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.
@@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.
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 any 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. ⛽
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.
@@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.
