A reference sketch for the radio series of the Hornet Gun's original design
The Hornet Gun is a gas gun used by Green Hornet to render individuals unconscious. It originated in the radio series, where it served as his primary weapons, and has maintained this status across the franchise's various media adaptations. his various media adaptations. Since the Hornet adheres to a strict moral code that includes "no killing", the Hornet Gun is not a traditional firearm. Rather, it fires a non-injurious sleeping gas housed within cylinder-shaped cartridges which detonate upon impact. The gas renders the target unconscious for an amount of time which varies depending on the iteration of the franchise. One origin for the Hornet Gun stems from Dynamite Entertainment's The Green Hornet: Year One comic book series, where the gun itself was designed by Rusty Schmidt and the gas formula created by Kato.
In the radio series[]
The original "radio" version of the Hornet Gun was similar in design to a standard pistol, with the only noticeable modifications being the two large chambers above the handle which held the gas cartridges. Outside of the radio series, this design for the gun was also used in Dell Comics' Four Color #496.
In the film serials[]
The second incarnation of the Hornet Gun was created for Universal's The Green Hornet serial in 1940. Based on a Mauser C96 pistol, this Hornet Gun features a curved "L" shaped piece that holds several gas cartridges and goes the length of the pistol's tip to the box magazine.The Hornet Gun appears in both The Green Hornet and The Green Hornet Strikes Again!. This version functions much the same way as it does in the radio series and is specified as having been invented by Kato.
In the comics[]
In the comics books[]
The Hornet Gun as it appears in Green Hornet Comics #1
The Hornet Gun has also been a regular fixture in comic books based on the franchise. While it originally had its own specific design in the comic books, its look has varied widely based on the artist drawing it. At other times, the weapon's comic books has closely mirrored that of various screen adaptations. For example, the Hornet Gun design from the film serials was commonly used by later iteration of the Green Hornet, which were set during the 1930s and '40s, such as the NOW and Dynamite comic books, whereas the design from the television series is often used in other media adaptations set in the 1960s.
The character of Britt Reid Jr. featured in Kevin Smith's Green Hornet comics published by Dynamite carries a silver "futuristic" streamlined version Hornet Gun designed by Clutch Kato.
In the Dick Tracy comic strip[]
The Hornet Gun in action during the Dick Tracy comic strip's Green Hornet crossover arc
The Hornet Gun appears in the Dick Tracy comic strip's 2018 Green Hornet crossover arc. The gas that this version of the weapon emits a green, in keeping with the Hornet's color motif, and capable of simultaneously rendering multiple targets unconscious. During the arc's climax, the Green Hornet uses the Hornet Gun to knock both the Major Crimes Unit detectives and Cyrus Topper's gang out, thereby facilitating the Hornet and Kato's escape and ensuring that Topper and his gang will be taken into police custody.
In the television series[]
A third design for the Hornget Gun was created for the 1966 Green Hornet television series, frequently used on-screen by the version of Britt Reid portrayed by Van Williams. This Hornet Gun is smaller than the previous two designs, only holding a single gas cartridge at a time, which is loaded through the bottom of the stock.
On the television series, the simple gun was a solid green, but when it was featured in the first volume of NOW Comics' The Green Hornet comics, it featured a black barrel with a wooden grip.
In the 2011 film[]
In the 2011 film The Green Hornet, Kato designs the Hornet Gun for Britt Reid due to Britt having no previous fighting experience. Kato also creates the gas formula the gun fires, which the effects initially last for eleven days before he changed it to one hour.
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