Remembering Artist Jim Mooney

Remembering artist Jim Mooney on his birthday (August 13, 1919 - March 30, 2008) with a couple of covers with punch, as Robin delivers the haymaker in Star Spangled Comics #80 (May, 1948) and gets one in Star Spangled Comics #82 (July, 1948).

Batman Fights Time

Batman and Robin are literally under the gun as time winds down (and we get daylight saving time), here with this suspenseful cover to Detective Comics #375 (May, 1968) by Irv Novick.

Celebrating Artist Val Semeiks

Celebrating artist Val Semeiks on his birthday (February 5, 1955) with a couple of his covers to The Demon (issues #23 and #24, of May and June, 1992),  where the reader is reminded that Etrigan lives in Gotham, as Robin and Batman get involved in his adventures with the Howler, yet it ends up being Jason Blood's girlfriend, Glenda Mark, who solves the problem.

The End Of Batman Family

Batman Family ended with issue #20 (October-November, 1978) but, Robin, Batgirl and Man-Bat all migrated to Detective Comics (along with Batman) starting with Detective Comics #481 (December-January, 1978/1979), with both covers by Jim Starlin.

Detective Comics was the one that originally was scheduled to end due to low sales, but it was decided that the title the company was named after should still be published by the company!

Remembering Artist Jim Mooney

Remembering artist Jim Mooney on his birthday (August 13, 1919 - March 30, 2008).  Usually remembered for his work with Supergirl, Tommy Tomorrow or the Dial H For Hero series, Jim also contributed to the solo Robin stories for Star-Spangled Comics, #84 and #86 (September and November, 1948) shown here.

Remembering Artist Mike Wieringo

Remembering artist Mike Wieringo (usually signed his work as Ringo) on his birthday (June 24, 1963 - August 12, 2007) with a couple of his covers from the Robin series, featuring Tim Drake and Spoiler (Stephanie Brown).  

Robin #25 and Robin #35 (February and November, 1996)

The Russian Starfire

A young teenage boy who accompanied his archeologist father to investigate what they discover to be crashed alien spaceship in the Siberian wastes near the Yenisei River in Russia back in June, 1908...the lad sneaks into the spaceship at night, where he triggers an energy blast that gives him great strength and speed, turning him into Russia's first hero....Starfire!

This Starfire debuted in Teen Titans #18 (November-December, 1968), and would later be tied to the Teen Titans.

Eye Of The Beholder!

In Teen Titans #18 (November-December, 1968) by Len Wein, Marv Wolfman and Bill Draut, under a Nick Cardy cover, we first meet Starfire in Stockholm, Sweden, where the Teen Titans and Starfire have to work together to stop the jewel thief, Andre Le Blanc from stealing the crown jewels.  Kid Flash, of all the Teen Titans, is especially displeased for their American team to have to work with the Russian hero, and the Russian lad is none to fond of his American counterparts.    The teens get a chance to try to capture Andre when he takes a practice run, but the team just works against each other, allowing Le Blanc to escape.  

The kids regroup, with tensions running high, when they split up to guard the thief's next target.  There, Andre traps Aqualad, Kid Flash, Robin and Wonder Girl (all under the watchful eye of Starfire)...with Starfire eventually confronting Le Blanc, who bests him and puts his life in danger. Thankfully, Starfire had freed the Teen Titans from their traps (who held back to allow Starfire the honor of capturing Le Blanc), and together, they bring Andre to justice, learning the lesson that all men of all nations need to work together.

A Pretty Girl Is Like A -- Maladi!

With New Teen Titans #18 (April, 1982) by Marv Wolfman, George Perez and Romeo Tanghal, the original Starfire returns (and his given name of Leonid Kovar) is revealed.  Here, starting in a forgotten bureau in the Soviet Union, Marek Slavik finds out his son Tomas was killed by Americans.  Marek's brother Tomas and wife Sonya were also killed earlier in two incidents involving the American army, and thus Slavik plots revenge.  Using a long abandoned project, Slavik infects his secretary, young bride-to-be Maladi Malanova, with a radiation (unbeknownst to her), and sends her with papers to deliver to New York City (promising her that she will be back before her wedding...a lie).  Later, King Faraday, of the FBI, recruits Robin and Wonder Girl to inform the other Titans that their old "friend", Starfire, is back in the USA on a covert mission. 

