r/publicdomain

This is for the people that for some reason believe that you can’t public domain works that are still trademark.

Ongoing trademarks are not some sort of “mutant copyright” and the more we can do to get rid of this stigma, the better.

Tarzan - Captain America

While they are different, these two have abilities that the average citizens don’t have, and they do share a similar, being that they are out of touch with civilization, due to huge life changes (Tarzan being taken care of by gorillas, and Steve Rogers being put on ice for a long decades while time goes by).

Bozo the iron man - Iron Man

Debuting in Smash Comics #1 1939, the origin of Bozo is that (what’s next is from pdsh.fandom.com) Dr. Von Thorp, a mad scientist, builds a mighty robot to help him take over the Earth. The doctor sends the iron monster on a crime spree and the police are unable to stop it. After several failed attempts to capture the robot, Hugh Hazzard, a playboy detective, is sent by the police commissioner to stop the mad scientist's creation. Hazzard sees the robot break into a jewelry store, crawls inside of it, and temporarily deactivates it. Von Thorp summons his creation back to him and is surprised when Hazzard emerges from its body. Dr. Von Thorp is arrested and the police decide to dump the robot into the sea with other confiscated weapons. Upon hearing this, Hazzard rushes to the waterfront and rescues the robot from a "watery grave" sneaking it from a police boat and back to his apartment. Dubbing the iron man "Bozo" he uses the doctor's radio control device to make Bozo a crime-fighting tool.

Zeus - Thor

I know that the original Thor is public domain, but I still wanted to use someone else to make his marvel equivalent a little more unique, so I went with Zeus (like I said, a little more unique).

Frankenstein’s Monster - The Hulk

This one was easy to think about. Stan Lee himself said that the Hulk was inspired by the 1931 version of the monster (and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde).

While the 1931 version is still copyrighted until 2027, I figure I can still put an image of the 1931 version alongside him, instead of waiting a few more months. I wonder if Zeus would have trouble fighting Frankenstein’s monster, since throwing (or shooting) thunder at the monster would probably just increase its chances of winning instead of losing.

Doll Man and Doll Girl - Ant Man and The Wasp

Simply put, the duo have the ability to shrink.

The Arrow - Hawkeye

I know that Robin Hood is the “go to” for PD archers, but I decided to go with a lesser known character (I don’t want two characters to be associated with green, and I want to have Frankenstein’s monster with his green skin.)

A “cut the crap” diligent archer who is not afraid putting arrows in the most brutal body parts of his enemies. He was also a U.S. intelligence agent named Ralph Payne.

The Black Orchid (Harvey) - Black Widow

Judy Allen was the partner of Rocky Ford, a private investigator. Unbeknownst to Ford, Allen was secretly a non-powered hero known as Black Orchid. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Allen, Ford was secretly a costumed hero known as Scarlet Nemesis. The two remained oblivious to each others' costumed alter egos.

Welp, that’s it!

What do you think of the team?

The earlier post from Happy-Lingonberry inspired me to take a crack at a public domain Justice League.

From left to right as in the lovely Alex Ross portrait:

For Green Lantern: The Comet (MLJ) was space based, flew and controlled energy.

For The Flash: Red Robbins (Fox Features Syndicate). a rare speedster from the public domain. I had to really dig to find him and until today, I'd never heard of him. He's ripe for a rennaissance!

For Superman: Any of the Marvels. Captain Marvel is the most obvious, but if it's my team to build, I'd put Mary Marvel in his place to give the team a little more balance.

For Batman: Spy Smasher (Fawcett) is my pick. There are plenty of others who could fill the role, but I happen to really like Spy Smasher.

For Wonder Woman: Miss Victory (A.C. Comics) is a good pick. There are several star-spangled super-heroines in the public domain though, so others would fit the bill as well.

For Aquaman: Surprisingly difficult to find. No public domain heroes I could find had underwater powers except for things like mythological mer-people and sea gods. My best substitution is Crash Corrigan from the Undersea Kingdom serial of 1936. I happen to love Crash and he's a naval officer who has adventures in Atlantis. Captain Nemo would be another fair option, but if someone knows an obscure sea-based hero (or villain!) to swap for him, I'm all ears.

For Martian Manhunter: Plastic Man (Quality) has the shape shifting and while MM also has super strength, telepathy, flight, invisibility and density control, there's just no character out there in the public domain that covers all those bases. Plastic Man shape changes and after a fashion can fly or glide, plus if you don't notice that your filing cabinet is suddenly red and yellow with eyes, he has invisibility too!

Real Name

Dick Martin

First Appearance

Startling Comics #18 (Dec. 1942)

Original Publisher

Nedor

Created by

Jack Binder

Origin

Pyroman is the secret identity of research student Dick Martin. Due to his work with high voltage electricity, his body developed the ability to store current. He discovered this ability after he was wrongly charged with murder; sentenced to die in the electric chair, he instead found himself possessed with electricity-based powers. After clearing his name, he decided to use his powers to fight crime.

https://pdsh.fandom.com/wiki/Pyroman

The Golden Bat

Real Name: Unknown
Age: Unknown
Alias: The Golden Skull

The Golden Bat is a mysterious ancient space warrior who suddenly appeared in Japan and was frozen in suspended animation for thousands of years. At some unknown year, a mysterious phantom thief dressed in a black cloak and Black mask with ears, known as Kuro Bat or Dr. Kuro, emerged and committed robberies until the Golden Bat appeared and defeated him. However, Kuro Bat is still alive and began to terrorize the entire planet, seeking to dominate it. When the Golden Bat himself arrived, he tormented Nazo and continued to stop him from carrying out his evil plans.

The Golden Bat has a golden skull-shaped head, wears a green and white costume with a high-collared red cape, and wields a rapier. His whereabouts are unknown, as he mysteriously appears everywhere, even outside of Japan. His superpowers include superhuman strength, invulnerability, and the ability to fly.

https://pdsh.fandom.com/wiki/%C5%8Cgon_Bat

Real Name

Bob Blake

First Appearance

Reg'lar Fellers Heroic Comics #1 (Aug. 1940)

Original Publisher

Eastern Color Printing

Created by

Bill Everett

Origin

Harry Thurston, a young chemical engineer, accidentally compounded a formula to convert human flesh and blood into water. A huge container of this remarkable solution was spilled and splashed over Bob Blake, Harry's friend, causing him to disintegrate and become a pool of water on the laboratory floor! Promptly, an antidote was concocted, and with the aid of this, Bob regained his natural form. He then discovered that he could control this phenomenal change merely by the power of thought.

Donning aviator goggles and tights left over from a costume party, he took on the identity of Hydroman to battle an army of "Oriental" invaders. He discovered it was in fact run by Nazi fifth columnists.

Harry invented a fabric "made of translite - it's transparent, like cellophane, but tough - nothing can penetrate it - not even bullets." Hydroman had a suit made of this material.

https://pdsh.fandom.com/wiki/Hydroman