For other forms of print media, see public domain stories. Feb 19, 2015 one thing to look out for with pd characters, is to see in what context are they public domain. Collectible comics superhero, mystery, childrens comic books. Usually from the golden age and the interregnum, though some are from the silver age. The superhero archetype was created and many wellknown characters were introduced, including superman, batman, captain marvel, captain america, and wonder woman. Everything in the collection predates 1923 and is no longer under in the united states. For example, the fantastic four started off in the 60s so obviously a lot of the material is dated. Then jess nevins launched his golden age superheroes site. The reason for supermans instant popularity in the late 1930s is obvious. Captain swastika by mlj comic character, public domain, spiderman. Luckily for todays curious cats, many of these misfit comics didnt get ed and are now in the public domain.
Comic book characters comic strip characters open source characters by year by creator. Comic strip library digital collection of classic comic strips. However, thanks to websites like comic book plus, which host hundreds of comics online, usually much lesser known ones, that have fallen into the public domain. And if youre interested in selling your comic books, knowing what age they fall in is vitally important for valuing your comic books. Usually from the golden age and the interregnum, though some are from the silver age while the comics are in the public domain, some of the characters might not be. The golden age for comic books is known for plots that dont appear in modern day comics. Free, public domain golden age comics online the mary sue. Users post scans of comics that are now in the public domain. Golden age comics public domain comic books collectible. Now in the public domain, american crusader is a golden age superhero who has appeared in various comic books by different publishers.
Golden age 19381956 silver age 19561970 bronze age 19701985 modern age 1985present the modern age of. Comics that are in the public domain actually offer a good introduction for people studying comic books. One thing to look out for with pd characters, is to see in what context are they public domain. During this time, modern comic books were first published and rapidly increased in popularity. Oct 05, 20 in fact, while jeffs enthusiasm and passion for these characters shines through in his tale, he readily admits he hasnt even read many of the original stories from the golden age of comics featuring these great characters. A list of the heroic characters listed on public domain super heroes. The superhero archetype was created and many wellknown characters were. Public domain characters concept public domain characters appears in 3902 issues. The golden age daredevil might be one of the bestknown public domain superheroes. Here are a few links to comic stories i found about public domain.
A new character created by two young men from cleveland was featured on the cover. The cover is pretty ugly, but it is pretty cool to have a complete golden age book, as i mostly collect bronze, copper, and a little silver. Is there a website where you can download golden age. Since then, the site has expanded far beyond the original goal to concentrate on just the public domain characters. Mar 14, 2014 luckily for todays curious cats, many of these misfit comics didnt get ed and are now in the public domain. When it went defunct, its assets were bought by holyoke publishing, which continued to public catman. Best of the golden age batman, captain america, alex schomburg get nods as collectors select their favorite covers of the era. Many of these characters later appeared in the dc universe but several have yet to appear. Or are the comics timeless meaning that the stories never reference a particular date or year so the reader. The debut of the new superhero the flash in 1956 is generally considered the beginning of the silver age of comic books. Jun 02, 2017 comic books are a reflection of modern society, so as society changed, so did the comic book plots, characters and themes. Of the golden age american comic book publishers on this list, only ten continued to publish comic books after 1960, and only three of them are still currently in business. Public domain super heroes is a collaborative website about comic book, film, literary, or pulp characters in the public domain that have appeared in comics or.
Our first venture is a multiissue comic book featuring original profiles on public. Superman is possibly the most recognizable comic book character to this day. History of the golden and silver age of comic books. For examples sherlock holmes is public domain, but if you write a novel the estate will try and charge you a rather large fee, but they gave permissio. The golden age of comic books useful notes tv tropes. Mar 02, 2016 comic books are commonly categorized into four major ages based on when they were published. The companys comic book division folded in 1973, although dell continued to publish the occasional book with comics content, including newspaper strip collections. This period, which witnessed an explosion of englishcanadian comic book publishing, is now described as the canadian golden age of comics.
People were coming from all over the world in search of the american dream. Comic book plus scans of presumed public domain golden age comics. Lift your spirits with funny jokes, trending memes, entertaining gifs, inspiring stories, viral videos, and so much more. If the stories are long public domain like green llama, masquerade, the original daredevil, caspar, wendy, and joe palooka, it is legal to download. May 24, 2009 i really enjoy comic book movies but havent really read many comic books. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands. Comic book characters comic character comic books character design sci fi genre retro rocket sci fi comics world 7 pulp magazine. I was curious in the comic books, do the writers age the characters to account for the change in time setting. About the comic strip library what is the comic strip library. And if youre interested in selling your comic books, knowing what age they fall in is vitally important for valuing your comic books here are the four major ages for comic books in chronological order. The even better news is that all the content is free and legal. Then jess nevins launched his goldenage superheroes site.
