Remembering Artist George Perez Batman

Remembering artist George Perez (June 9, 1954 - May 6, 2022) with a character he didn't work with, and one that he did incredible work with.

While George Perez only did a few pages of interior work on Batman #400 (incredible, and likely to receive coverage at some point), he did get to do some exemplary Batman covers related to Dick Grayson (covering his time as Robin in "Year Three", as well as Nightwing, and introducing Tim Drake to readers in the expanded "A Lonely Place Of Dying" working in New Titans issues, which George did draw).

As always, letting his art speak for him....

Batman #436 and #437 (Early and Late August, 1989)

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Batman #438 and #439 (Early and Late September, 1989)

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Batman #440 and New Titans #60 (October and November, 1989)

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Batman #441 and New Titans #61 (November and December, 1989)

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Batman #442 (December, 1989)

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Watching The Monitor: Batman And Friends

Batman was usually the one watching people....checking on his friends and associates to keep them safe and looking out for villains and criminals to prevent them from causing harm.

Still, the Monitor had to see what Batman was doing at this time, as he had walked away from the JLA to form the Outsiders, had strained relations with Superman, and had a new Robin in Jason Todd as Dick Grayson had become Nightwing and was working more with the Titans than ever.

Two By Two

First up, an old foe of Batman's was in need of the Monitor's services in Batman And The Outsiders #14 (October, 1984) by Mike W. Barr, Bill Willingham and Bill Anderson (all under a cover by Jim Aparo).

Maxie Zeus, a Gotham mobster who thought he was the king of Olympus, had escaped prison and was planning a strike against the Olympics (kidnapping Greek contestant Lacinia Nitocris).  Maxie made a call to the Monitor to build his own New Olympians...

...(metahumans with powers that were similar to the Greek gods...Diana, Nox, Antaeus, Proteus and Vulcanus....and Argus in the next issue; all as perfect counters to the Outsiders).


All while the Outsiders (Metamorpho, Black Lightning, Katana, Halo and Geo-Force) go through various problems in their own lives....until Batman summons them to the Olympics to compete with Zeus' New Olympians.

Going For The Gold

The battle between the Outsiders and the New Olympians continues in Batman And The Outsiders #15 (November, 1984) by Mike W. Barr and Trevor Von Eeden (under a cover by Jim Aparo).

The New Olympians and Outsiders battle, at least until Batman realizes why Maxie Zeus was interested in  Lacinia Nitocris....the single dad was looking for someone to take care of his daughter.

All this gave the Monitor and Lyla a great deal of information on Batman and the Outsiders.


Both Batman And The Outsiders tales were reprinted in Batman and the Outsiders Hardcover Volume 2 in 2018.

Hacker

Next up, the Monitor checks out the strained relationship between Superman and Batman in World's Finest Comics #311 (January, 1985) by Joey Cavalieri, Stan Woch and Pablo Marcos (all under a cover by Paris Cullins and Klaus Janson).

In what seems to be a more playful mood for the Monitor, he gives Davy (a teenage hacker from the suburbs) access to Superman's Fortress of Solitude's computers, unknowningly unleashing various of Superman's pets and giant robots loose on Gotham, as Batman tracks down the hacker, mostly as a test of Batman's detective skills (though he also sets into motion a group of villains, the Network, that would vex Superman and Batman over the next few issues).

This tale has yet to be reprinted (and for Superman's side in the Superman/Batman battle, check his upcoming fact sheet of Monitor observations).

Broken Dates

Doug Moench, Rick Hoberg and Rudy D. Nebres give us the next Bat-themed adventure of the Monitor and Lyla in Batman #384 (June, 1985), all under a cover by Paris Cullins and Robert Allen Smith.

The gang of Dr. Fang uses the Monitor to hire the Calendar Man (and in either a fit of whimsy or unknown knowledge, the Monitor picks Calendar Man as one of Batman's most deadly foes).

The Calendar Man keeps with his calendar motif, attacking Batman and his new Robin, Jason Todd under crimes based on the days.

