Green Hornet
Green Hornet | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
First appearance | The Green Hornet radio program (January 31, 1936) |
Created by | George W. Trendle Fran Striker |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Britt Reid |
Partnerships | Kato |
Abilities |
The Green Hornet is a superhero created in 1936 by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, with input from radio director James Jewell.
Since his 1930s radio debut, the character has appeared in numerous serialized dramas in a wide variety of media. The Green Hornet appeared in film serials in the 1940s, The Green Hornet television series in the 1960s, (which costarred Bruce Lee in his first adult role), multiple comic book series from the 1940s onwards,[1] and a film in 2011.
The franchise is owned by Green Hornet, Inc., which licenses the property across a wide variety of media that includes comics, films, TV shows, radio and books. As of the 2010s, the comic-book rights are licensed to Dynamite Entertainment.[2]
History
Though various incarnations sometimes change details, in most versions the Green Hornet is the alter ego of Britt Reid (/riːd/), the wealthy young publisher of the Daily Sentinel newspaper. By night, clad in a long green overcoat, gloves, green fedora hat and green mask, Reid fights crime as the mysterious vigilante known as "The Green Hornet". He is accompanied by his loyal and similarly masked partner and confidant, Kato, who drives their technologically advanced car, the "Black Beauty". Though both the police and the general public believe the Hornet to be a wanted criminal, Reid uses that perception to help him infiltrate the underworld, leaving behind for the police the criminals and any incriminating evidence he has found.
In the original radio incarnation, Britt Reid is the son of Dan Reid Jr., the nephew of the Lone Ranger (whose first name is never given, contrary to later articles), making the Green Hornet the great-nephew of the Ranger. The relationship is alluded to at least once in the radio shows, when Dan Reid visits his son to question him on why Britt has never captured the Hornet. On learning the truth behind his son's dual identity, Dan Reid recalls his days riding with his uncle, as the William Tell Overture plays briefly and softly in the background.
Radio series
The character debuted in The Green Hornet, an American
Film
Serials
The Green Hornet was adapted into two
The Green Hornet (2006)
A 10-minute 2006 French short film titled Le frelon vert is based on the Green Hornet.[5]
The Green Hornet (2011)
A film version of the character had been contemplated since the 1990s, with
Reboot
In 2016,
Television
The Green Hornet (1966–1967)
The Green Hornet is a television series shown on the ABC U.S. television network. It aired for the 1966–1967 television season and stars Van Williams as both the Green Hornet and Britt Reid, and Bruce Lee as Kato.[12][13] With his insistence on using his martial arts skills, Bruce Lee stole the show as Kato. This was the first time Asian martial arts fighting was seen on American TV. The show launched Bruce Lee's career as a popular actor in the US as well as in Hong Kong. Audience interest even led to Van Williams asking to learn some martial art moves.[14]
Williams and Lee's Green Hornet and Kato appear as anti-heroes in the second season of the
Animated series
In July 2020,
Comic books
Early comics
Green Hornet
Several months later, Harvey Comics launched its own version, beginning with issue #7. This series lasted until issue #47 in 1949; during that time it also changed its title twice: first to Green Hornet Fights Crime (issue #34) and later to Green Hornet, Racket Buster (issue #44).
Harvey additionally used the character in the public-service one-shot War Victory Comics in 1942,[18] and gave him one adventure in each of two issues of All-New Comics, #13 (where he was also featured on the cover)[19] and #14,[20] in 1946.
In 1953, several months after the radio series ended, Dell Comics published a one-shot with the character (officially entitled Four Color #496).[21] Both stories therein share titles with late-era radio episodes ("The Freightyard Robberies", June 23, 1949; and "[The] Proof of Treason", October 17, 1952) and might be adaptations.