The Titans gather in their tower, and look for Kovar, finding that one of the custom agents at the airport collapsed (where Maladi was 3 days before) and was taken to the hospital. Raven finds out that the man was infected with a radiation poisoning and the Kovar was interested in this as well.  Kovar closes in on Maladi, but the Titans interfere, thinking he might be responsible to the radiation poisoning.  The Titans capture Kovar, where he explains that Slavik poisoned his secretary to spread death in America, and that though she cannot be saved, anyone she touched could be.  Kovar escapes Titans Tower to continue to go after her, while Maladi goes to a doctor to see about her sickness.  

Kovar tracks her down, and lets her know of her dire situation, and that he plans to kill her.  The Titans show up and fight him, stopping his plan.  They take her to a hospital where she dies.  Kovar, after being confronted by Kid Flash by his cold plan to kill her asks why...and Leonid explains that instead of the slow death she got he was to offer her a quick death, as he could do no less for the woman he was engaged to.

Though not in the issue, Kovar got a new heroic name, that of Red Star in Action Comics #551, and fought alongside the heroes during the Crisis On Infinite Earths, was later involved with the first Justice League International/Suicide Squad team-up, came back to America to fight with Hammer and Sickle of the People's Heroes at S.T.A.R. Labs, got a new costume and joined the Titans during the Titans Hunt against the Wildebeest, during which time he developed energy manipulation powers, stayed with the team until Zero Hour, but returned again with yet another new costume, all the while, loyal to Russia, yet also an honorable hero.

Batman In The Interplanetary Olympics

Batman, as a boxer in the interplanetary Olympics?

What an odd thing, but just one of many stories of Batman in space, here from Detective Comics #260 (October, 1958), with a cover by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye.

The Mystery Of The Space Olympics

In a story drawn by Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris (writer unidentified), Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson were startled awake by an alarm in the Batcave.  Gearing up as Batman and Robin, the Dynamic Duo went down there to find two Venusians, Xeo and Tog, who have been watching the duo from their planet, and want to recruit them to play in their own version of the Olympics representing Earth.  Batman and Robin agree, and are taken to a prepared asteroid by photonic light ray where they can compete.

Batman worries about how well he will do, but seems to have an easy time in the rocket race and meteor shoots.  Then, during the boxing match against a man from Jupiter a problem arises.  It is found Batman has magnetic gloves, and was cheating.  The officials check his previous games, to find foul play there as well.  Starting a near riot, Batman and Robin are forced to flee, aided in escape by the Plutoians.  Batman and Robin don't taking hiding out well, and head back to the compound of the Venusians, where they figure out someone else must have been cheating to frame the Earthlings and Venusians.  Going back in public, the Dynamic Duo are chased down by the mob, where they trick the Plutoians into revealing they were the ones behind the nefarious deeds, trying to frame the Venusians.  After, Batman and Robin realize it is time they return to Earth.

Batman, Robin And Santa Claus

Holy Terrific Trio, Batman!  

Santa Claus joins the Dynamic Duo of Batman and Robin to help spread Christmas cheer on this cover by Jack Burnley for Batman #27 (February-March, 1945).

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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Happy Mother's Day With Robin

Robin (Damian Wayne) was trying to be a good friend to Superboy (Jon Kent), as their dads, Batman and Superman are friends, but things got problematic when Damian's mother, Talia Al Ghul came around....trying to kill reporter Lois Lane (who was Jon' mother).

Oh, how difficult Mother's Day can be for some, as shown in the Parent Trap, in Super Sons #13 and #14 (April and May, 2018), first cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli and second cover by Jorge Jimenez (with both variant covers by Dustin Nguyen, with stories by Peter J. Tomasi, Carlo Barberi and Art Thibert.

Robin Vs The Clock

For a time, Robin had a solo feature in Star Spangled Comics.

In that feature, Robin even had a few of his own foes...and one of the most frequent was the Clock!

