Created in 1943

1943 was the year the Golden Age sharpened its rogues’ gallery. With America deep into WWII, publishers leaned into bizarre masterminds, occult villains, and eccentric criminals — while also introducing iconic supporting players who would shape superhero mythologies for decades. It also gave us one of the medium’s strangest cases of two publishers creating different heroines with the same name. This page lists the 1943 creations entering the U.S. public domain in 2039 — and any already there.

Entering the Public Domain in 2039 (Created in 1943)

Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Pennyworth, created by Don Cameron and Bob Kane, debuted in Batman #16, April 1943. In his early appearances, he was overweight and clean-shaven. The serial, Batman cast William Austin, as Alfred. Austin was trim and sported a thin mustache. In January 1944, Alfred vacationed at a health resort in Detective Comics #83. He has been trim and moustachioed ever since. Alfred will enter the public domain on January 1, 2039.

Vandal Savage
Vandal Savage, created by Alfred Bester and Martin Nodell, debuted in Green Lantern #10, December 1943. Vandal Savage will enter the public domain on January 1, 2039.

Cheetah
Cheetah (Priscilla Rich), created by William Moulton Marston & H.G. Peter, debuted in Wonder Woman #6, October 1943. Cheetah will enter the public domain on January 1, 2039.

Brain Wave
Brain Wave (Henry King Sr.), created by Gardner Fox and Joe Gallagher, debuted in All-Star Comics #15 in February 1943. Brain Wave will enter the public domain on January 1, 2039.

Toy Man
Toy Man (Winslow Shott), created by Don Cameron and Ed Dobrotka, debuted in Action Comics #64, September 1943. Toy Man will enter the public domain on January 1, 2039.

Cavalier
Cavalier (Mortimer Drake),created by Don C. Cameron and Bob Kane, debuted in Detective Comics #81 in November 1943. Cavalier will enter the public domain on January 1, 2039.

Crime Doctor
The Crime Doctor (Dr. Bradford Thorne), created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, debute in Detective Comics #77, July, 1943. The Crime Doctor will enter the public domain on January 1, 2039.

Tweedledum & Tweedledee
Tweedledum & Tweedledee (Dumfree and Deever Tweed), created by Don Cameron, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson, debuted in Detective Comics #74, April 1943. Tweedledum & Tweedledee will enter the public domain on January 1, 2039.

Miss America
Miss America (Madeline Joyce), created by Otto Binder and Al Gabriele, debuted in Marvel Mystery Comics #49 in November 1943. The Timely Comics version of Miss America will enter the public domain on January 1, 2039.

Already in the Public Domain (Created in 1943)

Uncle Dudley
Uncle Dudley, aka Uncle Marvel, created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze, debute in Wow Comics #18,in October 1943. Uncle Dudley is in the public domain.

Mr. Mind
Mr. Mind, created by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck, debuted in Captain Marvel Adventures #22 in March 1943. Mr. Mind is in the public domain.

Sabbac
Sabbac, created by Otto Binder and Al Carreno, debuted in Captain Marvel Jr. #4 in February 1943. Sabbac is in the public domain.

1943: Context & Fun Facts

• DC Goes Full Villain Laboratory.
  While 1941–42 built heroes, 1943 doubled down on foes. The Cheetah, Vandal Savage, Brain Wave, Toyman, the Crime Doctor, the Cavalier, and Tweedledum & Tweedledee all arrived in the same year — a tonal shift toward more colorful, psychological, and sometimes outright surreal adversaries.
• Alfred Pennyworth Changes Batman - Forever.
  Batman’s world stabilized when Alfred debuted — originally chubbier, clumsier, and used for comic relief. After the serial cast a thin mustachioed actor, DC redesigned him into the iconic version we know today. 1943 is the moment Batman stories truly became “Batman and Alfred.”
• The Year of the “Grand Chessmasters”.
  Between Vandal Savage and Mr. Mind, 1943 introduced two masterminds who specialize in long games and complex manipulations — a sign that superhero stories were shifting from punch-of-the-week to larger, serialized conflicts.
• Fawcett Unleashes Its Weirdest Era.
  Mr. Mind, Uncle Dudley, Sabbac, and Captain Nazi all hit in 1943 — a range that runs from comedic (Uncle Dudley) to cosmic-evil (Mr. Mind) to pure propaganda menace (Captain Nazi). This single year cemented the Marvel Family as the most eclectic and genre-hopping heroes in comics.
• Will The Real Miss America Please Stand Up
  Both Quality Comics and Timely introduced heroines named “Miss America” in the 40s. Quality’s Joan Dale leaned into patriotism mixed with mystical powers and debuted in 1941.
  Timely’s Madeline Joyce was a more traditional super-strong WWII heroine debuting in 1943.
  It’s one of the earliest examples of parallel creation causing reader confusion — long before the Marvel/DC name collisions of the Silver Age.