Which present-day (clearly and emphatically) fictional characters will still be active all throughout the 21st century and into at least three beginning the 22nd
Century?
Any franchise across all media.
Which present-day (clearly and emphatically) fictional characters will still be active all throughout the 21st century and into at least three beginning the 22nd
Century?
Any franchise across all media.
SpongeBob SquarePants and Iron Man is my guess, among others.
Take my dreams, childish and weak at the seams
Please don't analyze, please just be there for me
As long as there are violent, unsolved crimes, Batman. If we develop a complete, global police state, Darth Vader (as a hero).
None except for the occasional period piece of a character that was popular 100 years like how every now and then we try to do a Tarzan or Lone Ranger movie.
Comics as we know them will cease to exist within 15 to 20 years as the focus continues to transition to the movies and TV. However you can only tell the same stories so many times with these characters before diminishing returns makes them unprofitable.
New stories and characters will take prominence.
I could see Dr. Who still being a thing.
Doubtful it will be Thaddus "Chubby" Chadsworth (1867-1979).
I read somewhere many years ago that Tarzan, Superman, and Sherlock Holmes are the three most famous ppl that never existed, so, i’ll put my money on them.
I could see people referencing things like Superman and Batman and Spiderman but in terms of comics, I don't think they'll still be around by then. Maybe they will be like Sherlock Holmes where people make period movies about them or something but I doubt they will be active characters who are still relevant. Maybe going down in history alongside Holmes or Tarzan is the best they can hope for.
Assassinate Putin!
Speaking of which, https://www.diamondcomics.com/Home/1...ticleID=104543 made a list of characters/media (with some real life people) that have become iconic and popular in America, and some of them make me wonder how long they'll be widely remembered:
1870 - 1883
Publications such as Puck (German edition: March 18, 1871), Judge (Oct. 29, 1881), Life (July 4, 1883) and others set the stage with comic illustrations aimed at adults.
1880s
The Brownies (1883)
Sherlock Holmes (1887)
1890s
Aunt Jemima (1892)
Yellow Kid (1895)
Frank Merriwell (1896)
Little Pinkies (1896)
Katzenjammer Kids (1897)
Little Tigers/Mr. Jack (1898)
1900s
Wizard of Oz (1900)
Foxy Grandpa (1901)
Alphonse & Gaston (1902)
Buster Brown (1902)
Happy Hooligan (1902)
Peter Rabbit (1902)
Campbell Kids (1904)
Little Jimmy (1904)
Peter Pan (1904)
Little Nemo (1906)
Cisco Kid (Short stories, 1907)
Mutt and Jeff (1908)
The Kewpies (1909)
1910s
Uncle Wiggly (1910)
Krazy Kat/Dingbat Family (1910)
Fu Manchu (1911)
Hoot Gibson (1911)
Tarzan (1912)
Babe Ruth (1914 professional career begins)
Charlie Chaplin (1914, film career)
William S. Hart (1914)
Raggedy Ann (1915)
Toonerville Folks (1915)
Mr. Peanut (1916)
Reg'lar Fellers (1917)
The Gumps (1917)
Tom Mix (1917)
Bringing Up Father (1917)
Felix The Cat (1919)
Barney Google (1919)
1920s
Bonzo (1920)
Buck Jones (1920)
Ken Maynard (1920)
Zorro (1920 movie, 1919 short stories)
Skeezix (1921)
Our Gang (1922)
Smilin' Ed McConnell (1922)
Just Kids (1923)
Moon Mullin (1923)
Rin-Tin-Tin (1923)
Little Orphan Annie (1924)
Green Giant (1925)
Poll-Parrot (1925)
Skippy (1925)
Laurel & Hardy (1926)
Reddy Kilowatt (1926)
Winnie The Pooh (1926)
Charles Lindbergh (1927, from his flight)
Joe E. Brown (1927)
Kayo (1927)
Pez (1927)
Open Road for Boys (1927)
Joe Palooka (1928)
Mickey Mouse (1928)
Minnie Mouse (1928)
Tim Tyler (1928)
Uncle Don (1928)
Air Juniors (1929)
Amos 'n' Andy (1929)
Buck Rogers (1929)
Popeye (1929)
