DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 26, 2020

DC COMICS

NOV190560    SPECTRE THE WRATH OF THE SPECTRE OMNIBUS HC    $125.00

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for March 29, 2017

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

OCT161290    ADVENTURE TIME ORIGINAL GN VOL 09 BRAIN ROBBERS    $14.99
DEC161181    ANIMOSITY #6 (MR)    $3.99
FEB171809    AUDUBON ON THE WINGS OF THE WORLD GN    $22.95
JAN171477    BACKSTAGERS #8 (OF 8)    $3.99
NOV161367    BLAKE & MORTIMER GN VOL 24 TESTAMENT OF WILLIAM S    $15.95
FEB171650    CARTOON UTOPIA GN    $24.99
FEB171782    CASTOFFS TP VOL 01    $12.99
DEC161776    CELLS AT WORK GN VOL 03    $12.99
DEC161323    CINEMA PURGATORIO #9 (MR)    $6.99
DEC161324    CINEMA PURGATORIO #9 ANCIENT TOME PREMIUM CVR (MR)    $9.99
DEC161326    CINEMA PURGATORIO #9 CODE PRU CVR (MR)    $6.99
DEC161327    CINEMA PURGATORIO #9 MODDED CVR (MR)    $6.99
DEC161325    CINEMA PURGATORIO #9 PERFECT UNION CVR (MR)    $6.99
DEC161328    CINEMA PURGATORIO #9 VAST CVR (MR)    $6.99
JAN171827    CLOUD RIDERS GN PRINCESS LEILANI & THE WIND SPINNERS    $9.99
MAY161575    COMPLETE JIM APARO CHARLTON PHANTOM HC    $49.99
JUL161211    CRYPT OF SCREAMS #1 LTD SIGNED CVR (MR)    $9.99
OCT161391    DAMOCLES GN VOL 04 EROS & THANATOS    $11.95
NOV161518    DF BATMAN TMNT #2 DF EXC HAESER    $19.84
JUL161571    DF CIVIL WAR II #3 STAN LEE SGN    $699.99
JAN171906    DISNEY X MICKEY GN VOL 02 CONTEST    $7.99
JAN171907    DISNEY X MICKEY HC VOL 02 CONTEST    $12.99
JAN172125    DIVINITY III STALINVERSE #4 CVR A PALOSZ    $3.99
JAN172126    DIVINITY III STALINVERSE #4 CVR B MULLER    $3.99
JAN171630    DOC SAVAGE RING OF FIRE #1 (OF 4) CVR A SCHOONOVER    $3.99
JAN171631    DOC SAVAGE RING OF FIRE #1 (OF 4) CVR B MARQUES    $3.99
OCT161834    DOCTOR WHO 10TH TP VOL 05 ARENA OF FEAR    $14.99
AUG161899    DOCTOR WHO 11TH HC VOL 06 MALIGNANT TRUTH    $19.99
NOV161797    DOCTOR WHO 9TH #11 CVR A DIAZ    $3.99
NOV161798    DOCTOR WHO 9TH #11 CVR B PHOTO    $3.99
NOV161799    DOCTOR WHO 9TH #11 CVR C SMITH    $3.99
NOV161800    DOCTOR WHO 9TH #11 CVR D FLOREAN    $3.99
JAN171252    EQUILIBRIUM #2 LTD ED PHOTO CVR    $7.99
JAN172152    FLYING WITCH GN VOL 01    $10.95
DEC161607    GALAXYS FOR HIRE #2 (OF 4) CVR A JACKSON    $3.99
JAN171682    GARTH ENNIS RED TEAM DOUBLE TAP #8 (OF 9) (MR)    $3.99
JAN172145    GENERATION ZERO #8 CVR A EVANS    $3.99
JAN172146    GENERATION ZERO #8 CVR B JONES    $3.99
JAN172246    GFT RED AGENT HUMAN ORDER #5 CVR A RIVEIRO (MR)    $3.99
JAN172247    GFT RED AGENT HUMAN ORDER #5 CVR B ATKINS (MR)    $3.99
JAN172248    GFT RED AGENT HUMAN ORDER #5 CVR C GREEN (MR)    $3.99
JAN172249    GFT RED AGENT HUMAN ORDER #5 CVR D RICHARDSON (MR)    $3.99
