1950.
The horror of World War II half a decade in the past, the world looked towards a bright, baby-booming future.
While the start of the Silver Age of Comics was yet a half a decade in the future, the seeds of that change are sprinkled through the comics and pop culture of the first half of the 1950s.
Let's have a look at the final acts who took the stage before the curtain came down on the Golden Age.
And what I plan to do with them when they hit the public domain in the mid to late 2040s.
In 1950, only two names of note pop up, but they're interesting names, considering the timing.
Deadshot. One of Batman's more modern, serious villains. No goofy, over the top props, just a guy who doesn't miss and kills for money.
House of Justice? Oh, for sure.
House of Crom? I can see it.
House of Entropy? Sure.
House of Dread? Naturally.
And MLJ brought one of the first bona fide scientist heroes into being that year too. Most often, scientists in comics are of the mad variety, but Dilton Doiley is pure good, if nerdy, guy.
House of Justice? Sure.
House of Crom? I doubt he could lift a sword, let alone swing one effectively.
House of Entropy? If Archie and the gang ever get into a sci-fi adventure, it's bound to be his fault.
House of Dread? This is where I see Archie and his pals.
In 1951, DC introduced a new kind of hero. Captain Comet is widely considered the first DC sci-fi hero and some people point to him as the true start of the Silver Age. I choose to see him as a capper to the Golden Age, but it's a fair point. Adam Blake is a man born 100,000 years ahead of his time. Evolved to have telekinetic and telepathic powers, along with super strength, he was definitely unusual compared to the rest of DC's stable.
House of Justice? Sure.
House of Crom? Unlikely.
House of Entropy? Oh, I'd say so.
House of Dread? Absolutely.
Then there were a couple of villains. Notably the Red Hood. Revealed to be what the Joker was wearing before he became the clown prince of crime, Red Hood has had a lot of incarnations since. I have no specific plans for the pre-Joker Joker, but I have time for something to pop up. And splash down.
House of Justice? Sure.
House of Crom? Unlikely.
House of Entropy? Unlikely.
House of Dread? Oh, I think this would be the best fit.
Then there's Killer-Moth. What a weird idea. I like weird ideas. He's most often associated with Batgirl, being chosen as the villain for her never aired spin-off from the 1966 Adam West Batman. Sadly, I'll be dead or close to it by the time she's in the Public Domain.
House of Justice? Sure.
House of Crom? No.
House of Entropy? I can see it.
House of Dread? Killer-Moth. Horror story. Hmm.
MLJ also gave us the last member of the gang this year. Midge Klump, Moose's girlfriend. She'll be a fun addition to the gang.
Dollman also got his sidekick and girlfriend, Dollgirl this year. Dollgirl is in the public domain and will join his adventures long before 2047.
In 1952, we got a couple of additions to the DC universe.
I'm particularly looking forward to the Phantom Stranger hitting the public domain in 2048. He's endlessly fascinating.
House of Justice? Yes.
House of Crom? Oddly, yes. He's a spiritual hero with a backstory that feels like a fit.
House of Entropy? Unlikely.
House of Dread? Your room is right this way, sir. We have made it up as you requested.
And another Batman villain with a more serious bent arrived this year as well. Firefly. Fire setting flying villain. Might have been played lightly in the 50s, but he's terrifying if you think about it.
House of Justice? Yes.
House of Crom? Possible.
House of Entropy? Possible.
House of Dread? He'll definitely be trying to burn it down.
1953. A year with no significant super hero or super villain additions in the comics that I've run across. But a very important year for one, monumental character who hit pop culture like an atom bomb.
James Bond.
Casino Royale, the first of 14 Bond novels and seismic shift in how spies were imagined on the page and eventually on screen.
House of Justice? Yes.
House of Crom? Hmm...
House of Entropy? There's a genre called Spy-Fi that I'm learning about.
House of Dread? No plans, but you never know.
1954.
Another comic book character free year.
And another massive name from pop culture.
Godzilla.
King of the Kaiju, a character I'm just itching to add to the universe. I grew up on the 1970s cartoon and later the 50s and 60s movies. So much fun. By the time he's free to use, virtually every major super hero will be alive in the universe. The possibilities are endless.
House of Justice? He's not a villain and rarely a hero, so unlikely.
House of Crom? So tempting.
House of Entropy? Natch.
House of Dread? Have you seen him?
And at last, 1955 and the final year before DC reinvented everything, starting with the Flash and ushered in the Silver Age. Two last heroes who are perfect bookends to the era.
Krypto. Superboy's dog feels very much rooted in the Golden Age. What's more wholesome than a boy and his dog? In truth, I was shocked it took DC this long to add the idea to the lore.
House of Justice? Good boy!
House of Crom? No.
House of Entropy? He's a dog from another planet.
House of Dread? Krypto goes Cujo? Yikes.
And finally, another character some would consider the first Silver Age hero, but I see as the last of the Golden Age ones.
Martian Manhunter.
Super strong, flying, telepathic, shape changing, density shifting. He has it ALL. Afraid of fire though, so that's kinda tough on him. Loves oreos, so that will be fun.
House of Justice? Yep.
House of Crom? Could happen.
House of Entropy? He's from Mars.
House of Dread? He can become ghost like, change shape and is afraid of fire. I can work with that.
And that, ladies, gentlemen and fans of all ages, shapes and sizes, is the Golden Age.
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