[Lanfeust]

Hi guys! I need your help and your knowledge once again. I've been wondering whether some PD superheroes had their origin story told, especially Black Terror, The Claw, Green Lama and Stardust (I'm also interested in others, may be helpful). I cannot download everything, so I need your help if you know where to find them.

It will be helpful for me to write my stories (I already used The Claw, and intend to use at least Green Lama and Stardust later).

Thanks in advance.

[bchat]

Black Terror's Origin is in Exciting Comics # 9.  I don't believe there ever was an origin story for Stardust.

[Yoc]

There was no origin for Stardust.

[John C]

Stardust would be cheapened by an origin, of course.

Be careful with the Green Lama.  Despite Dynamite's use of the character, the character originated in the Pulps and radio shows, which aren't (entirely) public domain.  He's had multiple origins, but if you're trying to keep out of trouble, you need to make sure that the origin you select (he's had a few) doesn't derive from something that's still under copyright.

[Lanfeust]

Thank you, guys!

I knew Green Lama originated in radio shows and pulps, but as I don't know how to find these, copyrighted sources won't be selected.

Besides, my plan is to use characters that fit into a magic universe, as the comic I currently do hinges on magic - I finally banned superheroes from my work (my girlfriend and collaborator works on a superhero comic and I prefer to help her, because I'm simply non-satisfied with my own superhero stuff) . Stardust being a super-"wizard", I think he can be of good use. No origin story, well it suits me - I also think he doesn't need one. Concerning Green Lama, I plan to split him into two characters - the Green Lama and Jethro Dumont. The Claw is already in use, first as a phantom menace - keeping his powers from Silver Streak Comics) - but definitely non-human. And he is the arch-enemy. Well, all the characters are given a magic twist, but I try to be as faithful as possible to the original characters.

Plans for Black Terror and Daredevil - among others - are still in development for further use, they won't be a part of my "magic comic". Anyway, I won't twist them too much.

[John C]

I knew Green Lama originated in radio shows and pulps, but as I don't know how to find these, copyrighted sources won't be selected.

Just be aware that, as they say, ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law.  Your lack of experience with copyrighted versions of the character won't mean that you haven't infringed on somebody's copyright.  It just means that the judge won't force you to pay as much...

[Lanfeust]

I know that, that's why I'll stick to the comic-book version and nothing else. I already have a precise idea of what to do with the Green Lama. Basically, I'm using Jethro Dumont apart of the Green Lama character - who is a Tibetan monk with the same powers as the superhero - as a necessary twist for the purpose of the story. I think it doesn't infringe any copyright this way.

[John C]

I'm not sufficiently well-versed to answer the question, myself, but I can tell you that if it were me, I'd do the research to make sure that nothing I was using originated outside the comic.  But I'm paranoid about these things.  By contrast, I doubt Dynamite and AC bothered to do the research, and nobody's pounding on their doors...

[DennyWilson]

By contrast, I doubt Dynamite and AC bothered to do the research, and nobody's pounding on their doors...

Perhaps they are carrying what is called "Errors and Omissions" Insurance - this covers in cases such as this if someone comes along claming infringement to still copyrighted concepts or protected trademarks. Filmakers who use stock footage and public domain works tend to use this.

[Drahken]

I knew Green Lama originated in radio shows and pulps, but as I don't know how to find these,

Old radio eps are pretty easy to find (unless you're looking for really specific ones, as many old eps are simply lost to the vaccuum of time), just search for "old time radio" or "OTR".
Here are some green llama radio eps:
http://bedardrenaud.googlepages.com/greenlama
http://www.freeotrshows.com/otr/g/Green_Lama.html

Here are a bunch of generalized OTR links:
http://calfkilleroldtimeradio.blogspot.com/
http://calfkiller.googlepages.com/oldtimeradio
http://www.freeotrshows.com/
http://free-otr.com/
http://www.best-otr.com/
http://154.ca/otr/archive.shtml
http://zootradio.com/
http://www.archive.org/details/radioprograms
http://www.otr.net/

As far as copyrights, OTR is generally considered to be PD, but it's a grey area.

[John C]

As far as copyrights, OTR is generally considered to be PD, but it's a grey area.

Keep in mind that this is a different "gray area" than most people mean.  Audio recordings are specifically not covered under Federal copyright law.  This means that the laws depend entirely on your state and municipality, or the state in which you're doing business, obviously if that's significant to you.

So, as I mentioned somewhere else, I absolutely am not permitted to supply radio shows.  I live in and have incorporated in New York State.  The laws here grant "maximum possible protection" to any work that the Federal government hasn't already covered.  That means that New York sees copyright on every audio clip dating back to "Mary Had a Little Lamb" as existing and holding firm until the Federal law kicks in later this century.

In other words, this particular gray area can be cleared up for any specific person by consulting with a local copyright attorney for five minutes or so, and I highly recommend taking the time (and money, if you can't find a free consultation in your neighborhood).