Today there are a wealth of golden and silver age comic book characters who have fallen into public domain. Oct 1944 this book has 52 pages and was uploaded by movielover on april the file size is publisher is better nedor standard pines. I really enjoy comic book movies but havent really read many comic books. The digital comic museum is a website that is collecting public domain comic books from the golden age of comics, which is generally thought to be between the 1930s and 1950s, and is making them. In fact, while jeffs enthusiasm and passion for these characters shines through in his tale, he readily admits he hasnt even read many of the original stories from the golden age of comics featuring these great characters. Here are ten comics where the characters actually get older. Is there a website where you can download golden age comics.
Golden age characters who are in the public domain. During approximately the first 15 years of this period, many comic book characters were redesigned, creators gained prominence in the industry, independent comics flourished, and larger publishing houses. In june of 1938, national allied publications began a new comicbook series, featuring several different heroes. In recent years the many public domain characters from both pulps and comics have been. Public domain characters who have appeared in comic books. The free universe is a collaborative fictional universe comprised of characters, settings and stories that are public domain or freely licensed by their creators. Temporal comics was created to bring fun back to comics. Golden age comic page count golden age comic page count 0. When he expressed no interest in doing a companion one with the villains, i decided to fill that void. The wiki format allows any registered user to create any article, so we can all work together to build the site.
Public domain comic books golden age comics collectible. Catman was one of the characters from tem publishing. Two hundred golden age comics, including the first appearances of batman and superman, were found after being forgotten for more than 50 years. Public domain super heroes is a collaborative website about public domain characters from comic books, comic strips, films, books, pulps, mythology, television, animation, folk stories, among others. There are some comic books, though, where characters are actually allowed to age, sometimes even in real time. Because of this, comic books are generally categorized into different ages based on when they were published. Notable absences from the lineup are superman, batman, and wonder woman, despite all three originating in the golden age of comic books. It should be noted that this pertains only to the characters as they were originally depicted when. See more ideas about comic books, golden age and superhero. The digital comic museum free and public domain comic books kip adams, the second flame, was a chemist and possessed superhuman strength, but he could not control fire. Greats of the golden age comics golden years guide to reprints bright page golden age comic book reprints when works pass into the public domain unc. See more ideas about comic books, comics and comic covers. List of public domain characters this is a list of characters that have fallen out of worldwide, and are usable in other works of fiction without permission from the character s original creator. Fatman, catman, and more public domain comic heroes youve.
Two of the most common are androids and heroes that needed to convince someone close, or the public at large, that their heroic persona and their alter ego were in fact different people. Bert the turtle from duck and cover billy bounce early newspaper strip character big bad wolf in the three little pigs, little red riding hood, and the wolf and the seven young kids. Golden age reprints offers public domain comic books from the golden age of comics. Media in category golden age of comic books the following 199 files are in this category, out of 199 total. The golden age of dc comics is a coffee table book covering the history of dc comics from 19351956.
These websites host comics of varying genres and from various time periods. Plus, we also hold a large and growing selection of comic strips and pulp fiction. Also, adding to his mystique is that he didnt last long or have his own comic. Golden age comic page count cgc comic book collectors. While the comics are in the public domain, some of the characters might not be. This thick book is a 365 day introduction to the golden age of dc comics roughly the late 1930s to the middle 1950s. Public domain characters originally published by fawcett. Public domain characters concept public domain characters appears in 3901 issues. Wonderful site on characters and history of comic books, comic strips and animation. Fatman, catman, and more public domain comic heroes you.
Featured below are golden age comic books from wellknown pulp magazine publishers of the. The spider woman, heroic comics golden age, comic books, marvel, public domain. Thats why i think the nostalgic age is a good name for this modern period comic book characters, more than any time in their history, have become calcified and static, so that even the slightest change is disallowed or written away as soon as possible. A group of top comic collectors has chosen detective comics no. Our goal is to create a series of comic books featuring profiles of heroes that are in the public domain. Each set of facing pages contains a snippet from a golden age comic on one page, and some information about whats pictured on the other.
Any comic book creator looking to use one of these should make use of this resource. Dell became part of bantam doubleday dell in 1988, ceasing to exist as an independent company. If the stories are long public domain like green llama. See more ideas about comic book collection, comics and golden age. Like most golden age comic book companies, tem had shady practices, using shell companies and the like. My wife and i were killing time, waiting for some friends of hers from college to arrive, when we wandered into barnes and noble. Who are the best comic book characters now in the public. Oct 01, 2011 the golden age of dc comics is a coffee table book covering the history of dc comics from 19351956. I have a reprint book that i can read all the original adventure comics stories in. Sep 20, 2015 however, thanks to websites like comic book plus, which host hundreds of comics online, usually much lesser known ones, that have fallen into the public domain. Comic books are commonly categorized into four major ages based on when they were published. Get the best deals on golden age romance comics when you shop the largest online selection at. In june of 1938, national allied publications began a new comic book series, featuring several different heroes. The comic strip library is a digital library containing a collection of public domain comic strips.