Created in 1954

1954 blends pulp heroics with atomic-age imagination — from patriotic satire to monster mayhem — marking a transitional year between Golden Age comics and the dawning era of pop-culture icons. This page lists the 1954 creations entering the U.S. public domain in 2050 — and any already there.

Entering the Public Domain in 2050 (Created in 1954)

Fighting American
Fighting American, created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, debuted in May 1954. Fighting American will enter the public domain on January 1, 2050.

Gorilla-Man
Gorilla-Man, created by Stan Lee and Robert Q. Sale, debuted in Men's Adventures #26 in March 1954. Gorilla-Man will enter the public domain on January 1, 2050.

Godzilla
Godzilla,created by Japanese studio Toho, debuting in the iconic 1954 film Godzilla (Gojira), directed by Ishirō Honda with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya,will enter the public domain on January 1, 2050.

Already in the Public Domain (Created in 1954)

None at this time.

1954: Context & Fun Facts

• Fighting American was Jack Kirby and Joe Simon’s sharp pivot from straight superheroics into Cold War satire.
  Initially conceived as another patriotic hero, he quickly became a tongue-in-cheek response to McCarthyism.
• Gorilla-Man reflects Marvel/Atlas’ obsession with “weird creature” covers.
  1950s Marvel leaned heavily into sci-fi and monster anthologies, and Gorilla-Man embodies that wonderfully oddball period.
• Godzilla’s debut redefined global pop-mythology overnight.
  Born from nuclear anxieties, the 1954 film didn’t just create a monster — it launched Japan’s most enduring cinematic legend and reshaped giant-creature storytelling worldwide.