Seth Parker (1929)
Sky Climbers (1929)
Skyroads (1929)
Tim (1929)
1930s
Blondie (1930)
Clara, Lu 'n' Em (1930)
Pluto (1930)
The Shadow (1930)
Skyriders (1930)
Three Stooges (1930)
Betty Boop (1931)
Dick Tracy (1931)
Dracula (movie) (1931)
Eddie Cantor (1931)
Frankenstein (movie) (1931)
John Wayne (1931)
Kate Smith (1931)
The Little King (1931)
Lum & Abner (1931)
Bobby Benson (1932)
Burns & Allen (1932)
Captain Ezra Diamond (1932)
Chandu The Magician (1932)
Detectives Black and Blue (1932)
Ed Wynn (1932)
The Flying Family (1932)
Frank Buck (1932)
Fred Allen (1932)
Friends of the Phantom (1932)
Henry (1932)
Inspector Post (1932)
Jack Benny (1932)
Jack Pearl (1932)
Lone Wolf Tribe (1932)
One Man's Family (1932)
Seckatary Hawkins (1932)
The Singing Lady (1932)
Thurston the Magician (1932)
Vic & Sade (1932)
Admiral Byrd (1933)
Alley Oop (1933)
Breakfast Club (1933)
Dan Dunn (1933)
Dick Darling's Adventures (1933)
Doc Savage (1933)
Helen Trent (1933)
Jack Armstrong (1933)
Jimmie Allen (1933)
Jimmy Mattern (1933)
The Lone Ranger (1933)
Ma Perkins (1933)
Nancy & Sluggo (1933)
Pete Rice (1933)
Snap, Crackle, Pop (1933)
The Spider (1933)
Three Little Pigs (Disney 1933, Grimm fairy tales)
Ace Drummond (1934)
Captain Tim Healy (1934)
Clyde Beatty (1934)
Daisy Mae (1934)
Dick Steel, Boy Reporter (1934)
Dionne Quintuplets (1934)
Don Winslow of the Navy (1934)
Donald Duck (1934)
Flash Gordon (1934)
Joe Penner (1934)
Li'l Abner (1934)
Melvin Purvis (1934)
Og, Son of Fire (1934)
Operator #5 (1934)
Roscoe Turner (1934)
Secret Agent X-9 (1934)
Shirley Temple (1934)
Terry & The Pirates (1934)
China Clipper (1935)
Devil Dogs of the Air (1935)
Fibber McGee and Molly (1935)
Jungle Jim (1934)
Little Lulu (1935)
Mandrake the Magician (1935)
Omar the Mystic (1935)
Porky Pig (1935)
Scoop Ward (1935)
Hopalong Cassidy (1935)
Big Boy (1936)
Bill Barnes/Air Trails (1935)
Captain Frank Hawks/Post Cereal Campaign (1935)
Baby Snooks (1936)
Billy and Ruth (1936)
Charlie McCarthy (1936)
Gangbusters (1936)
The Green Hornet (1936)
Kukla, Fran and Ollie (1936)
Phantom (1936)
Renfrew of the Mounted (1936)
Aunt Jenny (1937)
Cinnamon Bear (1937)
Daffy Duck (1937)
Dr. Seuss (starts publishing, 1937)
Dorothy Hart, Sunbrite Jr. Nurse Corps (1937)
Joe Louis (1937)
Pretty Kitty Kelly (1937)
Snow White (1937)
Speed Gibson (1937)
Bob Hope/Pepsodent (1938)
Howie Wing (1938)
Red Ryder (1938)
Rocky Lane (1938)
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon (1938)
Superman (1938)
Batman (1939)
Captain Midnight (1939)
Ellery Queen (1939)
Elsie the Cow (1939)
Gone With The Wind (1939)
Goofy (1939)
Gulliver's Travels (movie 1939; book 1726)
Hop Harrigan (1939)
Ranger Joe (1939)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1939)
Shock Gibson (1939)
Silver Streak (1939)
The Sky Blazers (1939)
Tom & Jerry (1939)
1940s
Bugs Bunny (1940)
Captain Marvel (1940)
Duffy's Tavern (1940)
The Eagle (1940)
The Flash (1940)
The Green Lama (1940)
Green Lantern (1940)
Justice Society of America (1940)
Lassie (1940)
Lightning Jim (1940)
Pinocchio (movie 1940, book 1880)
The Shield (1940)
The Spirit (1940)
Spy Smasher (1940)
Woody Woodpecker (1941)
Archie (1941)
Blackhawk (1941)
Captain America (1941)
Captain Battle (1941)
Dumbo (1941)
The Great Gildersleeve (1941)
Inner Sanctum (1941)
U.S Jones (1941)
Wonder Woman (1941)
Bambi (1942)
Counter-Spy (1942)
Mary Marvel (1942)
Mighty Mouse (1942)
Roy Rogers (1942)
Casey, Crime Photographer (1943)
Chick Carter (1943)
Breakfast in Hollywood (1943)
Jimmy Durante (1943)
Smiley Burnette (1944)
Smokey Bear (1944)
Sunset Carson (1944)
Casper, The Friendly Ghost (1945)
Tennessee Jed (1945)
Fox and the Crow (1945)
Sky King (1946)
Howdy Doody (1947)
Jackie Robinson (1947 comes to the majors)
Steve Canyon (1947)
Uncle Scrooge (1947)
