Top 5 Pulp Heroes Who Deserve Another Movie

 

Art by Alex Ross

    With the rise in popularity of superheroes in the 21st century, especially those from Marvel Comics and their widely successful MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), I feel a particular subgenre of comic heroes has been overlooked for far too long: pulp heroes. These are characters who, much like Batman, do not possess supernatural abilities (mostly) but share many of the attributes and thematic elements associated with even the most archetypical superhero: elaborate costumes, mysterious personalities, and a desire to take down crime in the name of truth and justice. In fact, many of the most classical pulp heroes went on to become the inspiration for many superhero characters that spawned from Marvel and D.C. Comics. One would have to be blind or ignorant to not notice the similarities between an established comic book character like Batman and the classic pulp hero who predates him, Zorro. 

    Some of these classic pulp characters have had a movie or two based on their legends in the past, mainly around the time they were most popular. However, over the years, there have been many efforts to bring back or at least kickstart a massive effort to bring these characters into a new light, retaining their classic charm while modernizing (for want of a better word) their mystique and lore. 

    While I may have a soft spot for some of the movies I will mention in this blog entry, I do not deny their flaws, nor am I ignorant of how much of a departure from their source material many of them feature. Although I still enjoy these movies and characters, with the tragic fall of Marvel Studios and their lackluster efforts as of late (Shang Chi and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 notwithstanding), I feel it is time to return to the well of creativity again; to look back at some of the characters who inspired it all, the movies they last had, and why they are worthy of another chance at the spotlight. 

    This is TheNorm's Top 5 pulp heroes who deserve another movie. 

#5 

The Green Hornet and Kato

Last seen at Colombia Pictures in 2011

    Created by Fran Striker and George W. Trendle, The Green Hornet is a spin-off character inspired by their previous creation, The Lone Ranger. In the story, a young newspaper publisher named Britt Reid (a living descendant of The Lone Ranger) takes on the mantle of The Green Hornet to fight against crime. Whereas his cowboy ancestor was upfront about his efforts to defend justice, Reid uses perception to make the world believe The Green Hornet is a ruthless crime boss, allowing him the opportunity to infiltrate and dismantle criminal organizations from within. 

    While the character was reasonably popular, he never reached the pantheons of his contemporaries and was in danger of fading into obscurity. That is until his short-lived TV series in the 1960s introduced one of the most incredible action stars of all time, Bruce Lee, who portrayed the loyal and capable sidekick character Kato. Because of his association with the master martial artist, Green Hornet remained a popular pulp character well into the 21st century, spawning additional comics and appearances in multiple media outlets. 

    Then, in 2011, Colombia Pictures produced a brand-new movie adaptation of the characters starring Seth Rogen (who also contributed to the script) and Jay Chau as the titular characters. The film attempted to revitalize the characters with tongue-in-cheek humor while maintaining the initial appeal as much as possible. I say "attempted" because while it is apparent that at least some effort was made, it is also abundantly apparent that no one involved could agree on how to tackle the task at hand. 

    The best word to describe this film would be schizophrenic: the direction doesn't fit with the script, which doesn't fit with the style of humor, which doesn't fit with the performances, which doesn't fit with the blatant parallels to 2008's Iron Man, all of which attempt to distract you from their nonsensical nature with a 3D post-conversion, despite the movie not being filmed in a manner to take advantage of the style. 

    This movie did not please audiences or critics. According to Wikipedia, the rights to The Green Hornet had transitioned to Amasia Entertainment, which was in talks with Universal Studios for a reboot. However, no word has been heard about that project since 2022. 

    The Green Hornet and Kato would make a fantastic comeback now! In an age when we, the people, feel too powerless to take on the criminal fools in charge, we all need a reminder of how we can use perception, along with a strong moral compass, to take down those who wronged us all. Especially if it could mean wearing a cool mask while driving an even cooler tricked-up car. 

#4

The Rocketeer 

Last seen at Touchstone Pictures in 1991

    Yes, I know this film has received vicious mockery over the years. Yes, I know it is technically a Disney property. Yes, I understand the helmet design is a little too goofy for its own good. And yes, I know that I am in the minority when I say that I still enjoy this movie. But here's the thing: not only is The Rocketeer an amalgamation of other classic characters and concepts that could be fun to revisit today, but this entire movie could benefit from a passionate overall. While the film is a technical achievement in special effects and features at least one scene that speaks volumes to modern issues (more on that in a moment), there is still the potential for a glorious modern retelling of this concept, provided it finds itself in the hands of creatives who cared and understood how to present it all. 

    Based on the 1980s comic series created by Dave Stevens, The Rocketeer is an homage to classic pulp characters and serials of the 1940s and 50s with similar ideologies and modes of transportation, including King of the Rocket Men, Buck Rogers, and Astro Boy. The idea of having a jet-pack granting its user the possibility of independent flight is a fantasy as old as time itself. It is a joy that we may yet feel in the future and is worthy of revitalization. 

    A new adaptation of this character and concept could bring back the sense of joy that is desperately needed now more than ever. Also, any story that reminds us of the evil of Nazis and the importance of resistance against them by everyone else deserves as many retellings as possible!

