Jan. 1 marks the dawn of a new era for Popeye and Tintin. It's the day the nonagenarian cartoon characters officially enter the U.S. public domain along with a treasure trove of other iconic works.

Cartoon characters have long captivated our imaginations ... Garfield’s obsession with lasagna is unmatched. Popeye the Sailor Man is renowned for his bulging forearms, superhuman strength ...