Pulps, Comics and the Rise of Superheroes

Whilst researching the Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers film serials of the 1930s I was delighted to find far too much information about the pulp and comic book origins of these heroes. So we are taking a detour to speak with people who really have their heads wrapped around this topic.
For full shownotes for this episode without character limits you can visit here:
www.everyscififilm.com/pulp-a...
We will be talking about Flash Gordon (and a little about Buck Rogers) in the next episode. Scroll down to get more information on where to watch the 1930s film serials.
The Experts
Julian Chambliss is a scholar and a professor at Michigan State University. He is the author of multiple books including Ages of Heroes, Eras of Men: Superheroes and the American Experience.
Jess Nevins is an Author and research librarian who has annotated multiple comics and written the Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes, the Encyclopedia of Pulp Heroes and The Evolution of the Costumed Avenger: The 4,000-Year History of the Superhero.
Chapters
00:00 Intro to the show and guest
02:14 The origins of pulp fiction
04:14 The western frontier and the American hero
06:23 Superheroes in the pulps and ancient civilization
09:42 WW1 and Hugo Gernsback’s Amazing Stories
11:21 Buck Rogers, race and rapid change
15:13 From pulp to comic strip: Buck Rogers and Tarzan
15:39 The success of Flash Gordon
16:55 Racial politics of Flash Gordon
19:16 The true first superhero
20:38 The Phantom’s international popularity
21:38 The Great Depression, superpowers and The New Deal
25:35 The Jewish influence
28:44 Superman as the good immigrant
32:25 Women: from pulps to comics
35:55 The rediscovery of black creators
40:44 Moral panic, senate hearings and the Comics Code Authority
48:34 The future of the hero
NEXT EPISODE
Next episode we will be focusing on the Flash Gordon (and Buck Rogers) film serials of the 1930s. You can check JustWatch to see where you can access them: www.justwatch.com/
They are also available on KZbin including some strangely colourised versions.
I would also highly recommend watching the 1980 version of Flash Gordon which is ridiculously good fun in my opinion. It is available to rent or buy in various places including on Amazon and again you can check on Just Watch where it may be streaming in your region.

[@pauljohnson271]

Please never quit. This was brilliant. I’m a life-long connoisseur of pulps and comics and this was DEEEEEPLY informative. Great stuff! Just wonderful. Keep it up.

[@everyscififilm]

@@pauljohnson271 Wow, Paul! That’s a huge lift before I start my day. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I didn’t know half the things I do after making this episode but I’ve always been an enthusiast rather than a connoisseur. The next episode is on Flash Gordon so I hope you stick around.

[@jeffreycoogan09]

The ''Dime Novels'' were actually the North American equivalent of the "Penny Dreadfuls". The Penny Dreadfuls of the 19th century featured regular adventures of Proto Superheroes such as (Spring-Heeled Jack and The Human Bat). In fact The Human Bat, who first appeared in a Penny Dreadful titled ''The Funny Wonder'' (March 1899). Was far more similar to "Batman" then character who had been acknowledged to inspire him. Such as "Zorro" and "The Shadow". As well as "The Bat"...Who was the main antagonist of the 1926 silent film The Bat. Which was based on the 1920 play of the same name by (Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood). However, if (artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger) had any knowledge of The Human Bat is unknown? There is one particular character who seems to get overlooked quite a lot? Even though he is very significant within the development of the Superheroe genre is the French Pulp hero ''The Nyctalope". Created by French writer ''Jean de La Hire'' and first debuted in the 1911 French Pulp magazine (E Mystère des XV)...The Nyctalope, who's alias is ''Léo Saint-Clair'"...Has an artificial Heart as well as other (organic and mechanical body parts). And powers such as the ability to breathe underwater and excellent night vision, which is the source of his name. He may very well be the first ''Cyborg Superhero''. There is some debate as to if ''The Nyctalope'' was the very first Superhero? But he certainly set the template for what the current definition of a Superhero is. ⛽

[@everyscififilm]

Thank you for the info! I knew a little about the origins of Batman but this information is brilliant and I will dedicate some time later today to learn more about The Nyctalope. Brilliant name. Another creation during the Belle Epoque which I find very interesting too.

[@jeffreycoogan09]

@@everyscififilm You're welcome. Oddly enough, it was (author Alan Moore and illustrator Kevin O'Neill's) 2002 comic book limited series ''The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume II'' that I first learned of ''The Human Bat'' and ''The Nyctalope''. In the ''New Traveller's Almanac'' which is a series of writings included in the back of all six issues of LOEG vol II. ''The Human Bat's'' caped suit is described during one of the expeditions to the British Isles around 1907. And ''The Nyctalope'' was reported as being a member of Les Hommes Mystérieux ("The Mysterious Men") circa 1913. Les Hommes Mystérieux are the French equivalent of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

[@everyscififilm]

⁠@@jeffreycoogan09 I have read and own The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen! But it’s volume I. I should perhaps invest in the second…

[@DeTroutSpinnaz]

Aren't comics haram?

[@iceonthesun8880]

And a fun one at that.