[toonfan30]

I'm working on creating a comic-zine of funny animal and ghost characters from the golden age of comics. But I'm not for sure what characters are in the public domain and free to use. I like to use characters I can create new stories of.

[Robb_K]

I'm working on creating a comic-zine of funny animal and ghost characters from the golden age of comics. But I'm not for sure what characters are in the public domain and free to use. I like to use characters I can create new stories of.

I'd be interested in that.  This website has comic books and other media items whose contents which we display are all researched and found to be in The Public Domain.  However, determining public domain status is a bit tricky, as certain books and stories have been determined to be in The PD when displayed in whole books, whose content has been determined to be in the PD, but when printed in a new, reprint or analysis project, the reprint has been determined to be under a new copyright, and thus, NOT in The PD.  So, there are reprint books we cannot display (and you may not be able to display in your fanzine. 

Some other members here, and I can advise you on what we know IF you list the characters and source of the original GA books and stories you plan to use.  I am a funny animal and cartoony human character comedy comics fan (and somewhat of an expert -eg one should be one of the best at this website to advise you on, at least what you WOULDN'T be allowed to display on your website).

So please feel free to run your PD questions by us, telling us which comic book and strip publications, series, issues, and characters you want to use, from which periods.

[toonfan30]

Thank you. I appreciate that. One of the public domain comics and characters I have an interest in putting in my comiczine is " Barnyard comics, Lil Ghost, and Basil the Royal Cat

[MarkWarner]

Just to put a slight spanner in the works as we (the site admins etc) have no legal training we have been advised NOT to discuss public domain status on the forum.  This is mainly due to potential liability issues.

Of course, we are a helpful community and have no control over members discussing it using Private Messages or the like

[toonfan30]

Okay sir. Thank you for letting me know.