In 1967, Gold Key Comics produced a 3-issue series based on the TV show.[22]
NOW Comics
In 1989,
The NOW comics considered the 1960s television character as the namesake nephew of the original, 1930s–1940s Britt Reid, referred to as "Britt Reid II" in the genealogy, who took up his uncle's mantle after a friend is assassinated. Britt Reid II eventually retired due to a heart attack, and Kato—given the first name Hayashi, after that of the first actor to play Kato on radio—goes on to become a star of ninja movies. The NOW comics established Hayashi Kato as Ikano Kato's son. Britt Reid's nephew, Paul Reid, a concert pianist, takes on the role of the Hornet after his older brother Alan, who had first taken on the mantle, is killed on his debut mission. Paul Reid is assisted by Mishi Kato, Hayashi's much-younger half-sister who was trained by Ikano Kato. Her being female caused problems between the publishers and the rights-holders, who withdrew approval of that character and mandated the return of "the Bruce Lee Kato".[24] After Mishi's departure—explained as orders from her father to replace an injured automobile designer at the Zürich, Switzerland, facility of the family corporation, Nippon Today—Hayashi Kato returned to crime fighting alongside the Paul Reid Green Hornet.[25] Mishi Kato returned in volume two as the Crimson Wasp, following the death of her Swiss police-officer fiancé, on orders of a criminal leader. In NOW's final two issues, vol. 2, #39–40, a fourth Kato—Kono Kato, grandson of Ikano and nephew of Hayashi and Mishi—took over as Paul Reid's fellow masked vigilante. The comics also introduced Diana Reid, the original Britt Reid's daughter, who had become district attorney after the TV series' Frank Scanlon had retired. A romantic relationship eventually formed between her and Hayashi Kato.
NOW's first series began in 1989 and lasted 14 issues. Volume Two began in 1991 and lasted 40 issues, ending in 1995 when the publisher went out of business. Kato starred solo in a four-issue miniseries in 1991, and a two-issue follow-up in 1992, both written by Mike Baron. He also wrote a third, first announced as a two-issue miniseries, then as a graphic novel, but it was never released due to the company's collapse.[citation needed]
Tales of the Green Hornet, consisting of nine issues spread out over three volumes (two, four, and three issues, respectively), presented stories of the two previous Hornets. Volume One featured Green Hornet II, and its story was plotted by Van Williams, star of the 1960s TV series, and scripted by Bob Ingersoll. The follow-ups were written by James Van Hise. Other miniseries included the three-issue The Green Hornet: Solitary Sentinel; the four-issue Sting of the Green Hornet, set during World War II and Clint McElroy's three-issue Dark Tomorrow (June–August 1993), featuring a criminal Green Hornet in 2080 being fought by the Kato of that era.[26][27]
Discounting depictions of the cars utilized by the 1940s and 1960s Hornets, there were two versions of the Black Beauty used in the NOW comic series. The first was based on the Pontiac Banshee.[28] The second was a four-door sedan based on the eleventh-generation Oldsmobile 98 Touring Sedan.[citation needed]
Dynamite Entertainment
In March 2009, Dynamite Entertainment acquired the license to produce Green Hornet comic books.[29] Its first release was a miniseries written by Kevin Smith with pencils by Jonathan Lau.[30][31] Revamped in 2010 as an ongoing series set in modern times, the new Green Hornet stars Britt Reid Jr., the rebellious and spoiled son of Britt Reid Sr., now a retired industrial and family man. When Britt Sr. is slain by the Black Hornet, a yakuza mobster whose family was shamed by the original Green Hornet, the aging but still fit Kato returns. With his daughter, Mulan Kato, who has taken over the costumed identity of her father, he brings Britt Jr. to China for training and safekeeping as he becomes the new Green Hornet. Writer Jai Nitz also wrote Green Hornet: Parallel Lives, a miniseries prequel to the 2011 Green Hornet feature film.[32]
In 2013, an eight-issue miniseries called Masks brought together famous heroes from the pulp era. It starred
Comic strip
In 2018, the Green Hornet appeared in
Prose fiction
In 2009, Moonstone Books gained the prose license and has released three Green Hornet anthologies as part of its "Chronicles" line: The Green Hornet Chronicles, The Green Hornet Casefiles, and The Green Hornet: Still at Large.[citation needed]