JAN172230    GFT VAN HELSING VS THE MUMMY OF AMUN RA #3 (OF 5) CVR A LUIS    $3.99
JAN172231    GFT VAN HELSING VS THE MUMMY OF AMUN RA #3 (OF 5) CVR B ROSE    $3.99
JAN172232    GFT VAN HELSING VS THE MUMMY OF AMUN RA #3 (OF 5) CVR C ABEL    $3.99
JAN172233    GFT VAN HELSING VS THE MUMMY OF AMUN RA #3 (OF 5) CVR D METC    $3.99
DEC161551    GRAND PASSION #4 (OF 5) CVR A CASSADAY (MR)    $3.99
DEC161964    HARD CASE CRIME PEEPLAND #5 (OF 5) CVR A CHATZOUDIS    $3.99
DEC161965    HARD CASE CRIME PEEPLAND #5 (OF 5) CVR B OLIVER    $3.99
DEC161966    HARD CASE CRIME PEEPLAND #5 (OF 5) CVR C CONRAD    $3.99
JAN171240    HATCHET #0 BLANK SKETCH CVR (MR)    $5.99
JAN171239    HATCHET #0 BUZ CVR (MR)    $3.99
JAN171237    HATCHET #0 LAROCQUE CVR (MR)    $3.99
JAN171238    HATCHET #0 MANGUM CVR (MR)    $3.99
JAN171241    HATCHET #0 R-RATED CVR (MR)    $7.99
JAN171227    HILLBILLY TP VOL 01    $17.99
JAN172030    HOOKJAW #4 (OF 5) CVR A BOYLE    $3.99
JAN172031    HOOKJAW #4 (OF 5) CVR B MANDRAKE    $3.99
JAN172032    HOOKJAW #4 (OF 5) CVR C WILLIAMSON    $3.99
NOV161081    INSEXTS #10 (MR)    $3.99
JAN171598    JAMES BOND HAMMERHEAD #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN171464    JOYRIDE #11    $3.99
JAN171318    JUGHEAD THE HUNGER ONE SHOT CVR A MICHAEL WALSH    $4.99
JAN171319    JUGHEAD THE HUNGER ONE SHOT CVR B FRANCAVILLA    $4.99
JAN171320    JUGHEAD THE HUNGER ONE SHOT CVR C HACK    $4.99
JAN171582    KARMA POLICE #1    $3.99
JAN171663    KISS DEMON #3 (OF 4) CVR A STRAHM    $3.99
JAN171664    KISS DEMON #3 (OF 4) CVR B MANDRAKE HOMAGE    $3.99
JAN171665    KISS DEMON #3 (OF 4) CVR C ADAMS 8 BIT    $3.99
JAN171666    KISS DEMON #3 (OF 4) CVR D PHOTO    $3.99
JAN172074    KNIGHT GUARDIANS OF RELATIVITY #3 (OF 4)    $3.99
FEB171762    KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 56    $14.99
DEC161413    LADYCASTLE #2    $3.99
DEC161781    LDK GN VOL 09    $10.99
DEC161610    LORD OF GORE #2 (OF 8) CVR A LEISTER    $3.99
OCT169146    LORD OF GORE #2 (OF 8) CVR B SOUTHWORTH    $3.99
FEB171657    LOVE & ROCKETS LIBRARY GILBERT GN VOL 03 BEYOND PALOMAR (CUR    $18.99
NOV161368    LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 62 CURSED RANCH    $11.95
DEC161506    MARQUIS OF ANAON GN VOL 05 CHAMBER OF CHEOPS    $13.95
JAN171853    MARRY ME #4 CVR A MAIN    $3.99
JAN171854    MARRY ME #4 CVR B MOKHTAR    $3.99
SEP161606    MERCY SPARX YEAR ONE #2 (OF 3) CVR A MERHOFF    $3.99
SEP161607    MERCY SPARX YEAR ONE #2 (OF 3) CVR B GANUCHEAU    $3.99
JAN172135    NINJAK #25 CVR A BODENHEIM    $3.99
JAN172136    NINJAK #25 CVR B LAMING    $3.99
JAN172137    NINJAK #25 CVR C ANWAR    $3.99
NOV161717    OUR CATS ARE MORE FAMOUS THAN US HC    $39.99