The First Day Of Spring

Doug Moench, Pat Broderick and Doug Smith set off the next tale of Batman vs. the Calendar Man in Detective Comics #551 (June, 1985) with Pat Broderick providing the cover.

The Monitor only gets named dropped here, but assume he is still watching, as, to protect Robin, Batman bars him from this case (as Batman is worried that Calendar Man will kill Robin....and, perhaps exposing a weakness of Batman's....his need to protect those around him, which will push him into danger for himself).

Neither of these Calendar Man tales have been reprinted, and he is defeated in the next issue of Batman.

Victor Victorious

Though Batman does feature in Tales Of The Teen Titans #58 (October, 1985) by Marv Wolfman, Chuck Patton and Romeo Tanghal (cover by Patton/Tanghal), it is important for the Monitor and Lyla.

Nightwing (the former Robin, Dick Grayson) is a bit distracted with the Titans, as Cyborg (Victor Stone) attempts an operation at S.T.A.R. Labs to restore much of his humanity.

Of course, this would be a perfect time for the Fearsome Five to attack (Gizmo, Mammoth, Shimmer and new members Jinx and Neutron, led by Psimon, who replaced Dr. Light as leader).

In the battle between teams, Psimon gets thrown into the water and would have died....had not the Monitor sent Lyla (as Harbinger) to bring him aboard his satellite (as Psimon was one of a select few the Monitor had originally chosen to help against the Crisis On Infinite Earths....).

This tale has been reprinted in the 8th New Teen Titans tradepaperback.

On a long, winding road to the Crisis, the Monitor has been checking on the Titans, JLA, JSA, the Legion of the Super-Heroes and folks like Swamp Thing....all getting ready for the battle to come!

Detective Comics Centennial 700 And Legacy

When last we met (other than a brief interlude), Batman, Robin and Nightwing were about to encounter the villain of the piece in the desert....meanwhile, captive below ground, Catwoman herself found out one of the secrets of this dig as well.

No time to wait, Bat-fans, let's just dive right into the action that starts in Detective Comics #700 (August, 1996).

Detective Comics 700

The anniversary issue, by Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan and Scott Hanna, had Batman in one normal cover, then a special edition, with Batman in on an envelope...and, when you opened the envelope, you saw the cover which revealed one of the secret villains of the issue.

Have the clues from the last column pointed you to who it is yet?

Well, here is the answer.  The mystery villain is Ra's Al Ghul, with the story of the "Progeny Of The Demon" to kick off Batman: Legacy.

Ra's has a new plan to rid the world of its human population, using the wheel to get the secret to a new contagion, as well as having a new man he deems worthy to marry his daughter and take his legacy.  Batman, Robin and Nightwing plan to stop him, with Batman and Robin getting trapped down the mineshaft as Ra's prepares to destroy the wheel to prevent anyone from getting the cure. 

Nightwing briefly faces Ra's as Batman and Robin struggle to get free from the now flooding mine.  Getting free forces Ra's and Talia to flee (planning on releasing their new plague on the New World), but also revealing the identity of the man Ra's intends to wed his daughter...Bane, the man who broke Batman's back!

Meanwhile, Catwoman, still trapped in her cell, prepares to deal with the water rapidly filling that room...

Catwoman 36

In a story by Chuck Dixon, Jim Balent and Bob Smith, Catwoman faces the unappealing death by drowning in a desert in "The Best Of Enemies".

Freeing herself and Brother Umberto, Selina also realizes she must free her foe, Hellhound, as it will take all three of them to escape the flooding complex.  Alfred brings a jet to pick up Batman, Robin and Nightwing, who get a chance to repair their wounds, then the team gets in touch with Oracle, who spells out where they need to go next to stop Ra's, with Robin and the injured Nightwing headed to Paris, Batman to Edinburgh.

After a battle in the desert with Hellhound, Catwoman gets revenge on the Collector for involving her in this mess.

Robin 32

"Born With Teeth" is part three, by Chuck Dixon, Staz Johnson and Ray McCarthy, with Robin and Nightwing in Paris.

