to life? So then I started thinking about how I could raise that money. What do I do well enough to earn money for such a project?
Answer: I write.
Hmm. Then I got to thinking about the idea I have for Superman and what I could do beyond that idea. A few steps later, I was writing "The Element of Evil." The plan had evolved from a single idea about how to use Superman in 2034 into 'what if every public domain super hero got in on the act?" I looked into it and the first heroes I picked to inaugurate the Public Domain Super Heroes universe were 4 heroes who had once been popular enough to warrant movies being made about them.
Long before Marvel and DC Comics were splashing capes, cowls and spandex across our screens, there was an entire ecosystem of heroes on film, followed by millions every week as new episodes were released to theatres. Spy Smasher, Hop Harrigan, The Spider and Captain Midnight all headlined serial films back before there was television.
Since that first book, the project has only grown in scope. Every new book has connective tissue to other stories, characters and conspiracies brewing elsewhere in the universe. One day (well, January 1, 2034 to be exact) Superman will join these interconnected characters and add another facet to the jewel. If you know what to look for, you might even be able to see some of the seeds of his eventual arrival being planted even now.
But this article is the first in a series that will give you some idea of what else I have in store over the next decade or two. While I have to wait to reveal my Superman stories, my Batman, Captain American, Wonder Woman tales and so much more, there is a TON of material already in the public domain that will provide material for building my universe between now and then.
Public Domain Super Heroes is made up of four "Houses" that represent the different aspects of public domain story telling I intend to work with. House of Justice is where you'll find straight up super hero stories. House of Entropy is where I'll tell science fiction tales. House of Crom is the home of swords and sorcery and fantasy narratives and finally House of Dread is where the horror story side of the public domain resides.
In every case, those Houses have their roots in story telling that long, long predates the advent of the super hero as we know it today. As a result, there are many, many characters and stories that I will be using to build those houses.
There are, of course, a TON of characters like Robin Hood, King Arthur, Merlin, Hercules, Gilgamesh and the like who are well in the public domain and any one of those or a hundred other legendary characters from folklore and history can and will show up. Count on it. I have very specific plans to fold those sorts of legends into my universe. If you've read (and you should if you haven't) Swords in the House of Horus, you've already met my version of Horus, the Egyptian God of the Sky. More like that are on the way.
For the purpose of this article series, we're sticking to specific books, comics and movies, published from 1800 on, that created recognizable and wonderful characters.
In 1818, what I consider to be the first 'true' science fiction story, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, was published. As I have explained here before, for a story to qualify as science fiction, the main narrative should be driven by or supported by devices or theories that exceed the technological ability of the setting of the story. Frankenstein's scientific achievement of re-animating a human being stands as science fiction, even today. It has an element of horror and the character of Frankenstein's creature has even on occasion been featured as a super hero in mainstream media. So where might this story or these characters show up in Public Domain Super Heroes?
House of Justice? Check.
House of Entropy? Check.
House of Dread? Check.
House of Crom? Possibly.
In 1870, Jules Verne gave us 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and the somewhat morally gray Captain Nemo. The Nautilus puts this story firmly into the science fiction category, Nemo himself could easily be a hero, a villain or simply a legend. Where might I use this story or its characters?
House of Justice? As a supporting character? Sure.
House of Entropy? Check.
House of Dread? Unlikely, but literally any character might one day encounter some horror in their travels!
House of Crom? Absolutely. Nemo's a swashbuckler at heart, or at least my vision of him is.
In 1885, H. Rider Haggart introduced Indiana Jones, er...Allan Quartermain in "King Solomon's Mines." I admit my own lack of familiarity with the character, but I know enough to know that he exists in the background of my universe and very likely will one day show up to save the day or explain some obscure bit of arcana that will.
House of Justice? As a supporting character, absolutely. You can never have too many experts!
House of Crom? You betcha. I can't use Indiana Jones for copyright reasons, but Allan Quartermain is what Indy largely grew out of, so a swashbuckling archaeologist exists and will show up.
House of Entropy? Unlikely, but then I wouldn't have expected Indy to run up against aliens or time travel...
House of Dread? Hmm. A guy who raided tombs before Lara Croft, who went through Doomed Temples before Indiana Jones was even a twinkle in George and Steven's collective eye. Could he get caught up in a horror story? Hmm...
Sherlock Holmes was first published in the late 1880s and is firmly public domain. I'm a huge fan and have read all of them and a ton of post-Conan Doyle stuff as well. Honestly, I don't see myself writing a Sherlock Holmes tale, though. He's so specific, has been used SO much. If he or Dr. Watson show up, I'll want my own take on them and my gut says they'd be supporting staff only. The baggage is just really heavy with these two.
House of Justice? Experts, sure!
House of Crom? Not likely. Holmes doesn't really buckle a swash, though he can swing a sword in a pinch.
House of Entropy? Intriguing. If I was ever to do a Holmes story, a science fiction take might be more 'me'.
House of Dread? Absolutely. He and the good doctor could consult in a horror story, easy.
H.G. Wells' The Time Machine (1895) is a story I don't have any intention of using directly. In fact, time travel almost entirely does NOT exist in my universe. Time travel stories in a long form like a linked universe inevitably get messy and hard to control. You either have characters who can change the past, resulting in chaos in your future story telling, or no time traveller can actually affect any past events and so become little more than observers. One is pure hell on the timeline I'm building, the other is boring as hell.
That said, there are themes and characters in The Time Machine that might one day make an appearance.
House of Justice? Not likely.
House of Crom? Probably not.
House of Entropy? Here, if anywhere.
House of Dread? Not likely.
H.G. Wells might not get that one into the universe, but the Island of Dr. Moreau from 1896? You betcha. A mad scientist with his own island and a penchant for turning people into animals and vice versa? How could I NOT use that?
House of Justice? One of the first super-villains in history? Absolutely.
House of Crom? Not likely a good fit, but one of Moreau's creations might fit the bill one day.
House of Entropy? Yup.
House of Dread? You'll be seeing him there first, I'd wager.
Wells next book, 1897's The Invisible Man is another gem that will find its way into stories in my universe. Maybe not in the way you might expect, but the half-mad invisible terror is narrative gold.
House of Justice? Either side of that coin, maybe both!
House of Crom? Not likely.
House of Entropy? This is where he fits best.
House of Dread? This is also a good fit.
That same year, Bram Stoker gave us the classic vampire as most people envision him, Dracula. Done literally to death, I don't have any real plans for Drac. But the core of the story, the lore, the history can and will wind its way into the universe over time, I'm sure.
House of Justice? Not likely. Putting Dracula up against super heroes is so done.
House of Crom? Here, there's potential. Solomon Kane or Red SonYa of Rogatino might want a crack at the original blood fiend.
House of Entropy? Well, Wilma Deering did mention "space vampires" in The Mongo Machine.
House of Dread? Here, if anywhere.
Finally in 1898, H.G. Wells gave us The War of the Worlds. This I have plans for. I have a galaxy spanning Empire of Mongo in play, so there's MORE than enough room for Wells' tripod alien invaders. I have what I think is a unique way to integrate them into my existing mythology and that story will unfold in the next few House of Entropy releases. Keep your eyes peeled!
House of Justice? Hmm. Could superheroes take on Martians? I'd say so!
House of Crom? Aliens in Ancient Egypt running up against Kull or some other sword wielder? Yup!
House of Entropy? No brainer.
House of Dread? Scary, creepy aliens roaming the countryside? Orson Wells would be proud...
Next time, I'll give you some teasers about my plans for characters created between 1900 and 1929. Believe me, folks, you ain't seen nuthin' yet!
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