Starting in Star Spangled Comics #70 (July, 1947) by Don Cameron and Win Mortimer, the Clock was a menace to the Boy Wonder with his "Clocks Of Doom!", returning with "The Clock Strikes!" in Star Spangled Comics #74 (November, 1947) by Bill Finger and Jim Mooney, again for "Zero Hour!" in Star Spangled Comics #79 (April, 1948), also by Finger and Mooney, and a last tick for "The Man Who Stole Time!" with Star Spangled Comics #97 (October, 1949, with Tomahawk on the cover) by Finger/Mooney.

Star Spangled Comics #70 and #74 (July and November, 1947)

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Star Spangled Comics #79 and #97 (April, 1948 and October, 1949)

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A timely villain for the day, and amazing he wasn't part of the Time Foes, and find out where these are reprinted here!

Celebrating Writer Chuck Dixon

Celebrating the birthday of writer Chuck Dixon (April 14, 1954) with a look at the covers of the collections of his work on Robin and Birds of Prey.

Sadly, collections NOT COMPLETE, as Chuck still had more issues of Birds of Prey (starting with #22) and Robin (starting with #23) which haven't been collected, so, DC, it is well past time to finish these as was done with Chuck's Nightwing series (which had all of its Chuck Dixon written issues collected).

Robin 1 and 2 (January 2016 and May 2016)

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Birds Of Prey 1 and 3 (January 2016 and February 2017)

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Robin 4 and 5 (September 2017 and February 2018)

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Batman Day 2022

Celebrating Batman Day with an iconic image of Batman and Robin from Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson, which was a poster available at the height of Batman's popularity during the 1966 Batman TV series.

This visual proved so popular, that it served as the inspiration (with slight modifications) for two different collections of Batman stories: Batman From the 30s to the 70s (1971) and Tales Of The Batman: Carmine Infantino (July, 2014), along with the image being reprinted in Limited Collectors' Edition #C-44 (June-July, 1976) and Batman In The Sixties (March, 1999). 

But, it was originally a fold out pin-up in Detective Comics #352 (June, 1966), where Batman and Robin faced off against Mr. Esper (who would later return to cause the calamity that helped form Titans West!).

Holy Friday The 13th Batman!

Long before Jason went to camp, the Joker was causing mayhem on Friday the Thirteenth, but here, he seems to be giving Batman and Robin all the laughs, on this Batman #40 (April-May, 1947) cover by Jack Burnley and Charles Paris. 

Quite an unlucky time for the clown prince of crime, by walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror and crossing the path of a black cat!

Holy Football, Batman!

In this Golden Age classic of Detective Comics #82 (December, 1943), under a cover by Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, Batman and Robin kick around the old football to face....the "Quarterback Of Crime!".

Batman's Strangest Cases

What better way to celebrate Batman Day than by looking at some of Batman's Strangest Cases, which happens to be the title of the Limited Collectors' Edition #C-59 of July, 1978....with this stunning cover by Neal Adams and Bernie Wrightson!

The stories reprinted inside this oversized issue from the past, feature art by both those gentlemen, and a few more!

Red Water Crimson Death

First up, Brave and the Bold #93 (December-January, 1970/1971) by Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams, a team-up (of sorts), as House of Mystery horror host, Cain, narrates this tale.

Here, an overtired Batman nearly is shot by a criminal, but the gun misfires.  Commissioner Gordon suggests Batman take a vacation.  Bruce Wayne heads out to Ireland via ship.  During the voyage, Bruce saves a young boy who fell overboard.  In Ireland, the boy's uncle gives him a place to stay.  Bruce learns the boys parents were killed during a red tide which also killed the fish in the area.  Investigating as Batman, he finds the culprit behind the poisoned water to be Aloysius Cabot, a local fishery owner, using a haunted castle to scare away locals.  Cabot is able to poison Batman, but is aided by the spirit of King Hugh, who also prevents Cabot from getting away with it by causing King Hugh's portrait to fall off the wall, killing Cabot.

Night of the Bat

Next up, a rate appearance (at the time) of Batman outside his titles, with the first meeting of Batman and Swamp Thing from Swamp Thing #7 (November-December, 1973) by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson.  