Tim and Dick look for where Ra's men might deploy the newest contagion, with Tim meeting up with Shen Chi (an oriental master Robin trained with when last in Paris) as well as Henri Ducard (who had trained young Bruce Wayne as recounted in Detective Comics #598 to #600).  Nightwing, Robin and Ducard stop Ra's men at the Louvre, with Ducard dispatching them fatally, angering Robin. 

Tim and Dick take a plane back to Gotham, with Tim worrying that everyone, himself included, may be dying from the clench virus.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat 54

Batman's detour to Edinburgh shows him "The Power Of The Picts" in the Legacy chapter by Alan Grant, Dave Taylor and Stan Woch.

Bruce Wayne explores an ancient castle, finding out a little of the history of the area, before having to become Batman.

As Batman, he faces the Taskers, a family that Ra's has inspired to use the virus to destroy the people around the castle, stopping them and Ra's plan here. 

In talking with Robin and Nightwing via radio, as his time was successful, they tell him that Oracle found another destination of Ra's, which he will investigate....Calcutta.

Batman 534

Doug Moench, Jim Aparo and Bill Sienkiewicz bring the next chapter of Legacy, with "A Wound On The Heart Of Heaven".

Batman ends up working with Lady Shiva (the world's master assassin, whom Batman has crossed paths with before).

The pair must stop the agents of Ra's from releasing the virus into the water supply which the town bathes in.

Along the way, they meet one of the starving urchins of the city, which was a good thing for the world, as he ends up preventing the virus canister from releasing, but at the cost of his own life.

Mission completed, Batman leaves Calcutta and Lady Shiva behind, returning to Gotham.

Detective Comics 701

Legacy goes into high gear with "Gotham's Scourge" by Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan and Scott Hanna.

With Oracle directing Nightwing, Robin and Huntress against other minions of Ra's in an effort to keep Gotham safe, Batman deals with Bane in his triumphant return to Gotham.

Bane and Batman battle under the docks, with Batman renewing his fortitude for his cause, recalling how he lost his parents, to give him the strength to beat Bane, though the currents sweep Bane away from Batman.

Hearing of Bane's defeat, Ra's cancels his engagement to Talia, with her suggesting "The Detective" (Batman) as a replacement, to which, Ra's disagrees.

Robin 33

The end of Legacy comes with "Riptide" by Chuck Dixon, Staz Johnson and Rob Leigh.

Nightwing, Huntress and Robin don diving gear to sneak aboard Ra's yacht, as directed by Oracle.  The team split up, with Nightwing and Huntress facing Ra's and Talia, while Robin gets a computer model of the Wheel of Plagues to Oracle, so she can find a cure, all while Batman fights the current to stay alive (as Bane eludes his grasp). The proteges of Batman are successful, detonating Ra's yacht as well (though Ra's and Talia must have escaped the explosion), all while a new mystery surfaces as bodies wash up from Bludhaven, to be discovered by Harvey Bullock  and Renee Montoya (which will lead Nightwing to that city....and his own ongoing title by Chuck Dixon).

Detective Comics 702

Legacy gets an epilogue by Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan and Scott Hanna, with "Second Chances".

In this case, Bruce Wayne saves Gotham, as Wayne Pharmaceuticals produces the cure to the clench virus, James Gordon reconciles with his estranged wife (and fellow police officer) Sarah Essen.  Bruce also sees the death toll that the virus has taken on a larger scale in the morgue, as does Robin, trying his best to save just one more life, with Alfred reminding the dynamic duo to remember their successes as well as their failures.


This tale also puts a wrap on Batman title crossovers for a time (though it tied together epics like Knightfall and Contagion), even though the next issue of Detective ties in with the DC crossover, the Final Night; all in all, an entertaining and thoughtful look at the career of the Batman for one of his anniversaries....recalling the past, while looking to the future!

Before And After

These tales, except for Detective Comics #700 are all in Batman: The Legacy Part 2, which also includes the four part mini-series that came out later, Batman: Bane Of The Demon, by Dixon, Nolan and Tom Palmer, detailing how Bane came to work for Ra's (and become a temporary beloved of Talia).  All these tales also showcase the true legacy of Batman....Nightwing, Robin, Huntress and Oracle.

