Created in 1937

1937 was a quiet year for new pulp heroes — but the one standout character would become a foundational brick in the early DNA of detective comics. With hardboiled swagger and two-fisted grit, this lone debut hinted at the crime-fighter boom just around the corner. This page lists the 1937 creations entering the U.S. public domain in 2033 — and any already there.

Entering the Public Domain in 2033 (Created in 1937)

Slam Bradley
Slam Bradley debuted in Detective Comics #1, in March, 1937. Slam Bradley will enter the public domain on January 1, 2033.
Image: Detective Comics #1, March 1937. Artist unknown.

Already in the Public Domain (Created in 1937)

None at this time.

1937: Context & Fun Facts

• Slam Bradley was co-created by Siegel & Shuster — a year before Superman.
  That makes him one of the last “pre-Superman” heroes from the duo, and a direct test bed for the style that would soon change comics forever.
• His stories blended pulp detective tropes with slapstick.
  Early Slam Bradley tales could jump from noir fistfights to full-on comedic brawls — a tone DC would later refine in other Golden Age heroes.
• Slam Bradley debuted in Detective Comics #1.
  Meaning the “Detective” part of DC Comics literally starts with him — long before Batman arrives to claim the title.