#3

The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai

Last seen at Sherwood Productions in 1984

    Like The Rocketeer, Buckaroo Bonzai amalgamates classic pulp and science fiction characters, specifically Doc Savage, but with a wild and excentric dose of 1980s cheese. A brilliant and compassionate renascence man with a team of equally talented people, they tackle interdimensional threats while helping the world in science, medicine, and entertainment, along with a few well-measured doses of Monty Python levels of silliness for good measure. 

    This cult classic of a film, while still enjoyable in its own right, could have led to a regular and recurring staple of the genre. Despite heavy promotion among nerd culture, the film flopped at the box office, losing to Star Trek III: The Search for Spock of all films. Not to diminish the enjoyable quality of that entry into the long-running science fiction series, but still! 

    There is a variable goldmine of possibilities, stories, and characters from revitalizing this group of characters and the insane world they occupy. While the rest of the world is going insane in the wrong direction, it sometimes helps to be reminded of what insanity in the right direction looks and feels like. Sometimes, we need to embrace the silliness and not overthink the watermelon. If you get it, you get it. 

#2

The Shadow

Last seen at Universal Pictures in 1994

    Created by Walter B. Gibson and first appearing as a radio series starring the late Orsen Welles, The Shadow is a vigilante who stalks the night and possesses the unique ability to read people's minds and alter their perceptions through rigorous mental training and study. His true identity is that of Lemont Cranston (Kent Allard in early print media), a criminal psychiatrist and independent detective who fights against crime both day and night. As you likely have suspected, The Shadow was one of the many inspirations for Batman: a wealthy man who perfected themselves through intense training and study to become an unseen face to defend justice. 

    While the character has enjoyed many outings in various media, including comics and an homage movie by Sam Raimi, The Shadow's last major appearance was in the 1994 film starring Alec Baldwin and directed by Russell Mulcahy—you know, the guy who did Highlander. The film is, at least for my money, an enjoyable piece of high schlock. Sure, it takes some liberties with the extent of the character's psychic abilities and puts a greater emphasis on action that it probably needed (not to mention an example of early CGI that has not aged well at all). However, it still retains the general feel and spirit of The Shadow. The story is engaging, the production design is astonishing, and the design for The Shadow's costume feels ripped right out of the comics. Also, it's one of those movies that feels and looks significantly better when seen in black and white, as the filmmakers originally wanted. 

    This silly, over-the-top film may be a bit of a departure from the original radio iteration, but it is still enjoyable in its own way. However, with the cool and sleek nature of the character, along with the extra bits of lore and supporting cast, this property would likely do well with another fresh adaptation. Like many other classic concepts, there is enough stuff to play around with and explore. 

#1

The Phantom 

Last seen at Paramount Pictures in 1996

    Lee Falk created The Phantom, also known as The Ghost Who Walks, in the 1930s. It is the story of Kit Walker, a man with a fantastic family history. In the 1500s, Kit's distant relative lost his father to a pirate raid while sailing near the shores of Bengalla. In this fictional African coastal location, the boy is washed ashore and rescued by a local tribe deep within the jungle. In gratitude for them taking him in and as a means of avenging his father, the boy vows to fight piracy, greed, and cruelty in all its forms, learning the ways of the jungle and becoming the crime-fighting entity known as The Phantom. 

    Part of the reason for the nickname "The Ghost Who Walks" is that The Phantom Legend is passed from father to son. Twenty Phantoms came before Kit Walker took up the mantle, but most people outside his circle are unaware. Incidentally, I believe The Phantom could make for an excellent new series in movies or television. 

    The last time we saw The Phantom was in the 1996 feature film, which is still a fantastic movie and one I enjoy revisiting to this day. It has a good balance between narrative and action. The production and costume design are delightful to behold. The cast delivers a fun experience all around. While Treat Williams has the most fun with his over-the-top evil villain performance, Billy Zane dominates the show as the titular character with a charming performance that appears to channel Cary Grant with a dash of Errol Flynn for good measure. Sure, it takes a few liberties with the source material, particularly regarding the extent of the mythology around his Skull ring. Still, it's all in service to the wholehearted embracement of the character's spirit and pulp fiction in general. 

    With the family line aspect of the mythology, there is a ton of potential for more stories about The Phantom. My first thought would be an anthology series that follows a different Phantom at a new point in history with each episode, possibly tied together by some artifact that's regularly sought after over time. Sadly, the 1996 movie was not as well-received as it deserved, prompting most movie studios to not even consider it. However, there apparently was a TV miniseries in 2011, which I have not yet seen, but based on the costume design, I suspect I'm not missing much. 

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    As we approach a new era of the superhero genre with Marvel stumbling in place and D.C. with Warner Brothers possibly getting their act together (finally), I think it's high time more studios and creatives returned costumed heroes to their roots for some modern takes on classic concepts. The movies I have discussed here may be entertaining in their own ways, and I still love a few of them, but it has officially been too long since anyone gave these characters and concepts another shot. If you ask me, we are long overdue for something familiar yet different once again. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.