Pulp / Space Opera / Superheroes

[Whill]

The history of my nerd genres is fascinating to me. Non-hard sci-fi was one of multiple genres of the old pulp magazines, and these stories began to influence comic books to have multiple genres.

Non-hard sci-fi made is way into the film serials of the day and the "space opera" was born. What history generally deems as the pinnacle of space opera serials, if not all film serials, are three Flash Gordon serials (1936-40) which were based on a comic strip. Star Wars was born out of Lucas' failed attempt to purchase or license Flash Gordon film rights in the 70s.



The superhero genre and Golden Age of Comic books began in 1938 with the publication of Action Comics #1 staring Superman, the hero from which the term "superhero" is derived. As I mentioned here, the highest selling superhero of the Golden Age of Comic Books was not Superman or Batman, but rather the original Captain Marvel ("Shazam") which first appeared in 1939. Superheroes were not far behind space opera to show up in film serials, and the first superhero film serial was The Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941). In my early childhood, my first superhero was Captain Marvel from the Shazam! TV show (1974-77)



I recently watched the first Flash Gordon serial and The Adventures of Captain Marvel. These old serials are pretty silly by even 1970s standards, but they have a certain charm and I appreciate them for their important roles in nerd history.

Has anyone else seen them or any other old film serials? Anyone have anything to say about the old days of pulp/space opera/superheroes in general?
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[KageRyu]

I have seen some of the old serials of Flash Gordon, and grew up on Doctor Who, Space 1999, Logan's Run, reruns of Star Trek, Lost in Space, Batman, Invaders, and a lot of other Science Fiction of the 70's and before. I love some of the good old classics such as George Pal's War of the World, Forbidden Planet, Starcrash. One of my favorite movies is the 80's version of Flash Gordon. I vaguely remember the Shazam of the '70s, but what I remember more clearly was Jason of Star Command.

I like Space Opera. I like Pulp Sci-Fi. I grew up on X-Men, Ghostrider, and Wolverine (among others). I am not fond of the attempt by modern cinema and TV to make comic book and superhero genre stories more scientifically plausible. One of the things I hated most in a certain other sci fi franchise was the over use and abuse of technobabble, and now it is everywhere. I do have a soft spot for the days when it wasn't necessary - when things seemed simpler, where evil was just evil and not everything needed shades of grey. Don't get me wrong, I love a good spy movie, or a nice thriller, or a good political drama loaded with moral quandaries... I just don't feel it fits with or belongs in certain story lines or franchises. Not ay all looking forward to that upcoming political thriller about Wolverines bid for the white house - no sir.

I would love to see a continuation of or more modern undertaking in the same campy glorious style of the 1980's Flash Gordon. I even liked Buck Rogers... well, the first season anyway... season 2 was right up there with Galactica 1980.

So, I am sure I earned a bunch of DSP here...
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