What characters would you choose for your Ultimate Pulp Hero Team? originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights.
Answer by Ariel Williams, Dreamer, Writer, and Artist, on Quora:
An ultimate Pulp hero team...
First, let's just leave out Batman cause the pulps really predate that and there is a difference between pulp novels vs comic books..
Doc Savage "The Man of Bronze" as the leader of the team. [1]
Savages Motto: "Let me strive every moment of my life to make myself better and better, to the best of my ability, that all may profit by it. Let me think of the right and lend all my assistance to those who need it, with no regard for anything but justice. Let me take what comes with a smile, without loss of courage. Let me be considerate of my country, of my fellow citizens and my associates in everything I say and do. Let me do right to all, and wrong no man."
Doc Savage is like Batman, Captain America, Tony Stark, and Punisher all in one. Although he does not have a suit of power armor, nor does he have a Batmobile, he does have numerous skills. He has a genius-level intellect. He is also at the peak of physical and mental conditioning. Savage is a skilled scientist, surgeon, inventor, detective, athlete, and martial artist. He has a flawless photographic memory and is a master of disguise. Add to all of that, the guy seems to be indestructible. Savage regularly defies death and comes out of most horrible disasters with nothing worse than torn clothing. This is what lead to his nickname as 'The Man of Bronze'. His bronze tanned skin seems to be impenetrable to bullets and harm.
- Genius-level intellect
- Peak mental and physical conditioning
- Master detective
- Skilled marksman and martial artist
- Master of disguise
- Master of stealth
- Extensive contacts and allies in the underworld and civilian life.
Although The Shadow may read like Savage in abilities, his methods are different. He is a master detective and supremely skilled in stealth. He is also a master hypnotist, able to make his enemies quiver in fear from sight of him alone. He was in fact the inspiration for Batman and the very first Batman story was based on a Shadow story. The Shadows "Partners of Peril" became "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate" in Batman. [2]
Green Lama as aerial support and the heavy hitter. [3]
The Green Lama was the Superman of the Pulp Novels. He could fly, was super strong, super fast and could project energy beams to fight enemies. He was also, generally speaking, a pacifist whom never killed and refused to use guns. Instead he used fantastic powers gained through mystic teachings in Buddhism and manipulation of "radioactive salts".
The Green Lama is also a subject matter expert of mysticism and the supernatural for the team.
Nyctalope the cyborg. [4]
First created in 1911, he predates other heroes by more than three decades. He is also claimed to be one of the first cyborgs in modern fiction. He possesses several artificial organs including eyes, heart, lungs and other parts. These artificial components give him remarkable abilities like night vision and enhanced senses, endurance and durability.
He regularly fights evil empires, monsters, and aliens to save the Earth.
Avenger "The Man of a Thousand Faces" ,[5] whom is the true first avenger. His first novel was called Justice inc., making him the first Justice Leaguer too! He is a man with exceptional intellect, physically at the peak of human levels and can reshape his face to resemble any person.
His abilities and skills make him a cross between the Shadow and Doc Savage.
Zorro because if you can have Zorro on your team you say "yes!" [6]
Aside from his keen mind and amazing sword fighting skills, he is also a master gymnast able to leap, tumble, climb and run like few else can. When that fails he has a tongue and wit sharper than his sword.
Conan the Barbarian [7] originally started out in Pulp novels too. He does qualify here . He could be useful, because sometimes things just call for a really big guy with a really big sword.
Footnotes:
[1] Doc Savage
[2] The Shadow
[3] Green Lama
[4] Nyctalope
[6] Zorro
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