JAN171388    QUANTUM TEENS ARE GO #2 (MR)    $3.99
JAN171868    REAL ACCOUNT GN VOL 06    $10.99
JAN171306    REGGIE AND ME #4 (OF 5) CVR A REG SANDY JARRELL    $3.99
JAN171307    REGGIE AND ME #4 (OF 5) CVR B LOPRESTI    $3.99
JAN171308    REGGIE AND ME #4 (OF 5) CVR C ANDY PRICE    $3.99
JAN171897    RICK & MORTY #24    $3.99
JAN171935    RIFT #3 (OF 4)    $3.95
JAN171220    ROUGH RIDERS RIDERS ON THE STORM #2    $3.99
JAN171401    SABAN POWER RANGERS AFTERSHOCK MOVIE GN PHOTO CVR    $14.99
JAN171402    SABAN POWER RANGERS AFTERSHOCK MOVIE GN PREVIEWS EXC CVR    $14.99
FEB171108    SCENE BUT NOT HEARD GN    $14.95
JAN171355    SOULFIRE COLORING BOOK SPECIAL TP VOL 02    $12.99
JAN171385    SPACE RIDERS GALAXY OF BRUTALITY #1 (MR)    $3.99
DEC161881    SPECIES DOMAIN GN VOL 01    $12.99
JAN171883    SWEET LULLABY GN    $19.99
JAN171870    SWEETNESS & LIGHTNING GN VOL 05    $12.99
JAN171554    TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #103 (MR)    $2.95
JAN171267    THREE STOOGES APRIL FOOLS DAY PHOTO CVR    $3.99
JAN171266    THREE STOOGES APRIL FOOLS DAY PIE TIME CVR    $3.99
JAN171265    THREE STOOGES APRIL FOOLS DAY TALKING CVR    $3.99
JAN171269    THREE STOOGES CURSE OF FRANKENSTOOGE HAND DRAWN SKETCH CVR    $29.99
SEP161972    TORCHWOOD TP VOL 01 WORLD WITHOUT END    $14.99
JAN171507    UNHOLY #3 (MR)    $5.99
JAN171517    UNHOLY #3 FEMME FATALE NUDE CVR (MR)    $7.99
JAN171509    UNHOLY #3 FEMME FATALES CVR (MR)    $5.99
JAN171515    UNHOLY #3 NUDE CVR (MR)    $7.99
JAN171514    UNHOLY #3 POV CVR (MR)    $5.99
JAN171519    UNHOLY #3 POV NUDE CVR (MR)    $7.99
JAN171513    UNHOLY #3 STUNNING CVR (MR)    $5.99
JAN171518    UNHOLY #3 STUNNING NUDE CVR (MR)    $7.99
JAN171508    UNHOLY #3 WRAP CVR (MR)    $5.99
JAN171516    UNHOLY #3 WRAP NUDE CVR (MR)    $7.99
OCT161392    VALERIAN GN VOL 14 LIVING WEAPONS    $13.95
JAN171191    VAMPBLADE SEASON TWO #1 CVR A WINSTON YOUNG (MR)    $3.99
JAN171192    VAMPBLADE SEASON TWO #1 CVR B WINSTON YOUNG RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
JAN171193    VAMPBLADE SEASON TWO #1 CVR C MENDOZA (MR)    $4.99
JAN171194    VAMPBLADE SEASON TWO #1 CVR D MENDOZA RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
JAN171195    VAMPBLADE SEASON TWO #1 CVR E PEPOY (MR)    $4.99
JAN171196    VAMPBLADE SEASON TWO #1 CVR F PEPOY RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
JAN171197    VAMPBLADE SEASON TWO #1 CVR G BLANK SKETCH (MR)    $4.99
JAN171183    VORACIOUS FEEDING TIME #4 CVR A MUHR    $3.99
JAN171184    VORACIOUS FEEDING TIME #4 CVR B KITCHEN UTENSIL ATTACK    $4.99
FEB171649    WHAT PARSIFAL SAW GN    $14.99
DEC161616    WHITE #4 (OF 4) (MR)    $4.99
JAN171408    WWE WRESTLEMANIA 2017 SPECIAL #1 MAIN CVR    $7.99

