Long before the 2011 release of “The Green Hornet” movie there was The Green Hornet comic book series. These very popular comic books first appeared in December of 1940 when Helnit Comics published issue #1. Over the years The Green Hornet comics have gone through various publishers and reincarnations, the latest being Kevin Smith’s 2010 version released by Dynamite Entertainment. But, even before the comic books there was The Green Hornet radio program.

The Green Hornet was first broadcast in January 1936. It was the brainchild of George W. Trendle, a lawyer and businessman involved with movie theatres and radio stations. He ran WXYZ radio in Detroit and in1935 decided to create a drama to “show that a political system could be riddled with corruption and that one man could successfully combat this white-collar lawlessness.”  Along with Fran Striker, a radio announcer and writer, he created The Green Hornet.

Previous to The Green Hornet, Trendle, Striker and radio drama director Jim Jewell developed the popular radio drama The Lone Ranger. In this series a masked Texas Ranger, assisted by his Indian friend and scout Tonto, fought crime in the Old West. It was Striker who came up with the Tonto character and the Ranger’s silver bullets.

The Green Hornet was something of an extension of The Lone Ranger. In fact they were blood relatives. The Ranger’s last name was Reid and his brother Captain Reid was killed by Indians. Captain Reid had a son by the name of Dan. Young Dan would sometimes accompany his uncle the Lone Ranger on his exploits. Dan later inherited a silver mine and later started The Daily Sentinel newspaper. He had a son named Brett and he grew up to be the Green Hornet. So the Lone Ranger was the Green Hornets great-uncle.

The Green Hornet and Kato

Brett Reid was a wealthy party-going playboy. When his father Dan retired, he took over the Daily Sentinel. On a trip to the Far East Brett saved the life of a young Oriental called Kato. Because of this Kato became Brett’s valet.  One night when the two of them were out on the town, they witnessed a crime and decided that they should become crime fighters.

During the day Brett ran The Daily Sentinel, but at night he fought crime in the guise of the Green Hornet. He would get leads on criminal activity through his newspaper. Donning a green mask, Brett would become the Green Hornet. He would pose as a villain so he could gain access to the criminal underworld. Kato, also masked, would assist him as a driver and in fights. Kato was a master of martial arts as well as a great car mechanic. He transformed Brett’s car into the Black Beauty, a mobile arsenal.

The Green Hornet was a forerunner of the modern superhero. He predated the appearance of Superman by two years and Batman by six years. He had no real super powers but was a good fist fighter, a sharp shooter and had an arsenal of high-tech devices. These included a gun that shot knockout gas and one called the Hornet’s Sting that delivered electric shocks. And of course, The Black Beauty. Brett Reid chose the name Green Hornet partially because of the weird buzzing sound of the Black Beauty’s horn.

Helnit Comics published the first 6 Green Hornet comic books in1940. These were written by Fran Striker and illustrated through the art house of Bert Whitman Associates. The black haired Green Hornet dressed in a yellow overcoat, a green hat, green scarf and of course the green mask.

The Green Hornet issue #1 December 1940

Harvey Comics soon took over the publication and produced issues #7 through #47 that ran from 1940 until 1949. The cover art was by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon. The Green Hornet now appeared in a green overcoat with a yellow scarf and his hair became blond.

In 1953 Dell Comics produced the one of comic book Four Color that featured The Green Hornet and it was drawn by Frank Thorne. Then Gold Key Comics came out with three issues in 1967 illustrated by Dan Spiegle. These were based on the TV series of that time.

The Green Hornet reappeared in NOW Comics in 1989 for 14 issues. These were drawn by Jeff Butler and written by Ron Fortier. NOW then started Volume Two, releasing forty issues from 1991 until 1995. NOW’s Green Hornet characters were various descendents of the original Brett Reid who had to retire because of a heart attack.

In 2010 Dynamite Entertainment came out with a new Green Hornet comic book series. This time the Green Hornet is Brett Reid Jr. When Brett Sr. is assassinated, Kato takes Brett Jr. to China where he is trained to become the new Green Hornet. This series is written by movie director Kevin Smith. It is a reworking of a Green Hornet screenplay he wrote, but that was never produced. The artwork is by Jonathan Lau and covers by Scott Campbell, John Cassaday and Alex Ross.