Swamp Thing (Alec Holland) follows Abigail Arcane and Matt Cable to Gotham, where he is spotted by the police,  Gordon calls on Batman, who goes searching for Swamp Thing.  Abby and Matt are found by Swamp Thing, who is then found by Batman.  Batman starts a fight, but, Swamp Thing flees, as he is unable to communicate to Batman his good intentions.  Swamp Thing is able to track down Nathan Ellery, the head of the Conclave (who murdered Alec's wife, Linda), but stops short of killing him.  Ellery falls, with Batman arriving too late to save him, with Swamp Thing taking the time to get away.

 

The Batman Nobody Knows!

Batman #250 (July, 1973) gives an odd little tale around the campfire by Frank Robbins and Dick Giordano.

Bruce Wayne takes a group of kids out camping, who regale each other with fantastic (if incredible and untrue) tales of the Batman.  Bruce decides to give the kids a thrill, showing up as Batman, but the kids are unimpressed, as they don't think Batman can just be a guy in a suit, proving that while Batman might strike fear in the hearts of criminals...

...the innocent have nothing to fear from the Darknight Detective.

The Demon Of Gothos Mansion!

Neal Adams is echoing a cover from Batman's golden age, Batman #227 (December, 1970) by Denny O'Neil, Irv Novick and Dick Giordano.

Here, Alfred's niece, Daphne, writes to Alfred about two children she has the job of teaching. Trouble is a foot, so Batman goes to investigate, finding Daphne's boss, Clifton Heathrow, is a warlock, planning to sacrifice her to raise a demon.  In trying to rescue, Batman is captured, but he is rescued by the ghost of a girl who was previously sacrificed.  This allows Batman to save Daphne, foiling the resurrection ritual.

A Vow From The Grave!

Last but not least, a little tale from Detective Comics #410 (April, 1971) by Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams and Dick Giordano.

Here, Batman chases Kano Wiggins, an escaped convict.  Along the way, Batman encounters four ex-sideshow workers, one of whom is later killed.  The remaining members think Wiggins did it, but Batman investigates and finds it was Goliath, the strongman who did it, because he wanted to eliminate Charley Bones (the thin man) because Maud, the fat lady, loved Bones and not Goliath.  

Just an incredible collection!

Batman Vs The Atomic Man

Back in the 1950s, everything was a "menace", and flourished on "atomic" power...

...and, the Batman comics of the time reflected society's thoughts, but none moreso than an early 1960s issue of Detective Comics, wherein Batman faced the Atomic-Man!

The Menace Of The Atomic Man

In Detective Comics #280 (June, 1960 with no identified writer, but art by Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris, and cover by Moldoff), The story begins with the Atomic-Man taking out the float business of Henry Hayes, who calls in Batman and Robin to help save him.  

Batman, using the distinct features of Atomic-Man's ears, places him as Paul Strobe, an engineer Batman put in jail seven years ago as he defrauded Hayes, and his partners Barker and Jenkins.  Strobe vowed revenge, and invented his atomic goggles which allowed him to transmute items by staring at them (but his goggles only worked for two hours before needing recharging).

With this knowledge, Batman and Robin went to protect Barker's business (now a shipping mogul).  Sadly, that did not go well, with Batman having to make a daring escape from the now floating ship (that Atomic-Man had made lighter than air).  

Still, trying again, Batman and Robin confronted Atomic-Man as he attempted to destroy the art of Jenkins, moving up Atomic-Man's timetable, turning Batman's cowl to glass to expose his identity.  Batman still stopped the Atomic-Man, and removed his helmet once its two hours of power was up.  Feeling he at least revealed Batman's identity, Batman corrected him, as Batman said he had seen Strobe turn other things to glass, so was wearing make up to hide his own identity!

Usual story for that era of Batman
(filled with invasions and transformations, but, amazingly, Atomic-Man didn't make another regular comic appearance (unlike many of these obscure Batman villains, who at least made it to Batman's Lego Movie, though he did make it into Batman: The Brave and the Bold cartoon, in "A Bat Divided!").