Return of the Green Hornet Options

[Ron Fortier]

I don't honestly believe so, Glen. Although according to my pal Andrew Salmon, he was just notified the other day that his GH story will be appearing in the second volume, so it would appear some kind of cut-off has been established for
volume one. As for those of us who made that first volume, I only myself and those few other names mentioned in their early ads.
Speaking of the Green Hornet, radio/tv historian Martin Gram Jr. just released his exhaustive and definitive history of the Green Hornet. Book comes in at a whopping 800 pages and is by far the most amazing such history of a fictional character ever put together. It chronicles the characters birth in radio, his evolution to movie serials, the 60s TV series
and all the various comic interpretations along the way, including my participation in the Now Comics revival. Its one of the most impressive such tomes I've ever seen...and am so happy to now own a copy.

[Glen Davis]

That's great, that they're already planning on a sequel. It's amazing how many characters' anthologies Moonstone has planned.

Do you have a story in Volume 2?

Are you working on one for volume 3?

[Ron Fortier]

Glen, Moonstone contracted with the GH licensor to do 5 volumes. And no, I was asked to contribute one story only, which will appear in the first volume. Whereas I do have a story in the second Avenger anthology and will be taking on the writing chores of an obscure pulp character for Moonstone in both prose and comics, Prof. I.V.Frost. Frost is a truly fun character and I'm having a ball with this.

[Andrew Salmon]

And it's not just the one comic from Dynamite and the anthologies from Moonstone.

Having read the first issue from Dynamite (and not liking it all that much I'm sorry to say), there are ads for Green Hornet Year One (which looks really good), a BLACK Hornet series and a Green Hornet series set in the future.

As for my Moonstone appearance in Volume Two, that's not official yet. Thus I continue to type with fingers crossed. No easy task let me tell you.

[Ron Fortier]

Clearly EVERYONE and his uncle ( or aunt..ha) is jumping on the Green Hornet bandwagon. Now if someone would just collect our mini-series STING OF THE GREEN HORNET, still considered by most fans to be the best GH comic story ever
produced. Are you listening, Dynamite?

[Gordon_D]

Clearly EVERYONE and his uncle ( or aunt..ha) is jumping on the Green Hornet bandwagon. Now if someone would just collect our mini-series STING OF THE GREEN HORNET, still considered by most fans to be the best GH comic story ever
produced. Are you listening, Dynamite?

Ron,

First, is there a way to directly order the Martin Grams Jr. Green Hornet book? Amazon states that it's temporarily "out of stock", and plus, I like supporting small/indie press. (Plus, I want to read it).

Secondly, with all this talk about the Hornet - I was actually planning to write a Hornet-themed post in June (in time for the movie), but I may just move it up for the March column.

And I can promise you this - it will be much better than Kevin Smith's work on the Hornet book so far. And yes, I know it's issue # 1.

Gordon

[Ron Fortier]

Hi Gordon, the author Martin Grams, Jr. has a website where you can order a copy directly from him.
It's (www.MartinGrams.com) When the page pulls up, look to the left side column and click on the Green Hornet banner.

And if you do order it from him directly, Gordon, be sure to ask him to autograph it for you. Martin's a great guy. Tell him we're pals.

[Glen Davis]

Clearly EVERYONE and his uncle ( or aunt..ha) is jumping on the Green Hornet bandwagon. Now if someone would just collect our mini-series STING OF THE GREEN HORNET, still considered by most fans to be the best GH comic story ever
produced. Are you listening, Dynamite?

I wouldn't a mind a collection of all the golden age, atomic age, and silver age stuff to go along with it.

[Andrew Salmon]

In addition to the Sting of the Green Hornet collection (which I've never read but want to), how about a deluxe DVD set of the TV series?

[Gordon_D]

In addition to the Sting of the Green Hornet collection (which I've never read but want to), how about a deluxe DVD set of the TV series?

I second that - although this weekend will see me doing some research into the why-isn't-GH-on-DVD-yet question.

(I know there's a ton of legal issues around the Batman TV show, but the Hornet show? Perhaps Mr. Fortier knows for sure....)

[Ron Fortier]

Gordon, the legalities involved with rights to that 60s show are not so much convoluted, as they are simply being guarded obsessively by the heirs to the George W.Trendel family, he being the dude who first created character for his radio station, WXYZ in Detroit. Trendel, his son and now granddaughter, have maintain a death grip on this property and are truly controlling in how they parcel it out. Today they have a licensing firm in Los Angeles that manages the property and
my best guess is simply this...they are waiting for the Seth Rogen movie to come out. And when it hits with whatever publicity the studio will allow, the GH licensor will use that free marketing to okay a DVD series deal.
Again, my best guess.

[Glen Davis]

They also own the Lone Ranger and Sgt Preston of the Yukon, correct?

Wouldn't mind seeing a big, Dark Horse style collection of these properties, either.

[Ron Fortier]

Not that I'm aware of, Glen. Originally all three properties were held by Trendel and station WXYZ. But he did sell off the Lone Ranger and it has changed hands times since then. And the Hornet stayed in the Trendel family, which was why
you could never put the two characters (Lone Ranger & Green Hornet) together in a story.
BUT...here's what has happened.
Two years ago Dynamite made a deal with the British concern that owns the Lone Ranger and thus started their comic run of this character. Now they've made a deal with the outfit that represents the Trendes to do a bunch of GH comics.
Meaning for the first time in many, many years, both characters are being published by the same company.
Which has led many of us fans to speculate whether Dynamite would attempt to do a cross-over, providing they can
convince the two licensors to okay such a project.

[Glen Davis]

Then who got Sgt. Preston?

Is he public domain?

[Ron Fortier]

Considering that the show did land on television in the 50s, I'm betting someone bought it from Trendel and I doubt seriously it is public domain. Note, the answer most likely is in the new Green Hornet book I rant about in my Flight Log
this morning, the 800 page behemoth put together by Martin Grams, Jr. and Terry Salomonson.

And on a related note, Moonstone's editor just sent out a tentative list of the writers appearing in the Green Hornet Chronicles Vol One and they are.

Ron Fortier
Denny O'Neil
Harlan Ellison
Will Murray
Greg Cox
Bob Greenberger
Patricia Weakley
Richard Dean Starr
Matthew Baugh
James Van Hise
CJ Henderson
Win Scott Eckert
Bill Spangler
Mark Ellis
Howard Hopkins
James Reasoner
James Chambers
Mark Justice
Terry Alexander
Rich Harvey

This is subject to change, but I think its a good bet this is the official roster for volume one.

[Glen Davis]

That just whets my appetit more.

[Ron Fortier]

I was told early this morning by co-editor Win Eckert, that THE GREEN HORNET CHRONICLES has gone to the presses. Yahoooo!!!

[Glen Davis]

Good Deal!

[Kathulos]

Great News!
Looking forward to grabbing this when it hits the shelves.
Maybe by then I'll be allowed to buy some more books.

[Ron Fortier]

Thanks guys. Quite honestly, I am truly excited about getting my own hands on this puppy.

This has been a banner year for me in regards to my working for Moonstone. I've always wanted to do comics for them and finally have been given the chance with their pulp line - Return of the Originals. I'm writing the I.V. Frost stories, both in prose and back up comic strips. Soon as artist Jake Minor has a few pages or illos ready, I'll sneak peek them here.

And let's not forget my super secret story in the second Avenger Chronicles. It's also in production from Moonstone. But more on that later. Right now we have keep the BZZZZZ in the Green Hornet.