Foodini (1948)
Gabby Hayes/Comics (1948)
Lucille Ball (1948)
Pogo (1948)
Shmoo (1948)
Straight Arrow (1948)
Captain Video (1949)
Bozo (1949)
Super Circus (1949)
1950s
Beetle Bailey (1950)
Charlie Brown (1950)
The Ghost Rider (1950)
Rootie Kazootie (1950)
Sally Starr (1950)
Space Patrol (1950)
Tom Corbett, Space Cadet (1950)
Dennis The Menace (1951)
Mickey Mantle (1951)
Speedy Alka-Seltzer (1951)
Wild Bill Hickok (1951)
Gunsmoke (radio 1952, TV 1955)
MAD Magazine (1952)
Ramar of the Jungle (1952)
Tony the Tiger (1952)
James Bond (novels 1953, films 1963)
Rocky Jones, Space Ranger (1953)
Soupy Sales (1953)
Annie Oakley (1954)
Davy Crockett (1954)
Major Jet (1954)
Captain 11 (1955)
Captain Gallant (1955)
Fury (1955)
James Dean (1955)
Trix (1955)
Wyatt Earp (1955)
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Elvis Presley (1956)
The Muppets (1956)
Huckleberry Hound (1958)
Purple People Eater (1958)
Smurfs (1958, first appear in a story of Johan & Peewit called "Le Journal de Spirou")
Barbie (1959)
Bonanza (1959)
Bullwinkle (1959)
Yogi Bear (1959)
1960s
The Flintstones (1960)
Muhammad Ali (1960)
Charlie The Tuna (1961)
Dudley Do-Right (1961)
Fantastic Four (1961)
Spider-Man (1962)
Incredible Hulk (1962)
X-Men (1963)
Doctor Who (1963)
Ronald McDonald (1963)
The Beatles (1964)
Daniel Boone (1964)
G.I. Joe (1964)
Man from UNCLE (1964)
Pink Panther (1964)
Underdog (1964)
Lost In Space (1965)
Quake (1965)
Quisp (1965)
Captain Action (1966)
Daredevil (1966)
The Monkees (1966)
Pillsbury Doughboy (1966)
Star Trek (1966)
Banana Splits (1968)
Laugh-In (1968)
Planet of the Apes (movie 1968)
H.R. Pufnstuf (1969)
1970s
Ziggy (1971)
Freakies (1973)
The Six Million Dollar Man (1973)
Wolverine (1974)
The Punisher (1974)
Muppets (1976)
Star Wars (1977)
Garfield (1978)
Howard the Duck (1979)
Alien (1979)
Dukes of Hazard (1979)
1980s
Strawberry Shortcake (1980)
Masters of the Universe, He-Man (1981)
Smurfs 1981 (animated cartoon series)
E.T. (1982)
Knight Rider (1982)
A-Team (1983)
Ewoks (1983)
Rainbow Brite (1984)
Snorks (1984)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1984)
Voltron (1984)
Care Bears (1985)
Garbage Pail Kids (1985)
Alf (1986)
My Little Pony (1986)
Pee Wee Herman (1986)
Roger Rabbit (1988)
Energizer Bunny (1989)
The Simpsons (1989)
1990s
Ren & Stimpy (1991)
Beavis & Butthead (1993)
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993)
Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Powerpuff Girls (1998)
Futurama (1999)
Spongebob Squarepants (1999)
2000s
Shrek (2001)
Jimmy Neutron (2002)
Good post by Electric Mastro.
On that list as far as characters that still have a level of relevance that aren't product branding (sorry Aunt Jemima), I'd say most people still have an idea and there is new material on
-Sherlock Holmes
-Wizard of Oz
-Peter Pan
-Peter Rabbit
-Tarzan
-Felix the Cat.
Those are all the ones from over 100 years ago (techincally you can add Zorro as well).
I consider Superman and Batman who debuted about 20 years after Zorro and some of the latest of that crew to have much more staying power generationally than most of that list with Sherlock Holmes and Peter Pan being the real contenders to that. I think it's safe to say those characters will 100% be active in another 80 years in some capacity. Especially when you consider that the past decade probably had more media with them than any other decade ever when you factor in the amount of comic titles they support, live action films, video games, and animated films. At this point they are as big as Mickey Mouse. Speaking of the Mouse, yeah Disney just through it's parks and how big the company is will have most big properties active for a long time. Also characters like Dracula and Frankenstein are synonymous with an entire genre.