Prelude To Detective Comics 700

Unlike other anniversary issues of Detective Comics, Detective Comics #700 (August, 1996) had some set up going into it (and then the issue itself kicked off a run of stories over multiple titles of the Batman family of comic books).

So, to give you a better understanding of the issue (and events after), a little bit of set up is required in this case....

...let's jump in!

Detective Comics 697 to 699

Starting off, Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan and Scott Hanna took a little time to flesh out the recently introduced Lock-Up (Lyle Bolton) in the June, Early and Late July 1996 issues of Detective Comics.  Lock-Up was a criminal hunter, who captured people he deemed criminals and, well, locked them up. 

Currently in his private prison on the outskirts of Gotham were the Allergent (Maxwell Veezey) and Charaxes (the former Killer Moth, Neron-enhanced).   

Lock-Up then took Two-Face (Harvey Dent) out of police custody into his prison.  Batman, his current Robin (Tim Drake) and former Robin (Nightwing, a.k.a Dick Grayson) were on the case, but it was Harvey Bullock and the GCPD who captured Lock-Up....but, they had to free him (with Batman, Nightwing and Robin taking on criminal identities so they could be caught by Lock-Up, find his prisoners, then bring Lock-Up and the other criminals to justice, as no one else knew where the criminals were except for Bolton). 

Robin got captured, using the identity of Alvin Draper, and due to a short in the communication system, it took Batman and Nightwing a little time to find him, capture the criminals, including Lock-Up.

Meanwhile, former Gotham Mayor, Armand Krol was found dead of a plague, and Commissioner James Gordon was notified.

Robin 31

Tim Drake took a little break from heroics, and took his girlfriend, Ariana, to a car show, where he saw old time boxing champ Ted Grant in this Chuck Dixon, Mike Wieringo and Stan Woch July, 1996 issue of Robin.  Problem is, car thieves, the Speedboyz, were there as well, so Tim had to suit up as Robin to try to stop them.  Luckily, Robin got some help, as Ted Grant wasn't just a former boxer, but was also the hero Wildcat of the Justice Society of America (and the man who taught young Bruce Wayne to box).  The two heroes stopped the villains (leaving readers wanting to see Wildcat involved with Batman and his family even more), with Robin returning to the Batcave.

Meanwhile, Batman got the call from Com. Gordon, that former Mayor Krol died of a resurgence of the Clench, a disease that recently infected many Gothamites, including a young Tim Drake.

Catwoman 33 to 35

Selina Kyle had left Gotham to avoid the Contagion known as the Clench, taking on a job in Rheelasia (in the Indonesian Islands) that she really didn't enjoy (starting off these three issues by Chuck Dixon, Jim Balent and Bob Smith, running May to July, 1996). 

Catwoman was then captured by her foe, Hellhound, who was recruiting her for the Collector, who paired her with Brother Umberto, a former member of the Order of San Dumas (the cult Azrael, Jean-Paul Valley, had battled and been trained by).

It took a bit of convincing to get Catwoman to take on this new job (but Selina's attempts to escape almost got her killed, which also made her a little more willing to take the job).

The Collector had a buyer who wanted a treasure in a tomb in the middle of the African desert, and thought of recruiting Catwoman for her exceptional thieving skills, with Umberto there to help because of his knowledge of the Order of San Dumas.  With a bit of work, the two cleared the traps to get to the Great Wheel, but were betrayed by Hellhound, who had Catwoman imprisoned, where she recognized one of the men who employed the Collector.....

Batman: Shadow of the Bat 53

Helena Bertinelli, known as the Huntress, was still active in Gotham (recently running afoul of Batman and working with Robin) in the August, 1996 issue by Alan Grant, Dave Taylor and Stan Woch.

Bruce notified Dick of the fact that his Clench virus might come back to kill him.  Gordon, Penguin and other Gotham residents reacted to the news that the Clench may return.  Oracle (Barbara Gordon) used her information to contact Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley), who gave her a little information about the origins of the Clench, and hints at a possible cure to be found in the African desert from a time when the Order of San Dumas faced "the immortal". 

