An interesting comic book series is the “World of Black Hammer” by writer Jeff Lemire and artist Dean Ormston. Published by Dark Horse Comics it has appeared as several mini-series that have been collected in several trade paperbacks.
The main characters are inspired by several DC Comics characters, but as the “Black Hammer Universe” covers from the late 1800s to the 25th century, there is also room for pulp-inspired heroes. Sadly, we haven’t seen much of them, and I doubt we’ll get stories specifically about them, but we can dream.
We learn about these characters through Sherlock Frankenstein, a former hero and former villain who comes from the Victorian Age. We learn of his history in his own mini-series, collected as Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil. We find out his story starts in 1893 as a man dying of an incurable wasting disease. But through his own intellect, he finds a way to cure himself and make himself an undead immortal. He uses his intellect and inventions for good, and marries the nurse who showed him kindness.
But she also fell to the same disease, and when his inventions that cured him failed her, he fell into despair and turned against the world. But not wanting to stay in London, he moved to Spiral City to be a villain. But in the 1920s, he was confronted by new heroes!
First up is Doctor Nathan Steele, or Doc Steele. Born of an American father and a Tibetan mother, he was raised in Tibet by his mother and a group of scientists and turned into the peak of human strength, speed, and intelligence, and opposes evil.
Next is the Crimson Fist, a former FBI agent who goes rogue and becomes a vigilante who knows what hate warps the mind of humankind.
Then in 1932, they are joined by Tazara, the “goddess of the jungle”. A daughter of two Congolese refugees from the tyranny of colonial rule, she was raised by a giant leopard and protects the jungle. But somehow finds herself in Spiral City.
It should be clear to any pulp fan who these are based on.
At present, what little we know is from a few pages, one in the Sherlock Frankenstein mini, the other in the “Black Hammer Encyclopedia” included in the Black Hammer: Streets of Spiral collection. As we’ve had minis based on other groups, like the Black Hammer Squadron and the Quantum Age of Heroes (basically the Legion of Super-Heroes), one can dream that we might get a mini focused on the pulp heroes going up against Sherlock Frankenstein and other pulp-era menaces. But I doubt it.
But maybe someone might propose something with these characters.
Lemire seems intent on mining the universe as long as people are buying the minis. He’s had one going nonstop for a few years now. He’s definitely did a pilot team already and recently had a series around street level heroes.