Video games
The Green Hornet and Kato appears in The Green Hornet: Wheels of Justice (2010) for iPhone, based on the film.[38]
Merchandising
Few examples of Green Hornet merchandise have appeared since the 1960s. To coincide with the 2011 movie, Factory Entertainment produced six-inch action figures and a die cast Black Beauty, among other collectibles.[
In 2012, Factory Entertainment released screen accurate replicas of the Hornet Sting, Gas Gun, and Kato's Dart from the 1960's television series. A plaque signed by Van Williams was included in a limited run of "Signature Edition" replicas.[citation needed]
In June 2018, the toy company Funko released a Funko Pop figure of the Green Hornet as a Specialty Series figure.[citation needed] This was later followed up with multiple Funko Pop figures of the Green Hornet and Kato, released as exclusives at San Diego Comic Con and New York Comic Con.[41] In January 2020, Funko announced Green Hornet and Kato figures as part of their initial SODA vinyl figure offerings with a limited run of 6000 each.[42]
In late 2021, Diamond Select Toys announced the start of a new line of Green Hornet and Kato collectible merchandise in partnership with The Green Hornet Inc. and the Bruce Lee Family.[43] Their line of collectibles include a mini bust of Kato and various action figures of Kato in different outfits.[44]
In 2022, Aurora Plastics Corporation, under their Polar Lights brand, reissued a model of the Black Beauty car from the 1960's television series.[citation needed] Aluminum Model Toys released their own model kit of the Black Beauty in the same year.[citation needed]
In other popular culture
Art, entertainment, and media
- Aretha Franklin's 1967 album I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You contains the song "Save Me" which includes the lyric "Calling the Caped Crusader, Green Hornet, Kato, too / I'm in so much trouble I don't know what to do".[45]
- The 1960s cartoon series Batfink is a parody of both Batman and the Green Hornet. Batfink rides in a pink vehicle called the Battilac, which is driven by his assistant Karate who is a martial artist.[46]
- syndicated five-minute daily radio program, The Brown Hornet, which he revived in the late 1970s for his Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids cartoon show.[citation needed]
- In 1973 George Garabedian Productions on MARK56 Records released an LP of two of the radio shows. The cover included a green AMC Hornet.[47]
- Inspector Clouseau's valet/houseboy is called Cato (spelled with a "C" instead of a "K"), and his car in the film Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) is a heavily modified Citroën 2CV, "The Silver Hornet".[48]
- The 1993 American semi-fictionalized biographical film Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, in which Jason Scott Lee portrayed Bruce Lee, features scenes involving the filming of the 1966 Green Hornet television series.[49] Van Williams, who starred in the TV series, appeared in the film as the show's director.[50]
- A 1994 Hong Kong film, Kar Lok Chin as a Kato-like masked hero called the Green Hornet in English subtitles.[51] In one scene, he is reminded of his predecessors, one of whom is represented by a picture of Bruce Lee in his TV Kato costume.[citation needed]
- 1996 Hong Kong action film starring Jet Li. The film is an adaptation of the 1992 manhua Black Mask by Li Chi-Tak. In the film, in homage to The Green Hornet, Black Mask wears a domino mask and chauffeur's cap in the same style as Kato from the series. The Black Mask is even compared to Kato in one scene. In 2002, it was followed by a sequel, Black Mask 2: City of Masks starring Andy On.
- The 2003 film Kill Bill: Volume 1 uses Billy May's theme from the 1960s television series in a sequence where the Bride goes to Tokyo in search of O-Ren Ishii. The Crazy 88 wear masks resembling Bruce Lee's Kato mask.
- In the film Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen, released late September 2010 in Asia and early 2011 in the United States, there is a large feature of the Green Hornet. The subplot consist of the main character Chen Zhen (played by Donnie Yen) dressing up as a mask vigilante (based on Kato) to stop Japanese assassinations and to protect the people.[52]
- In a 2014 episode of Sesame Street, the Green Hornet was spoofed in their "Numeric Con" segment as "The Green Four-net."