Batman told Gordon that he and his usual crew were leaving Gotham for a bit, while Robin informed Huntress that Batman had entrusted her with the safety of Gotham while Batman, Nightwing and he were gone (heading to Africa to look for the cure).

 

Batman 533 

The August, 1996 issue of Batman was the last of the prelude issues (by Doug Moench, Jim Aparo and Bill Sienkiewicz, with Batman, Nightwing and Robin winging their way to the Sudanese desert to look for the "Wheel Of Plagues".  Back in Gotham, Penguin tries to figure out how to release information that the Clench is back to cause panic, as Gordon and the Huntress work to prevent a quarantine of the city (and the panic that knowing that plague is returning).  Batman and his two helpers end up in the desert, finding out that this "immortal" had tried to use the Clench as a weapon against mankind before...and, after learning this, met up with armed forces controlled by the mystery men in charge of this menace.....

....whose identities would be revealed in Detective Comics #700.

Now, this gives you plenty of time to find and read all these issues to deduce the identity of the villain (or, just track down Batman: The Legacy Part 1, which reprints all these issues plus Detective Comics #700).  Or, just come back here next week, same Bat-time, same Bat-channel, and read my review of the issues of Batman: Legacy!

Love For Richard And Barbara

Dick and Babs had plenty of history together, but it took years for them to find time together alone, away from Batman....

...and in that time the two went from close, to closer.

Here's a quick look back at how things evolved, from the days of their first solo team-up, that started in the pages of Detective Comics #400.

Batman Family

Dick Grayson had gotten away from Batman, taking his Robin act as the Teen Wonder to Hudson University (which seemed to be a little closer to Washington, DC, where Barbara Gordon was still working as Batgirl).  The two started on and off pairings in the pages of Batman Family, with the Jim Aparo cover of Batman Family #11 (May-June, 1977 by Bob Rozakis, Curt Swan and Vince Colletta) showing a good place to show that Robin and Batgirl might be getting closer (and over the next few issues, Dick even tried telling Babs about his feeling for her...but, things didn't quite work out, and Robin and Batgirl only had a few more adventures together, then were having separate adventures by the time Batman Family moved over to Detective Comics). 

Robin eventually went to work with the Teen Titans as they came back as the New Teen Titans, with Cyborg, Starfire and Raven, and Batgirl mostly kept to herself, being in semi-retirement.

Dick eventually changed his identity to Nightwing, then parted from the Titans for a while, landing in Bludhaven, while Barbara had been shot by the Joker, being confined to a wheelchair, and helping the Suicide Squad, Batman, the new Robin (Tim Drake) and Azrael as Oracle (an online personality Barbara created to help heroes against the ever growing legions of villains).

Birds Of Prey

Barbara had also rescued the Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance) who had been suffering depression and a lack of direction since the apparent death of Green Arrow (Oliver Queen).  Oracle used her as her field agent, allowing Barbara the ability to have someone working directly to right wrongs (and giving Dinah a chance to do good and get on with her life). 

Nightwing also used the services of Oracle, but, on one particular day, Dick decided to help his friend, Babs, relax, taking her up in the air for a special time (helped with a harness) allowing Babs to swing through the air (all in the pages of Birds of Prey #8 of August, 1999 by Chuck Dixon, Greg Land and Drew Geraci, under a cover by Land and Brian Stelfreeze). 

This led to a relationship between Dick and Babs that continued for some time....but, for Valentine's Day, the focus will just remain on the happy times of their relationship!

Arrow Shots: Vigilante

Adrian Chase was a tough District Attorney in New York City, working with Robin of the Teen Titans to take down the crime families (running from New Teen Titans #23, #26, #27, #29, #30, #33 and #34 of 1982 and 1983 by Marv Wolfman and George Perez)...until the crime families hit back, killing Adrian's family and wounding him, leading Chase to take up the masked identity of the Vigilante...

