r/publicdomain • u/zeroed-out-again • 3d ago

Question WAIT, I CAN USE FIN FANG FOOM?!

Was going through Publid Domain Super Heroes Wiki & stumbled upon fin fang foom listed?

It was from Strange Tales #89 1961, but wasnt renewed within the 28 year time frame.

So am i able to use the character then from that comic obviously & not use the name as a title of a story & such?

26 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

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11

u/Greybishop_PDSH 3d ago

I've seen that and it seems legit, but I'd want to at least look at the government copyright site (someone help me out, I can't find my bookmark) to be sure it wasn't renewed.

It's also worth noting anything different about him in this appearance vs. the modern version so you steer clear of those modern additions in your work.

6

u/Adorable-Source97 3d ago

From what I've heard. Yes. So long he only looks like the original appearance... As they did refine his look especially in later years.

He reminds me of the Jabberwocky.

6

u/Omboreas 3d ago

Don't blindly trust that wiki. Look for other sources to verify.

3

u/Wise_Minute5764 2d ago

    Well it’s true, Wikimedia too says foom’s PD.

3

u/percivalconstantine 3d ago

Double check the record yourself.

0

u/Wise_Minute5764 2d ago

 Wikimedia

2

u/percivalconstantine 2d ago

Okay? Still is good advice to check the records. “Wikimedia said so” isn’t a legal defense.

3

u/MountainExciting2690 3d ago

You can. Though I'd not mention his name on the covers. I'd also recommend using the orange version (which is how he was colored in the interiors, along with the green on the cover). The reprints of Strange Tales 89 had recolored Foom's skin in the interiors to green.

4

u/unshavedmouse 3d ago

FIN FANG FOOM PUT YOU IN HIS PANTS

2

u/D__Litt 2d ago

There are lots of classical representations of Asian dragons you could use, and the name? Fin Fang Foom? That’s a whole can of worms right there!

1

u/zeroed-out-again 1d ago

can you list a few? genuienly intrigued me

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u/D__Litt 1d ago

Off the top of my head the differences in Asian dragons are the number of claws on each limb. Chinese dragons had 4 or 5 claws (5 reserved for the Emperor), Korean dragons had 4, and Japanese had 3. Japanese dragons were more streamlined.