MAGAZINES
FEB172269    RUE MORGUE SPECIAL SHARKS    $9.95
JAN172361    STAR WARS ROGUE ONE MISSION DEBRIEF MAGAZINE (STL036049)    $10.99

BOOKS
DEC162177    AGES OF THE JUSTICE LEAGUE SC    $19.99
FEB172197    ASIAN COMICS SC    $30.00
OCT163238    ASSASSINS CREED HERESY PROSE NOVEL SP ED HC    $27.00
JAN172287    BATGIRL NEW HERO OF THE NIGHT YR SC    $5.99
JAN171270    HEAVENLY NOSTRILS CHRONICLE GN VOL 05 UNICORN CROSSING    $9.99
JAN172281    LEGION OF REGRETTABLE SUPERVILLAINS HC    $24.95
FEB172211    OFF DC SUPER HERO JOKE BOOK WHY DID BATMAN CROSS ROAD SC    $12.99
JAN172330    OLD TURTLE QUESTIONS OF THE HEART YR NOVEL    $19.99
FEB172201    ON THE GRAPHIC NOVEL SC    $30.00
OCT168151    OTOMO GLOBAL TRIBUTE TO THE GENIUS BEHIND AKIRA HC (MR)    $29.99
DEC162210    PONYVILLE CONFIDENTIAL HIST & CULTURE OF MLP 1981-2016    $19.99
JAN172286    WONDER WOMAN PSYCHOLOGY LASSOING THE TRUTH SC    $14.95

Review: TALES OF THE BATMAN:Carmine Infantino

TALES OF THE BATMAN: CARMINE INFANTINO
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Gardner Fox, John Broome, Cary Bates, Gerry Conway, Don Kraar, Mike Barr, Geoff Johns
FEATURED ARTIST: Carmine Infantino
INKERS: Joe Giella, Murphy Anderson, Sid Greene, Bob Smith, Steve Mitchell, Mike DeCarlo, Sal Trapani, Mike Esposito, Neal Adams
COVER: Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson
ADDITIONAL ART: Jim Aparo, Adam Hughes, Bob Kane, Gil Kane, Charles Paris
ISBN:  978-1-4012-4755-3; hardcover (June 3, 2014)
520pp, Color, $49.99 U.S., $58.00 CAN

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

Carmine Infantino (1925 – 2013) was an American comic book creator who worked as an artist and as an editor.  He began working in comic books in 1942 and was best known for his association with DC Comics, where he was a comic book cover artist, interior story artist, character designer, and editor.

Infantino was a major force during what is known as the “Silver Age” of American comics book.  In 1956, Infantino joined writer Robert Kanigher in DC Comics' first attempt at reviving a superhero from the “Golden Age” of comic books.  Kanigher and Infantino created an updated version of The Flash that would appear in Showcase #4 (cover dated: October 1956).  Infantino designed the Flash's now-classic red uniform with yellow detail and fashioned a new visual language to depict the Flash's speed, with both vertical and horizontal motion lines to make the Flash's figure a red and yellow blur.

In 1964, Infantino began his second DC Comics reclamation protect, when he was tasked with reviving the faded Batman line of comic book titles.  Infantino and writer John Broome introduced the “New Look” Batman and Robin in Detective Comics #327 (cover dated: May 1964).  Broome and Infantino abandoned the sillier aspects and fanciful characters that had crept into the Batman comics over the better part of two decades (such as Bat-Mite in 1959).