Origin

It was in New Teen Titans Annual #2 (1983) by Marv Wolfman and George Perez that Adrian became the Vigilante after his family was killed (and Adrian had been declared dead as well).  Still, he recovered, and with help, took out the man who killed his family as the Vigilante.  In Vigilante #7 (June, 1984) by Marv Wolfman, Chuck Patton and Mike DeCarlo, it was explained how Adrian was trained by the spirits of the dead and given a regenerative healing factor, which allowed him to recover and mete out justice, with his infra-red goggles, guns and other weapons.

On His Own

Vigilante #1 (November, 1983) introduced Adrian's helpers, J.J. Davis and Theresa Gomez, by Marv Wolfman and Keith Pollard, with a more adult approach to handling violent crime. Vigilante #2 (January, 1984) by Wolfman, Pollard and Pablo Marcos, saw Adrian doubting himself already, going after Leonard Kord for assault against a nun, but after a savage battle with the man, finding out he was not the perpetrator.

Villains

Adrian did face foes who weren't in need of understanding, such as the hitman duo of Sabre and Cannon introduced in Vigilante #5 (April, 1984) by Marv Wolfman, Keith Pollard and Romeo Tanghal, as well as the Electrocutioner, a one-time foe of Batman's, who started to menace Adrian as of Vigilante #8 (July, 1984) by Marv Wolfman, Ross Andru and Mike DeCarlo (and these villains would return to vex Vigilante multiple times).

Adrian Quits

Adrian's heart became heavy because of the severity of the crime he faced (as well as losses along the way), and with Vigilante #19 (July, 1985 by Marv Wolfman, Paul Kupperberg, Denys Cowyn and Rick Magyar), gave up being Vigilante (as he was also being appointed a judge at the time). Someone else took over the costume, prompting Nightwing (formerly Robin) to confront Adrian, and with Vigilante #21 (September, 1985 by Paul Kupperberg, Tod Smith and Rick Magyar), Adrian promises to find the more violent Vigilante and stop him.  Adrian does, and another man takes over being Vigilante for a while

Adrian Returns

But that doesn't last, as unstable hero Peacemaker takes out the newest Vigilante in Vigilante #36 (December, 1986 by Paul Kupperberg, Denys Cowan and Kyle Baker), with Adrian returning to combat his killer, starting in Vigilante #37 (January, 1987) by Paul Kupperberg, Tod Smith and Rick Magyar, beginning to work with now ex-NYPD officer Harry Stein and Valentina Volstok (Negative Woman of the Doom Patrol).

Adds The Black Thorn

Adrian continues his battles against violent criminals and attacking terrorists, and even meets assassin, Black Thorn in Vigilante #45 (September, 1987) by Paul Kupperberg, Tod Smith and Rick Burchett, and the two become very close, continuing that relationship in the next issue, Vigilante #46 (October, 1987) also by Kupperberg, Smith and Burchett.  Harry Stein gets recruited into a secret government organization by Valentina Volstok, with Harvey Bullock of Gotham Police Department also getting involved.

The End

The trail of the terrorists lead to Gotham, with Batman getting involved and not liking the Vigilante in Vigilante #47 (November, 1987 by Kupperberg, Smith and Burchett), but Harvey gets Batman on board for now, and then due to falling into the water, everyone thinks Vigilante is dead.  Harvey is recruited for the government organization as well, and Black Thorn returns briefly as well, until Adrian realizes he might be more of menace than those he fights, and takes himself out of the game for good by giving himself final, fatal justice in Vigilante #50 (February, 1988 by Paul Kupperberg, Steve Erwin and Jack Torrance).

A quick highlight of the life of Adrian Chase and his version of the Vigilante (showing, though, that he never met Green Arrow in the comics).


Though only lasting 50 issues and 2 Annuals, Vigilante changed the mindset of comics in general at the time...


...making one wonder what a true hero was, what he could and couldn't do, and truth of the toll taken on the hero for being a hero, as well as the difference between the law and justice, and justice and revenge.

Grayson Grown Up Robin

Dick Grayson is getting a new #1 (in his new comic, Grayson by Tim Seeley and Mikel Janin), leaving behind the costume and Batman, and becoming a secret agent.

