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  1. #1
    Legendary Member daBronzeBomma's Avatar
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    Default Fictional characters who will still be active in 2101?

    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.

  2. #2
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    SpongeBob SquarePants and Iron Man is my guess, among others.
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  3. #3
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    As long as there are violent, unsolved crimes, Batman. If we develop a complete, global police state, Darth Vader (as a hero).

  4. #4
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    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.

  5. #5
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    I could see Dr. Who still being a thing.

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    Doubtful it will be Thaddus "Chubby" Chadsworth (1867-1979).

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    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.

  8. #8
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    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.
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  9. #9
    Astonishing Member Electricmastro's Avatar
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    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)

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Electricmastro View Post
    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:

    ...
    In terms of lines of characters, that may be the longest single post that I have ever seen on these forums.

  11. #11
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    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.

  12. #12
    Astonishing Member Electricmastro's Avatar
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    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)

  13. #13
    Invincible Member numberthirty's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by KNIGHT OF THE LAKE View Post
    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.
    Along this line...

    The "Controversial Opinions..." thread reminded me that some of Lovecraft's characters may very well make it that far into the future.

    That said, they are about as elderly as some of the ones mentioned in this post.

  14. #14
    Astonishing Member Electricmastro's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by KNIGHT OF THE LAKE View Post
    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.
    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.

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