Public Domain Comic Characters We Want to See in Superhero Films

Summary

• Public domain characters offer fresh alternatives to tired superhero tropes, sparking new creativity in the industry.
• Characters like Butterfly, Black Condor, and Master Mystic present untapped potential for engaging and diverse storytelling.
• From Jill Trent to Moon Girl, there’s a range of unique heroes waiting to be brought to life on the big screen.

In the last 20 years, superhero movies have become ubiquitous in pop culture. It would be a lie to say that most of these films have a lot of entertainment value, but the constant stream of superhero content can lead to audience fatigue. Public domain characters are a risky venture. Most of these characters have been forgotten over time, but there’s a lot of untapped potential to reinvigorate a lagging industry. Companies or individuals don’t own public domain characters. Their stories can be used as the basis to create something new, which in turn can offer a fresh alternative to the superhero movies we’ve become used to.

Some of the names of these characters are not exactly the pinnacle of originality. Many unique abilities are ripe for exploration. By reading the backstory of obscure characters like Butterfly, Black Condor, Master Mystic, and others, a competent filmmaker can introduce his take on a brand-new hero with new perspectives to audiences. Most public domain characters need to be more developed, so there’s room to create compelling backstories and offer something new to audiences. Overall, this list aims to share a compilation of public domain characters with a few ideas of our own.

The goal is to present new opportunities to explore the superhero genre while providing a welcome break from the familiar superhero tropes we’ve seen so much already. By bringing these characters to the big screen, filmmakers have a chance to reinvigorate the landscape and offer audiences something new and exciting. With that said, on we go with our list:

12 Jill Trent, Science Sleuth

First Appearance: Fighting Yank #6 (December 1943)

Created by: Al Camy

Jill Trent, the Science Sleuth, was a female adventurer from an undisclosed American city who would solve crimes using a combination of detective skills and science know-how. She was accompanied by her best friend Daisy, both of whom were incredibly skilled, not just in the sciences, but in hand-to-hand combat. Jill was also an inventor, making many items the duo used in their adventures.

Blinding Them with Science

There are two ways to go about this one, and both are fun. Setting it in a period piece with tongue-in-cheek dialogue and over-the-top silliness, with Jill’s inventions like Indestructible cloth and infrared goggles being used for comedic stings and practically in their missions; think Inspector Gadget. Instead of going the action comedy route, Jill and Daisy’s relationship could be a greater focus with more of a somber tone to their missions, something more like The Dark Knight. Either way, Jill Trent would be great on the screen.

11 Butterfly

First Appearance: Hell-Rider #1 (August 1971)

Created by: Gary Friedrich, Ross Andru, & Mike Esposito (possibly John Celardo and Rich Buckler)

Butterfly was the first ever African American superheroine in comic history, which has been unfairly overlooked in the comic industry and Hollywood. A modern film adaptation of Butterfly would resonate pretty well with modern audiences, given her backstory of fighting white supremacists in a sleek yet flashy butterfly costume with the ability to fly and fighting skills to rival Shang Chi.

Honoring the First African American Superhero

Her alter ego, Marian Michaels, is a singer by trade and trained in military tactics by the Hell Rider. This is an excellent setup to explore the struggles of working artists and other relatable aspects of life. Add in some kick-a** fight sequences, and you could have a strong, well-rounded film.

10 Black Condor

First Appearance: Crack Comics #1 (May 1940)

Created by: Lou Fine and Will Eisner

Black Condor is the alter ego of Richard Grey Jr. The character debuted in 1940 and was created by Will Eisner. The man learned to fly by creating a harness based on the flying of condors. A new take on this character could make him an Indigenous superhero, someone able to summon the ability to fly and superhuman strength from the spirits protecting his tribe.

A Potential Hero for the Disenfranchised

A modern film adaptation of Black Condor can also highlight important issues Indigenous communities face while providing a platform for Native American actors and filmmakers. By focusing on cultural identity, filmmakers can tell a story using a unique perspective to explore themes related to representation and diversity. Black Condor has been re-introduced in the DCU, with two other character versions that don’t fall under the public domain.

9 Master Mystic

First Appearance: Green Giant Comics #1 (1940)

Created by: Unknown

Master Mystic debuted in Green Giant Comics #1 in 1940, but there’s no information about who’s responsible for his creation. This mystical superhero offers the best canvas to explore possibilities. He debuted with established abilities, manipulating matter at will to turn objects into anything he wanted.

Could Be One Trippy Superhero Feature

A fresh take could make for an exciting story about a man with great power and the moral dilemma presented by how to use his skills to help others or for personal gain. We rarely see good superheroes exploring their selfish nature, so a story going for an in-between take could be interesting (and no, Homelander doesn’t count, he’s a bad guy). The abilities he showcases could be approached in many ways, either a troubled hero unsure how to wield his power or a master of the craft of creating items and using them against some powerful foes.

8 Amazing Man

First Appearance: Amazing Man Comics #5 (September 1939)

Created by: Bill Everett

Not to be confused with the legacy hero Amazing-Man in DC Comics, Amazing Man was created by Bill Everett (the co-creator of Namor and Daredevil). His alter ego is John Aman, who Tibetan Monks train to become the perfect warrior. John eventually gains super speed, great strength, and the ability to turn himself into a green mist to have great stealth.

A Blank Slate to Create a New Hero

A modern film adaptation of this character could easily switch gears to make him an Asian warrior rivaling Marvel’s Shang-Chi, who dives deep into a fast-paced adventure, exploring the nature of the character from an established POV while using his skills to explore themes of corruption and other forms of social commentary about the state of the world and the need for adaptability in the face of adversity.