Dick has left his Robin identity behind before, as in Tales of the Teen Titans #44 (July, 1984, by Marv Wolfman and George Perez)...but how about just becoming an adult and staying Robin?

Justice For Robin

Well, the original Robin did just that!  Not the Robin who was a co-founder of the Teen Titans, but the Robin from a magical world of Earth-2, a Golden Age, when Robin first appeared in Detective Comics #38 (April, 1940, by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson).  Being the Boy Wonder in the 1940s....meant that he had grown up by the 1960s.  So much so, that he had joined the Justice Society of America, and even got himself a new costume!  In Justice League of America #55 (August, 1967, by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky), the JSA faced a group of villains powered by black matter...and we first saw Robin, the ex-Boy Wonder in action!  This costume was inspired, in part, by the Bat-craze of the later 1960s (thanks to the 1966 Batman TV show), thus giving DC a way to show off a Batman related character again...

...and this costume stuck around, finishing the JLA-JSA team up in Justice League of America #56, meeting the Earth-1, now Teen Wonder Robin in Justice League of America #91-92 (more on this soon), being HQ support for when the JLA and JSA went searching for the Seven Soldiers of Victory in Justice League of America #101-102, and even meeting with JLA writers Elliot S! Maggin and Cary Bates in Justice League of America #123-124.

But, this was the end of Robin's "Bat-costume"...

Robin Grows Up On His Own

Robin started to sport an "adult" Robin costume as of All-Star Comics #58 (January-February, 1976, by Gerry Conway and Ric Estrada, and a cover by Mike Grell, also the first appearance of Power Girl!).

That costume should look familiar...it was the one the Earth-2 (JSA) Robin gave to the Earth-1 (Teen Titan) Robin in Justice League of America #92 (September, 1971, in a story by Mike Friedrich and art by Dick Dillin, but the costume was designed by Neal Adams, it even said so in the comic!).

The new and improved grown up Robin costume stuck around through All-Star Comics #59, Justice League of America #135-137 (where he worked with the original, Golden Age, no yellow oval Batman), All-Star Comics #66-70 (wherein he was replaced by the Huntress...Batman's daughter, who got an origin of her own in DC Super-Stars #17...and the implication in a panel there...was that Robin went straight from his Boy Wonder outfit to the grown-up version), All-Star Comics #74, Adventure Comics #461-464 and 466, Justice League of America #183, co-starring with the Huntress in Wonder Woman #283-285, a quick cameo in World's Finest Comics #271 and Justice League of America #195 ...

...before a starring role with the Earth-1 Batman in Brave & the Bold #182 (January, 1982), then back to the back-seat for Infinity, Inc. #1-6, 8 and 9, America vs. the Justice Society #1-4, Infinity, Inc. #21, Infinity, Inc. Annual #1,  and Crisis On Infinite Earths #5, 10-12, after which, we saw him no more.  Still...the original Robin lives on in our hearts!

And, the majority of these appearances have been collected for you to enjoy!

Finding Robin

Justice League of America #55-56 have been collected in Crisis On Multiple Earths #2 and Justice League of America Archives #7, Justice League of America #91-92 and #101-102 have been collected in Crisis On Multiple Earths #3, Justice League of America #123-124 and #135-137 have been collected in Crisis On Multiple Earths #4, All-Star Comics #58-59 and #66-67 are in the Justice Society Volume #1, All-Star Comics #68-70 and Adventure Comics #461-464 and 466 are in the Justice Society Volume #2,   Justice League of America #183 has been collected in Crisis On Multiple Earths #5, Justice League of America #195 has been collected in Crisis On Multiple Earths #6 and Justice League of America by George Perez Volume #2, Wonder Woman #283-285 and DC Super-Stars #17 are collected in Huntress: Darknight Daughter, Brave & the Bold #182 is in Batman: Secrets of the Batcave, Infinity, Inc. #1-4 are in Infinity, Inc.: the Generations Saga, and the Crisis on Infinite Earths has been reprinted many times.

Can't keep the ex-Boy Wonder down!