The Green Hornet is a lot like Batman. Only much cooler. Now, I am well aware that this statement has instantly earned me the wrathful disdain of many Bat-Fans, but hear me out. (And put those movie-replica Batarangs away, please!)
Both characters were born during the same pulp era. I'm honestly not sure which came first, but that's irrelevant. There were a ton of similar costumed crime-fighters who came along during the Thirties and Forties, so none of them can really claim to be terribly original or unique. Both are rich white guys who put on costumes to fight crime and protect their home city. Both have cool gadgets, awesome cars, and a costumed sidekick. So what gives me the unmitigated temerity to claim that Green Hornet, an admittedly lesser-known character, is superior?
First of all, the costume. Yeah, Batman is spooky and brooding and all, but he's still a crazy guy dressed as flying vermin. And then there's the cape. Though I haven't done much crimefighting myself, I tend to think a massive, flowing cape would get in the way and be something of a liability. Green Hornet, on the other hand, is a very sharp dresser with a spiffy suit, a natty tie, and a cool fedora. Plus, trenchcoat beats cape any day for an intimidating, yet snazzy, crime fighting accessory. Who would you rather talk to at a party, the guy in a well-tailored suit, or the guy crouching in the corner in his pointy-eared Bat-head?
Next up, choice of sidekick. I know there have been many Robin variants over the years, but the standard model is a teenage boy in tights and a bright orange shirt. What in the name of Wertham is up with that? Aside from all the snide and unsavory remarks that one could make about the whole situation, the child endangerment angle is simply unforgivable. Green Hornet, on the other hand, has Kato. An amazing and accomplished martial artist, who is every bit the equal (or better) of the hero. Just compare the actors who portrayed the characters in their Sixties TV shows: Robin=Burt Ward, Kato=Bruce Lee. Bruce Freakin' Lee! In that match-up, Robin would hit the turf faster than he could say "Holy boot upside my head, Batman!"
So, The Green Hornet is awesome and deserves more attention than he gets. You have a chance to see for yourself this week. Dynamite has a whole lot of Green Hornet comics in the works, and their revival of the character kicks off with a series written by fan-favorite Kevin Smith, with art by Jonathan Lau. This series is based on Smith's unproduced movie script, and makes it seem like a real shame that we aren't ever going to see this given the blockbuster treatment it deserves. The story respectfully updates the Green Hornet mythos, and tells new readers everything they need to know about the character, without weighing things down with unnecessary exposition.
Green Hornet #3 is this week's Guaranteed Book of the Week, and you can jump right in with this issue and enjoy the ride. Britt Reid makes Bruce Wayne look like the creepy weirdo no one wants to sit with on the bus! Cooler costume, cooler sidekick, cooler theme song. (I'm sure you can check it out on YouTube.) Do the right thing, and take a ride with The Green Hornet!
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