Under the guiding hand of this new creative team, the Adventures of Batman and Robin in both Batman and in Detective Comics took a detective-oriented direction.  Infantino's art for the “New Look” Batman and Robin was slick and streamlined.  He went away from drawing Batman in a style that was some variation of the art of Bob Kane, Batman's creator.  For the better part of three decades, most artists took their cue from Kane when drawing Batman comic books and newspaper comic strips, even if they already had their own distinctive style.

Carmine Infantino is the artist who visually and graphically and in terms of storytelling modernized Batman comic books.  From 1964 to 1968, Infantino was the lead comic book artist for DC Comics' flagship Batman titles.  Even when Infantino did not draw the interior art for Batman or Detective Comics, he usually provided the pencil art for the covers.

Infantino's work on the Batman titles over the four year period, from Detective Comics #327 to the cover of Batman #199 (cover dated: February 1968), for which he only provided the cover pencils, is collected in the hardcover comics collection, Tales of the Batman: Carmine Infantino.  Originally released in 2014, this full-cover archival collection also reprints Infantino's 1980s Batman work in Detective Comics #500 (cover dated: March 1981) and in The Brave and the Bold (issues 172, 183, 190, and 194 – 1982 to 1983).  There is also a story from DC Comics Presents: Batman #1 (cover dated: September 2004).

When I opened this book and saw the first page of Detective Comics #327, I was immediately struck by how different it looks.  Even 50+ years later, Infantino's art stands out as unique.  I have seen enough of the Batman comics that came before it to say this issue of Detective Comics represented a sort of evolutionary leap for Batman comic books.  In fact, in something unusual for comic books, Detective Comics seems new and “now.”  For a time, the relatively long lead time needed to produce comic books made them seem behind current events.  This comic book matched the looks, styles, designs, and visuals of the time, with some of the art resembling the design style known as “mid-century modern”.

Infantino made the world of Batman hip, modern, and urbane.  There is a James Bond quality to the graphical storytelling.  John Broome introduces adversaries for the Dynamic Duo that range from spectacular, colorfully costumed supervillains to conniving ordinary hoods.  Every one of them has fashioned some ingenious plan, wacky conspiracy, or over-thought murder plot that involves twists and turns and even secret agent-type gadgets.  Infantino's slick compositions and sleek draftsmanship make the entirety of a story seem more cool and stylish even when it ought to look like what it is – silly.

Infantino's “new look” Batman apparently inspired the mid to late 1960s, ABC television series, “Batman,” which starred Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin.  I also see the influence of Carmine Infantino's art on the Batman comic book artists that would follow him; Jim Aparo and Don Newton are two that come to mind.

If I had to offer specific reasons why you should buy this pricey book, I could name a few.  Well, this book reprints the first appearance of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl in the story, “The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!,” from Detective Comics #359 (cover dated: January 1967).  The book also reprints Infantino's Batman and Detective Comics covers.  Through his compositions for these covers, Infantino proves to be a master of motion, and these covers pulse with energy.  Sometimes, the entire cover illustration seems as if it wants to leap off the page because two dimensions cannot contain its vigor.

So, yeah, Batman fans, buy Tales of the Batman: Carmine Infantino.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