- In 2016, Season 6 of The Venture Bros. introduces parody characters of Green Hornet and Kato from 1960s television series in the form of the masked crime-fighter Blue Morpho and his assistant Kano in a flashback, the latter having later become a member of the original Team Venture. It is also revealed that Blue Morpho was the father of the orphaned villain The Monarch, and he and Henchman 21 later take on the roles of the Blue Morpho and Kano respectively.[53]
- The 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood depicts a sequence where fictional stuntman Cliff Booth fights Bruce Lee (Mike Moh) on the set of the Green Hornet 1960s television series.
- In 2023, Toyota featured Priuscommercial as a part of their “This is Prius Now” campaign.
People
References
- ^ Marx, Andy (July 12, 1992). "A look inside Hollywood and the movies – Beyond Batman – The Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz: Eddie Murphy as the Green Hornet". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 10, 2011. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
- ^ "The Official Website of The Green Hornet". The Green Hornet, Inc. Archived from the original on March 10, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
- ^ Lidz, Franz (January 7, 2011). "Float Like a Franchise, Sting Like a..." The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
- Black Belt. Archived from the originalon 2011-03-08. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ "The Green Hornet". Box Office Mojo.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 15, 2016). "Badass 'Green Hornet'? Paramount, Chernin Set Gavin O'Connor For Movie". Deadline.
- ^ Boucher, Geoff (January 29, 2020). "'The Green Hornet': Amasia Chief Is All Abuzz About Superhero Acquisition". Deadline.
- ^ Kit, Borys (April 16, 2020). "'Green Hornet and Kato' Feature in the Works From Universal and Amasia Entertainment". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Kit, Borys (December 10, 2020). "'Green Hornet and Kato' Movie Nabs Writer David Koepp (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (June 23, 2022). "'Invisible Man' Director Leigh Whannell Eyeing 'Green Hornet And Kato' Pic At Universal". Deadline.
- ^ Boucher, Geoff (July 23, 2010). "Getting 'The Green Hornet' off the ground". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 18, 2011. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
- ^ Pool, Bob (May 27, 1992). "The Green Hornet Returns to Sting a Radio Pirate". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
- ^ "American Heritage Center Blog: Bruce Lee Steals the Show in 'The Green Hornet'". American Heritage Center. March 16, 2020.
The American Heritage Center holds the papers of William Dozier, who produced and narrated the TV series The Green Hornet, as well as the Batman TV series.
- ^ "Green Hornet Animated Series in the Works From Kevin Smith". CBR. 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
- ^ "Kevin Smith Gives Update on Green Hornet Animated Series". TV Shows. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
- ISBN 0-87833-808-X. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ War Victory Comics at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ All-New Comics #13 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ All-New Comics #14 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Four Color #496 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ The Green Hornet at the Grand Comics Database. Accessed 2010-12-25.
- Comics Scene (9). Starlog Communications International, Inc: 41.
- ^ Piron, Diane (w). "The Buzz Word (letter column)" The Green Hornet, no. 13 (November 1990). NOW Comics.
- ^ The Green Hornet #11 (September 1991)
- ^ Dark Tomorrow at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ "Issue 73 | Clint McElroy". September 26, 2018.
- ^ Weis, Joan (w). "The Buzz Word (letter column)" The Green Hornet, vol. 2, no. 9 (May 1992). NOW Comics.
- ^ "Dynamite Lands Green Hornet Comic Book License". Newsarama. March 31, 2009.
- ^ Bernardin, Marc (May 13, 2009). "EW Exclusive: Kevin Smith takes on Batman and the Green Hornet". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-08-31.
- ^ Green Hornet, Dynamite Entertainment, 2010 Series at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ "Nitz Separates 'Green Hornet: Parallel Lives'". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2010-12-25.
- ^ "Masks". Comic Vine. 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^ Kevin Smith & Ralph Garman Announce New Batman/Green Hornet Project. YouTube.com. DC Entertainment. March 11, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ^ "Dick Tracy / Green Hornet Crossover". February 14, 2018.
- ^ Sims, Chris (12 January 2017). "'Dick Tracy' Is Hanging Out With The Spirit (And More)". ComicsAlliance.
