Superhero Origins: The Green Hornet
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
He went from millionaire playboy to a masked vigilante of justice. Growing up before the Second World War in Chicago, Britt Reid is the son of the wealthy owner of The Daily Sentinel newspaper. When asked to follow in his father's footsteps, he instead decides to travel to foreign lands to carry out humanitarian work. Soon enough, his adventures show him the horrible cruelty and corruption of the world. Rescuing a man named Kato, the two became good friends and venture back to America.
Upon his return, Britt discovers that his father has been murdered. Frustrated with the slow speed of justice and the corruption of the police, Britt and Kato became masked vigilantes of justice, using Britt's vast wealth to fund their exploits. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we take an in-depth look of the origin of the Green Hornet.
Superhero Origins: The Green Hornet
He went from millionaire playboy to a masked vigilante of justice. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be taking a look at the origin of The Green Hornet.
As with most comic book characters, there are often re-imaginings and different versions to a character’s past. We have chosen to primarily follow the storyline, which unfolded in 2010’s “The Green Hornet: Year One.”
Growing up before the Second World War in Chicago, Britt Reid is the son of Daniel Reid, the wealthy owner of “The Daily Sentinel” newspaper.
When asked to follow in his father's footsteps, so that he can one day inherit the family business, he instead decides to travel to foreign lands to carry out humanitarian work.
Soon enough, his adventures show him the horrible cruelty and corruption of the world. Becoming trapped in China by the invasion of the Imperial Japanese Army, Britt takes it upon himself to rescue a local man named Kato. As a result, the two became good friends and travel back to America together.
A short time after returning, Britt discovers that his father has been murdered.
Frustrated with the slow speed of justice and the corruption of the police, Britt vows to fight all sources of crime in his city as a masked vigilante. He is joined by Kato, who had vowed to be his loyal servant and protector, and would now become his unnamed chauffeur and enforcer.
Taking on crime-fighting personas, the pair used Britt’s vast wealth to fund their exploits, and they created costumed disguises, as well as a gas gun for Britt to knock out his targets.
Meanwhile, their vehicle of choice became “Black Beauty”, a darkly painted Mustang loaded with weapons and gadgets.
Working together for several years, Britt and Kato not only took down the Sentinel’s internal criminal presence, but all of the crime families of Chicago as well.
Starting off as a radio program in the 1930s, the various adventures of the Green Hornet have not only become a staple of comics; but became a cult-favorite 1960s television series starring Van Williams and Bruce Lee.
After the show ended its run, it was decades before the franchise was rebooted with the 2011 film adaptation, starring Seth Rogan and Jay Chou. This reboot kept the basic premise of the original comics and series, but added a newfound sense of comedy and lightheartedness.
