Avoiding copyright issues at “all costs” in today’s comic strip…

Writing a comic strip is so tough. As you have seen from the history of my comic strip, Charmy’s Army introduces a lot of characters and alter-egos sporadically. I should have been a character designer. I have a ton of ideas for different characters in my brain every day. The complication for these ideas revolves around legality. Some amazing names have come out of my head that was huge infringements on the copyrights of others. Before running with any of my ideas, research is required. I have shot down so many amazing ideas because of legal conflicts with the copyrights of others.

In today’s strip, we are introduced to Weaver’s first reoccurring alter ego. Doland Blackheart is a vigilante hero from the Prohibition era. His character is a throwback to simpler times when gangsters ruled New York and corruption was at a fevered pitch. The economy was in the pits, and unemployment was at a record high. Turning to crime was a means of survival during this era of unruly depravity.

So what happens next?

Weaver… I mean Doland… turns to Davy and grins. Davy shakes his head and walks away.

“So… Dillan…. what is your deal?”, asks Charmy.

“The name is Dolland”, corrects Weaver… I mean Doland… “I am the avenger for honesty, integrity, and justice!”

“What are midnight blue candy bars?”, asks Charmy.

“They are establishments of corruption. They are dwellings of malfeasance,” reveals Doland. “They are the devil’s armpit. Tis a place were the unwilling gamble away their money along with their souls and their dignity. Pure evil inhabits every square inch of this seediest grotto”.

“Oh, so Chucky Cheese!” Exclaims Charmy.

“What? No!”, yells Doland.

“Well, you’ve obviously never been to a six-year-old’s birthday party”, says Charmy.

“Superheroes have no time for a family”, explains Doland. “Our family is lady liberty and the sons of justice”.

“Oh yeah, I love their hit song ‘Our Love is Stronger than Limburger Cheese’ “, admits Charmy.

Suddenly, Doland’s watch begins beeping.

“Is it time to take your medicine?” asks Charmy.

“No. This is an alert from the police commissioner,” reveals Doland. “I must be off”.

“Oh… you are definitely a little OFF”, mumbles Charmy as Doland rushes away and off-screen.

“I must admit, that color scheme looks pretty cool”, Charmy mutters to himself.

End scene.

– Davy