Created in 1944

1944 was a quieter year in terms of quantity — but not in impact. This was the year comics introduced an immortal monster, a giantess and a magical mischief-maker. This page lists the 1944 creations entering the U.S. public domain in 2040 — and any already there.

Entering the Public Domain in 2040 (Created in 1944)

Solomon Grundy
Solomon Grundy, created by Alfred Bester andd Paul Reinman, debuted in All-Star Comics #61 in October 1944. Solomon Grundy will enter the public domain on January 1, 2040.

Giganta
Giganta, a 'brutish strongwoman' artificially evolved from an ape by a villainous scientist, created by William Moulton Marston and H.G.Peter, debuted in Wonder Woman #9 in May 1944. Giganta will enter the public domain on January 1, 2040.

Mr. Mxyzptlk
Mr. Mxyzptlk (origianlly Mxyztplk), was created by two different teams in 1944. The character first appeared in the daily Superman newspaper strip, created by Whitney Ellsworth and Wayne Boring, debuting on February 21, 1944. He was separately publishded, credited to creators Jerry Siegel and Ira Yarborough for the October 1944 issue of Superman, #30. Mr. Mxyzptlk will enter the public domain on January 1, 2040.

Already in the Public Domain (Created in 1944)

None at this time.

1944: Context & Fun Facts

• The Monsters Arrive.
  Solomon Grundy and Giganta both debuted in 1944, marking DC’s shift toward more mythic, monstrous adversaries. Grundy became the prototype for the “undying brute,” while Giganta pushed Wonder Woman’s rogues toward pulp science and body horror.
• Mr. Mxyzptlk Breaks Every Rule.
  Comics in 1944 were still mostly grounded in detective work or patriotic heroics — then Mxyzptlk showed up and threw physics out the window. He was one of the first mainstream “chaos gremlin” characters, paving the way for fourth-wall humor decades before Deadpool and Ambush Bug.