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So you guys remember my previous list involving the Silver Age Marvel Comics that are found to be PD? Well here's another one from the same poster, this time with a complete list of PD MLJ / Archie Comics. Now I know I probably should've done a list of PD comics from DC / National Publications, but the thing is is that the number of PD comics from them is pretty small and is still ongoing. So I'm waiting until that get's done before I post that list.
Quote:
(---"We have completed our systematic evaluation of the Public Domain status of books published by Archie/MLJ Comics.
The below list is sorted into two groups. The first section is Archie Comics that are Public Domain because they failed to post appropriate copyrights when the books were first published. The second group is those we believe to be Public Domain because we can find no evidence of copyright renewals. Thus, barring the discovery of further information, they are presumed to be PD.
No copyrights originally posted.
Year / Issues / Title
1961 / 27-38 / The Adventures of Little Archie
1960 / 27-30 /Adventures of the Fly
1961 / 14-15 / Adventures of the Jaguar
1964 / 1-2 / Adventures of Young Dr Masters
1964 / 1-8 / Archie and Me
1950 / 92-126 / Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica
1953 / 72-101 / Archie's Joke Book Magazine
1959 / 27-47 / Archie's Madhouse
1949 / 99-126 / Archie's Pal Jughead
1952 / 25-35 / Archie's Pals 'n' Gals
1965 / 1-2 / Betty and Me
1965 / 32-37 / Fly Man
1965 / 127-132 / Jughead
1946 / 149-182 / Laugh Comics
1958 / 22-49 / Life with Archie
1963 / 1-2 / Little Archie Mystery
1965 / 1-4 / Mighty Crusaders
1963 / 1 / More Seymour
1940 / 165-194 / Pep Comics
1963 / 15-18 / Reggie
1963 / 1 / Seymour, My Son
1963 / 2-20 / She's Josie
1964 / 1 / The Shadow
1944 / 88-90 / Wilbur Comics
No evidence of renewals found. Thus, barring the discovery of new information, the below issues are presumed to be Public Domain.
1950 / 1 / Adventures of the Dover Boys
1953-1960 / 1,2,5,6,8 / Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica Annual
1953-1960 / 2,3,6 / Archie's Pal Jughead Annual
1943-1946 / 9-19 / Black Hood Comics
1945 / 1 / Black Swan Comics
1939-1942 / 1-22 / Blue Ribbon
1949-1952 / 1-11 / Darling Love
1949-1951 / 1-7 / Darling Romance
1950-1952 / 1-3 / Fauntleroy Comics [Super Duck Presents]
1951-1954 / 6-10 / Ginger
1942-1943 / 2-8 / Hangman Comics
1941-1943 / 1-9 / Jackpot Comics
1943-1945 / 10-16 / Jolly Jingles
1960 / 3 / Jughead's Fantasy
1946-1963 / 20-30 / Laugh Comics
Free Weekly Comic Magazine 1944 / 46-48 / Laugh Comix
1940-1959 / 1-71 / Pep Comics
1950-1952 / 1-7 / Sam Hill Private Eye
1940-1944 / 13 Iss Tot / Shield-Wizard Comics
1942 / 1 / Special Comics
1944-1960 / 1-42 / Super Duck Comics
1945-1954 / 49-100 / Suzie Comics
1939-1942 / 1-27 / Top Notch Comics
1942-1944 / 28-45 / Top Notch Laugh Comics
1944-1963 / 1-27 / Wilbur Comics
1940-1944 / 1-47 / Zip Comics
"---)
So yeah, it may come as a surprise to a lot of you but characters like Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead are actually in the Public Domain. Also since Life with Archie Issues number 42, 46 and 48 are PD, than Archie's superhero form (Pureheart, The Powerful) he had for a little bit is PD as well.
So make of that what you will. 
The research you're quoting is from one of the fans of Gwandanaland Comics who has been instrumental in helping Gwandanaland make sure that the issues they are reprinting are actually in the Public Domain.
It is important to note though that the *issues* being in the PD does not guarantee that the *characters* are in the PD. You can reprint any of these issues no problem, but if the title of the book is one still active by Archie, you could not use that as the title of your reprint, because there are trademarks to consider. Same with characters still in use- active trademarks may prevent you from making new stories with the characters.