7 Captain Battle

First Appearance: Silver Streak Comics #10 (May 1941)

Created by: Jack Binder & Carl Formes

Captain Battle is the superhero name of military veteran Jonathan Battle. The character poses a unique challenge since he’s suffered through the horrors of the First World War and makes it his life’s mission to prevent any future conflict from befalling the people of the United States.

A Hero to End War

To achieve his goal, he trains his mind and body to become incredibly intelligent and creates devices to foil the plans of warmongers across history. Captain Battle is best suited to an anthology show exploring imaginative approaches to avoid some of the worst armed conflicts in history, similar to Tarantino’s approach with Inglourious Basterds.

6 Miss Fury

First Appearance: Miss Fury #1 (December, 1942)

Created by: Tarpe Mills

Miss Fury is a wealthy socialite named Marla Drake. The character was introduced in the Black Fury newspaper strip in 1941 as a female alternative to Batman. The hero Miss Fury is a trademark of Dynamite Characters, LLC, but the original version created by Tarpé Mills is in the public domain. This is important to note as the designs are very similar.

Street Level Justice

Rich, trained in martial arts, and with cat-like acrobatics, Miss Fury relies on essential gadgets to get things done. She’s seen several revivals by the comic book industry, but the character has yet to be explored in other media. A film adaptation of Miss Fury could create a more empathetic story about superheroes, since the character relies on her insight and intelligence to solve most cases she’s involved with. Making her a street-level hero also seems apt, given her closeness to the caped crusader in design.

5 Spirit Man

First Appearance: Silver Streak Comics #1 (1939)

Created by: Unknown

Spirit Man is a man tormented by visions of the future, which lead him to create unique technology to fight crime in the present. With assistance from his friend Ray Williams, Spirit Man uses tools and a force known as “Mistodine rays” to access powers like becoming incorporeal, invisible, or the ability to fly.

Saving The Present By Looking Into the Future

A film adaption of this character could take an outstanding narrative route by having a tidy gentleman come in to disrupt the plans of evildoers by using his devices to show them the consequences of his actions. The dreams plaguing Spirit Man could lead his path, and he could embody higher forms of intelligence bent on helping humankind.

4 Blackout

First Appearance: Captain Battle #1 (1941)

Created by: Don Rico

Blackout, whose real name is Basil Brusiloff, is a Yugoslavian scientist affected by a terrible lab accident that grants him the power to become a shadow-like creature with super strength and the ability to fly. He also can travel through shadows, making for a compelling visual exploration of his powers using CGI.

Using the Shadows to Exact Justice

The European origin of the character is a great background to explore untold stories from the WWII era. A modern setup is even more intriguing by mixing contemporary issues such as corporate espionage and secret government agendas. The use of traveling through shadows can also really set this character up to be the ultimate spy, with this being one of the few powers we have not seen on screen (Nightcrawler travels through an alternate dimension).

3 The Hangman

First Appearance: Pep Comics #17 (July 1941)

Created by: Cliff Campbell and George Storm

The Hangman is likely to be the darkest character on our list. It begins with Bob Dickering, the brother of a cheery superhero named Comet (real name John Dickering). A street shootout occurs, and Comet is killed trying to save Bob. After revealing his secret identity, Bob swears to become The Hangman to all evildoers.

A Troubled Hero

The premise sounds similar to The Punisher since Bob’s motivations are not altruistic but revengeful. A modern take could take a darker twist, with the character turned into a serial killer hunting down criminals while exploring his inner struggle for all the killing he’s doing. The character would also be re-introduced to the DCU as part of their Western characters, which, though with the updated version out of the public domain, would make the perfect setting for the hero.

2 Moon Girl

First Appearance: Moon Girl and the Prince (Fall 1947)

Created by: Johnny Craig, Gardner Fox, & Sheldon Moldoff

Princess Moon is raised in the kingdom of Samarkand, where she becomes the fiercest fighter in the realm and vows to take no husband until someone proves to be a superior warrior to her. She vanishes from her world in search of Prince Mengu, the only suitor she likes, who turns out to be a prince from Earth.

A Cosmic Hero with Kick

No relation to the animated Marvel show, Moon Girl has lingered in the public domain for years without anyone taking notice of the excellent potential for world-building with this character. With a few twists and turns, this could become a film series for the ages. There is a lot to play around with her powers; her gifted special moonstone makes her “superior to any man,” being an easy setup for a villain looking to challenge that notion. Moon Girl also had all manner of cosmic crafts she could call on, so there is an option there to go campy and lean into more of a nostalgic ’80s vibe.

1 Red Rube

First Appearance: Zip Comics #39 (1943)

Created by: Ed Robbins

After a young orphan named Reuben Reuben runs away from his orphanage back to his family’s castle, he learns his relatives are still there as ghosts. Each spirit grants him special abilities, allowing him to turn into the superhero Red Rube by saying the words “Hey Rube.” This phrase makes turns him into a fully grown man with the powers of strength, wisdom, speed, invulnerability, and courage.

A Silly Movie for a Silly Hero

Sound familiar? Yes, Red Rube is a Shazam knock-off, but this character still has a lot of potential. With how well the first Shazam movie did (ignoring the second), taking an even heavier comedic approach to a character like this would be the route to go. Keep the lame catchphrase and his horrible costume design, and don’t change his weird real name of Reuben Reuben; lean into the silliness. Maybe not suited as a blockbuster hero, but Red Rube could be the perfect indie or B-movie hero.