SPRING-HEELED JACK

Three pamphlet publications, ostensibly based on the ‘true’ occurrences of Spring-Heeled Jack, emerged virtually simultaneously in January and February 1838. They were not promoted as fiction, though they were most likely partially such. The only known copies were said to have perished when the British Library was bombed during World War II.

During the second part of the nineteenth century, the figure was written into a variety of penny dreadful stories, first as a villain and subsequently in more heroic positions.

By the early 1900s, he was being portrayed as a costumed, selfless avenger of wrongs and protector of the innocent, essentially serving as a forerunner to pulp fiction and, later, comic book superheroes.

So, what do you think?

Was he a gentleman or group of gentlemen out for a good laugh and took pleasure in terrifying women, or was he perhaps a strange paranormal entity? If you like what you hear, please consider liking, subscribing, or even writing a review on whatever platform you use to listen to podcasts.