An interesting pulp-inspired comic that I came across is The Fearsome Doctor Fang. Published by TKO Studios as a six-issue mini-series, then reprinted in trade paperback (in an oddly larger size), it was written by Tze Chun and Mike Weiss with artwork by Dan McDaid.
At first glance, it seems a take on the “yellow peril” villains like the Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu.
The story is set in 1904 San Francisco. We met cops and brothers Patrick and Nayland Kelly (a nod at Dennis Nayland Smith?). Patrick is a detective on the hunt for international criminal mastermind the “fearsome” Dr. Fang, who most don’t believe exists. Nayland is a big, burly beat cop who helps Patrick. But after chasing into the sewer, they encounter a mysterious man, and in an altercation, Patrick is swept away and is presumed killed.
Two years later, Nayland is pretty much a drunk, but still a cop, obsessed in finding Dr. Fang, whom he blames for his brother’s death. While helping guard a museum gala, he sees Alice Lecroix, who was there to present a puzzle box owned by Kublai Khan, steal it unseen. But then Dr. Fang shows up, steals the box from her, and causes the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake! Alice and Nayland pursue Dr. Fang to his ship, only to see the box stolen from him by mysterious men that include Nayland’s brother Patrick!
Dr. Fang reveals that the box will open Kublai Khan’s palace, Xanadu, where is stored a super weapon that threatens the world, which those who stole the box intend to use. In an interesting revearsal of the “yellow peril” villain, we learn that “Dr. Fang” is not the villain, but a hero who works to keep dangerous weapons locked away. He had created the “Fearsome Dr. Fang” persona to help him in this work as he goes after arms dealers. The real villain thinks himself the hero of the story, and is the person behind those who stole the box. Alice and Nayland then leave with Fang in his ship, which is revealed to also be an airship!
Along the way they figure out who the real villain of the story is, find other allies, find out how Patrick is still alive and his role in the story, and hopefully put a stop to things and save the world. There are also interesting high-tech weapons used by both Dr. Fang and the villain.
The story isn’t perfect. We don’t find out what the background and motivation of the villain is, and there are some unlikey elements (Fang’s airship is unlikely to also be his storehouse for the many superweapons he takes).
The end of the story allows for further adventures with Fang, Alice, and Nayland. Whether we get them remains to be seen. But it certainly shows how others can use such tropes in modern times to great effect.
