Pulps, Comics and the Rise of Superheroes

Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever*

Whilst researching the Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers film serials of the 1930s I was delighted to find far too much information about the pulp and comic book origins of these heroes. So we are taking a detour to speak with people who really have their heads wrapped around this topic.
For full shownotes for this episode without character limits you can visit here.
We will be talking about Flash Gordon (and a little about Buck Rogers) in the next episode. Scroll down to get more information on where to watch the 1930s film serials.
The Experts
Julian Chambliss is a scholar and a professor at Michigan State University. He is the author of multiple books including Ages of Heroes, Eras of Men: Superheroes and the American Experience.
Jess Nevins is an Author and research librarian who has annotated multiple comics and written the Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes, The Encyclopedia of Pulp Heroes and The Evolution of the Costumed Avenger: The 4,000-Year History of the Superhero.
Chapters
00:00 Intro to the show and guests
02:14 The origins of pulp fiction
04:14 The western frontier and the American hero
06:23 Superheroes in the pulps and ancient civilization
09:42 WW1 and Hugo Gernsback’s Amazing Stories
11:21 Buck Rogers, race and rapid change
15:13 From pulp to comic strip: Buck Rogers and Tarzan
15:39 The success of Flash Gordon
16:55 Racial politics of Flash Gordon
19:16 The true first superhero
20:38 Phantom’s international popularity
21:38 The Great Depression, superpowers and The New Deal
25:35 The Jewish influence
28:44 Superman as the good immigrant
32:25 Women: from pulps to comics
35:55 The rediscovery of black creators
40:44 Moral panic, senate hearings and the Comics Code Authority
48:34 The future of the hero

NEXT EPISODE!
Next episode we will be focusing on the Flash Gordon (and Buck Rogers) film serials of the 1930s. You can check JustWatch to see where you can access them: https://www.justwatch.com/
There are also available on YouTube including some strangely colourised versions.
I would also highly recommend watching the 1980 version of Flash Gordon which is ridiculously good fun in my opinion. It is available to rent or buy in various places including on Amazon and again you can check on Just Watch where it may be streaming in your region.

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Chapters

1. Intro to the show and guests (00:00:00)

2. The origins of pulp fiction (00:02:14)

3. The western frontier and the American hero (00:04:14)

4. Superheroes in the pulps and ancient civilization (00:06:23)

5. WW1 and Hugo Gernsback’s Amazing Stories (00:09:42)

6. Buck Rogers, race and rapid change (00:11:21)

7. From pulp to comic strip: Buck Rogers and Tarzan (00:15:13)

8. The success of Flash Gordon (00:15:39)

9. Racial politics of Flash Gordon (00:16:55)

10. The true first superhero (00:19:16)

11. Phantom’s international popularity (00:20:38)

12. The Great Depression, superpowers and The New Deal (00:21:38)

13. The Jewish influence (00:25:35)

14. Superman as the good immigrant (00:28:44)

15. Women: from pulps to comics (00:32:25)

16. The rediscovery of black creators (00:35:55)

17. Moral panic, senate hearings and the Comics Code Authority (00:40:44)

18. The future of the hero (00:48:34)