- ^ Weis, Joan (w). "Buzz Word (letter column)" The Green Hornet, vol. 2, no. 36 (August 1994). NOW Comics. (letter from Timothy E. Jones)
- ^ "The Green Hornet: Wheels of Justice". IGN. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ^ Wright, Eddie (December 16, 2010). "Mezco Donates the Green Hornet Prototype Action Figures to Museum of the Moving Image". MTV. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015.
- ^ "Carl's Jr. and 'The Green Hornet' Bring Action-Packed Excitement to the Drive-Thru with Sony Pictures Deal (press release)". Carl's Jr. October 8, 2010. Archived from the original on January 11, 2011.
- ^ Little, Jesse (September 4, 2019). "2019 NYC Exclusive Reveals: The Green Hornet and Kato".
- ^ Little, Jesse (January 21, 2020). "Introducing New Funko Vinyl SODA". Funko Blog.
- ^ "Bruce Lee's Kato Kicks Off Diamond Select Toys' Green Hornet Line [Exclusive]". /Film. 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
- ^ Comments, Tyler Roberts | (2022-04-24). "Green Hornet's Kato Strikes Fast with New Diamond Deluxe Figure". bleedingcool.com. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
- ^ "Aretha Franklin – Save Me Lyrics". Genius. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ Decaro, Frank (August 5, 2007). "Another Caped Crusader, Super Tongue in Cheek". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
- ^ No Artist – The Green Hornet (Original Radio Broadcasts)
- Kung Fu Magazine. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
- ^ Galbraith, Jane (May 16, 1993). "Green Hornet Pays Homage to His Kato". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
- ^ Galbraith, Jane (May 16, 1993). "A Look inside Hollywood and the movies : Cameo Corner : Green Hornet Pays Homage to His Kato". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
- Kung Fu Magazine. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
- ^ Brown, Todd (29 June 2010). "Donnie Yen has a Question for the Makers of The Green Hornet: Why Did You Bother?". Screen Anarchy.
- ^ Gaudette, Emily (2016-02-22). "The Venture Bros." the Monarch Is Officially Dead, Long Live Blue Morpho". Inverse. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
- ^ The Glen, Regimental Newsletter of the Calgary Highlanders
- ^ Bercuson, David. Battalion of Heroes: The Calgary Highlanders in World War II.
Further reading
- ISBN 978-0-9825311-0-5.
- Harmon, Jim (1967). The Great Radio Heroes. Doubleday.
- Little, John (April 1995). "Bruce Lee and the Green Hornet: Van Williams remembers 'Kato (The Green Hornet)'". Black Belt. 33 (4). Rainbow Publications: 52–58.
- Murray, Will(August 1986). "The Green Hornet". TV Gold (4). Movieland Publishing.
- Osgood, Dick (1981). WYXIE Wonderland. Bowling Green University Press. ISBN 0-87972-187-1.
- Pollard, Maxwell (1974). "is The Green Hornet's version of Gung-Fu Genuine?". The Best of Bruce Lee. Rainbow Publications: 14–18 – via Google books. (reprinted from Black Belt vol. 5, #10, October 1967, Rainbow Publications)
- Van Hise, James (1989). The Green Hornet Book. Pioneer Books. (Movie Publisher Services, 1991)
- "The Grey Hornet". Comics Scene (15). Starlog Communications International, Inc. October 1990.
- "In Kato's Gung-Fu Action Is Instant". The Best of Bruce Lee. Rainbow Publications: 14–20. 1974 – via Google books. (reprinted from Black Belt vol. 5, #11, November 1967, Rainbow Publications)
- Harmon, Jim (1992). Radio Mystery and Adventure and Its Appearances in Film, Television and Other Media. ISBN 978-0-7864-1810-7.
- "Van Williams After the Mask". Starlog (135). O'Quinn Studios, Inc. October 1988.
External links
- Official website
- The Green Hornet at the International Catalogue of Superheroes
- Green Hornet at the Grand Comics Database
- Zoot Radio, free old time radio show downloads of The Green Hornet
- The Green Hornet – Original Film Serial
- William Dozier papers at the American Heritage Center
- Masked Men: A Chronology of the Lone Ranger and the Green Hornet