Comics With or Without Pulp Talkback: Episode 8 -The Green Hornet
Pants
Posts: 567
Episode 8: 'Feel the Sting of Green'. Coinciding with the last episode on the Lone Ranger, we talk about Britt Reid's alter ego. Also, the importance of his partner, Kato. Guest co-host Nick Quan & creator Ande Parks join the fun. (2:44:20)
Listen here.
Listen here.
Comments
Personally, I think that is the main reason why they were portrayed as Japanese-Filipino and Native American and not white themselves—and why The Shadow’s sidekick was a woman for that matter. It helped give the impression that the white male hero was in charge and making things happen. These shows were targeted to young white males who at the time didn’t think Asians or Native Americans or women should or could be heroes.
Anyway, it was nice to hear that deeper level of culture explored a bit. I’m sure you’ll get even deeper into it with the Fu Manchu episode.
Reel Injun
The Slanted Screen (Covers Asian male stereotypes only)
Hollywood Chinese
All have been on PBS and are worth checking out. Both Asian docs include Fu Manchu discussion.
Assuming that the point of time in question is early to mid 40s (so WWII is in full swing), than the thing to remember is that (almost) all of the industry was used to war purposes (such as parachutes). So things like pantyhoses were really hard to come by.
Also, not only they were not considered in the same classification as an undergarment - it is quite the opposite (since it was "inappropriate" for women to show bare legs). If anything, the modern comparison should be tights.
But the bit about the green hornet was nice too. ;)
For those GH fans out there. Check out this Green Hornet podcast. It's weekely and covers all things Green Hornet. I'm not connected to the show. Just a fan spreading the word.
http://hornetsnest.podbean.com/
I hope in the Fu Manchu episode, Matt delves into the pulp/literature theme of the early 20th century of the 'yellow menace'. On my blog (shameless plug: www.spinnerrack.blogspot.com), I've been doing a by-published date read-through of comics starting with the DC Comics of the mid-30's. I'm up to late 1938 and almost a 4th of what is being published in Detective, More Fun, and New Adventure is some variation on the theme: The Golden Dragon, Sgt. Carey of the Chinatown Squad, the first Bruce Nelson serial, etc.
chris
M
You're right, we probably should've talked a little more about the Dynamite issues. I've only been reading the Waid issues...but I have to admit by issue 6 I was hoping for a little more. I'm not a big Kevin Smith fan. He's only done 1 or 2 comics I have really enjoyed. I think he tries to reinvent the wheel all the time, but it never really seems to pan out. Having said that, I didn't touch his GH run.
M
Are you referencing characters, current pulp comics, or current pulp novels being influenced? If its the novels, I'm working on getting something different (& special) for my next on Fu Manchu. It's still in the early stages, but hopefully it pans out.
M
Its OK, but its not the Lone Ranger. The 2 leads are miscast and the action is far to cartoony.
Disney should have kept it simple and done an old west version of the cop "buddy" movie. I liked the idea of Tonto telling the story.