Created in 1950

1950 arrived in the superhero drought: only a couple of notable characters debuted, but both would become fixtures in their respective worlds — one a future A-list assassin, the other a cornerstone of Riverdale’s brain trust. This page lists the 1950 creations entering the U.S. public domain in 2046 — and any already there.

Entering the Public Domain in 2046 (Created in 1950)

Deadshot
Deadshot (Floyd Lawton), created by David Vern Reed and Lew Sayre Schwartz, debuted in Batman #59 in June 1950. Deadshot will enter the public domain on January 1, 2046.

Dilton Doiley
Dilton Doiley, created by Bob Montana, debuted in Pep Comics #78 in March 1950. Dilton Doiley will enter the public domain on January 1, 2046.

Already in the Public Domain (Created in 1950)

None at this time.

1950: Context & Fun Facts

• Deadshot’s debut barely made a ripple.
  His first appearance in Batman saw him dressed like a magician and promptly forgotten — until the ’70s reinvented him into DC’s deadliest marksman.
• Dilton Doiley shows MLJ doubling down on teen culture.
  As superheroes faltered, Riverdale thrived, and Dilton became the archetypal nerd — decades before that trope took over pop culture.
• 1950 underscores how far the Golden Age had collapsed.
  Only two new relatively minor comic book characters launched this year, a stark contrast to the explosion of creativity just a decade earlier.