Created in 1930
1930 was a quiet but pivotal year for pulp fiction. Though only one major character debuted, he would become one of Robert E. Howard's most enduring creations. This page lists the characters created in 1930 that are entering the U.S. public domain in 2026 — and those already there.
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Already in the Public Domain (Created in 1930)
Bran Mak Morn™
Bran Mak Morn debuted in "Kings of the Night," published in November, 1930 in Weird Tales. Robert E. Howard's Brooding Pictish king entered the public domain on January 1, 2026.
Later stories may still be under copyright, but the essential elements of the character all appear in this first story.
Image: Page 609 of Weird Tales, November 1930. Artist unknown.
1930: Context & Fun Facts
- Weird Tales was entering a literary golden age.
- Howard was refining the themes that would lead to Kull and Conan.
- The superhero genre was nearly a decade away.