Also, a list from http://www.hoknescomics.com/earlycomics.htm of the 100 most important early characters in comics pre-1940:
1879
The Brownies
1883
Peck’s Bad Boy (Henry Peck)
1895
Yellow Kid
1897
The Katzenjammer Kids
1900
Foxy Grandpa
Happy Hooligan
1902
Buster Brown
1905
Brainy Bowers
Professor Genius
The Imp (Little Nemo in Slumberland)
Little Nemo
1907
Mutt and Jeff
1910
Dolly Dimples (comic strip)
Ignatz Mouse
1911
Bunny
1913
Bringing Up Father
Krazy Kat
1914
Hans Und Fritz
1915
Roger Bean
1917
The Gumps
Little Mary Mixup
Reg'lar Fellers
1918
Captain and the Kids
Gasoline Alley (Skeezix)
1919
Barney Google and Snuffy Smith
Felix The Cat
Olive Oyl
Harold Teen
1920
The Potts
Winnie Winkle
1921
Joe Palooka
Tillie The Toiler
1922
Bonzo the dog
Fritzi Ritz
Smitty (comic strip)
1923
Moon Mullins
Skippy
1924
Boots and Her Buddies
Little Orphan Annie
Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks
Wash Tubbs
1925
Ella Cinders
1928
Buck Rogers
Wilma Deering
Mickey Mouse
Tailspin Tommy
1929
Dixie Dugan
Popeye
Ripleys Believe It Or Not
Tarzan (comics)
Tintin
1930
Blondie (comic strip)
Joe Palooka
Nero and Zero
1931
Dick Tracy
1932
Henry
1933
Captain Easy
Dagwood Bumstead
Dickie Dare
Dan Dunn
Nancy (comic strip)
Swee'Pea
Tiny Tim (comic strip)
1934
Dale Arden
Colonel Blimp
Dragon Lady (Terry and the Pirates)
Father and Son (comics)
Flash Gordon
Frankie Doodle
Jungle Jim
Li’l Abner
Mandrake the Magician
Ming the Merciless
Secret Agent X-9
Prince Vultan
Hans Zarkov
1935
Ace Drummond
Adventures of Patsy
Barney Baxter
Doctor Occult
King of the Royal Mounted
Little Lulu
Oaky Doaks
Tin-Can Tommy
1936
The Broons
The Clock (comics)
King Arthur (DC Comics)
Merlin (DC Comics)
Mickey Finn (comic strip)
The Phantom
1937
Abbie an' Slats
Slam Bradley
Freddy the Fearless Fly
Huey, Dewey, and Louie
Olga Mesmer
Prince Valiant
Sheena, Queen of the Jungle
1938
Arrow (comics)
Charlie Chan
Chesty Bond
Crimson Avenger (Lee Travis)
Uncle Fester
Clark Kent
Lois Lane
Jimmy Olsen
Ping the Elastic Man
Red Ryder
Robin Hood (DC Comics)
Spirou (comics)
Superman
Tex Thompson
Mary Worth
Zatara
1939
Addie and Hermy
Amazing-Man (Centaur Publications)
American Ace
Angel (Thomas Halloway)
Batman
Blue Beetle
Bozo the Iron Man
Billy Bunter
Captain Marvel (DC Comics)
Claw (Lev Gleason Publications)
Doctor Death (comics)
Doll Girl
Doll Man
Eye (Centaur Publications)
Flame (comics)
Shock Gibson
James Gordon (comics)
Phineas Horton
Human Torch (android)
Invisible Hood
Jor-El
Ka-Zar (magazine)
Jonathan and Martha Kent
Julie Madison
Masked Marvel (Centaur Publications)
Masked Raider
Master Death
Mopsy
Namor
Phantom Blot
Red Tornado (Ma Hunkel)
Samson (Fox Feature Syndicate)
Sandman (Wesley Dodds)
Shazam (wizard)
Silver Streak (comics)
Martha & Thomas Wayne
Wizard (Archie Comics)
Wonder Man (Fox Publications)
Looking back, it’s quite impressive how Sherlock Holmes has managed to stay popular after over 100 years. Not just in England, but all over the world too. He’s arguably as popular in 2020 as he was in 1920, being portrayed every other year whether it be in plays, movies, TV shows, or parodies.