Trademark/copyright laws?

[Cable2X]

I'll try and make this short:

I'm writing a novel. My main character is code named IronGhost, but there already exists an Iron Ghost:

http://www.desperadopublishing.com/TITLES/IronGhost.htm

Now my character is not based on Dixon's Iron Ghost, and in fact I have never read the comic, but is "Iron Ghost" a name I can use? After seeing images of Dixon's Iron Ghost on the web I also changed some visual aspects of my character. I got rid of the hat, scarf, and goggles, and replaced them with a helmet. So I only changed the face area, and the trench coat and everything else is the same. Here is my old Iron Ghost sketch followed by a rough paint image of the new face (helmet):

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/6268/ironghost1web.png

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4963/igsketch.png

My character has nothing to do with WW2 or Nazis, but is a vigilante. What are my chances of violating any trademark/copyright laws? I really want to keep the name IronGhost as the name has grown on me as I've developed the story.

[wutdude]

http://www.copyright.gov

Should have everything you need to know.

[Jaye]

I feel for you. I created a character and later discovered the name was already taken also. I had to change it, and now the new name works even better... but for a little while I was pretty dejected over it.

Good luck, I like your design (the re-worked one, too).

Jaye