-----------------

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 25 2013

DC COMICS

JUL130179 ACTION COMICS #23.4 METALLO $3.99
JUL138009 ACTION COMICS #23.4 METALLO STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130214 ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #5 $3.99
JUN130264 AME COMI GIRLS TP VOL 01 $14.99
JUL130167 AQUAMAN #23.2 OCEAN MASTER $3.99
JUL138012 AQUAMAN #23.2 OCEAN MASTER STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130188 BATMAN #23.4 BANE $3.99
JUL138013 BATMAN #23.4 BANE STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130192 BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.4 KILLER CROC $3.99
JUL138017 BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.4 KILLER CROC STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL138301 BATMAN SUPERMAN #2 2ND PTG $3.99
JUL130184 BATMAN SUPERMAN #3.1 DOOMSDAY $3.99
JUL138019 BATMAN SUPERMAN #3.1 DOOMSDAY STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130196 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.4 JOKERS DAUGHTER $3.99
JUL138021 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.4 JOKERS DAUGHTER STD ED $2.99
JUL130200 DETECTIVE COMICS #23.4 MAN BAT $3.99
JUL138024 DETECTIVE COMICS #23.4 MAN BAT STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130204 GREEN LANTERN #23.4 SINESTRO $3.99
JUL138031 GREEN LANTERN #23.4 SINESTRO STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130221 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US #9 $3.99
JUL130159 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.4 SECRET SOCIETY $3.99
JUL138034 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.4 SECRET SOCIETY STANDARD ED $2.99
MAY130218 JUSTICE LEAGUE HC VOL 03 THRONE OF ATLANTIS (N52) $24.99
JUL130163 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7.4 BLACK ADAM $3.99
JUL138036 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7.4 BLACK ADAM STANDARD ED $2.99
JUN130261 JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 02 THE VILLAINS JOURNEY (N52) $16.99
MAY130233 LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT JIM APARO HC VOL 2 $49.99
JUN130299 PREACHER TP BOOK 02 (MR) $19.99
MAY130219 SHAZAM HC VOL 01 (N52) $24.99
JUL130183 SUPERMAN #23.4 PARASITE $3.99
JUL138041 SUPERMAN #23.4 PARASITE STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130270 TOM STRONG AND THE PLANET OF PERIL #3 $2.99
JUL130261 UNWRITTEN #53 (MR) $2.99
JUL130274 WAKE #4 (MR) $2.99
JUL130175 WONDER WOMAN #23.2 FIRST BORN $3.99
JUL138046 WONDER WOMAN #23.2 FIRST BORN STANDARD ED $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

MAR130317 DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS SUPERGIRL STATUE $124.95
MAY130271 DC THE NEW 52 TRINITY WAR AF BOX SET $49.95

Review: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT Jim Aparo Volume 1

LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT JIM APARO VOLUME 1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Bob Haney
ARTIST: Jim Aparo
COVER: Jim Aparo with Alan Passalaqua
Artists on cover reprints: Jim Aparo, Murphy Anderson, Bob Brown, Nick Cardy, Gil Kane, Joe Kubert, Irv Novick, George Papp, Howard Purcell, George Roussos
ISBN: 978-1-4012-3375-4; hardcover
360pp, Color, $49.99 U.S., $57.00 CAN

Legends of the Dark Knight: Jim Aparo Volume 1 offers readers three times the fun. How does this hardcover collection do that? This 360-page book reprints 23 issues of The Brave and the Bold, published over a five-year period, covering late 1970 to late 1975. Because it was a Batman team-up book for most of its run, this collection finds The Batman joining forces with such classic DC Comics heroes as Aquaman, Deadman, the Metal Men, the Phantom Stranger, Sgt. Rock, Swamp Thing, and the Teen Titans; plus the trio of Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and the Black Canary, and even a bizarre team-up of The Batman and his arch-nemesis, The Joker.

The second cool thing about the book is that every story reprinted within its fine covers is written by Bob Haney. Over a three-decade career at DC Comics, Haney was a key contributor to what would become the DC Universe, including being a co-creator of the original Teen Titans.

However, the purpose of this book and the third great thing about it is its focus on the late Jim Aparo. Aparo’s 30-plus year career at DC Comics as a comic book artist was a high-water mark for the American comic book industry. For the past few years, DC Comics has been publishing book collections showcasing the work of some of the most influential Batman artists of the last four decades. Hardback trade collections have gathered comic book stories drawn by such artists as Neal Adams, Don Newton, and Marshall Rogers. Now, the focus is on Jim Aparo, beginning with the subject of this comic book review, Legends of the Dark Knight: Jim Aparo Volume 1.

Debuting in 1955, The Brave and the Bold featured the debut of the Justice League of America (#28, February-March 1960) and of what would become the Teen Titans (#54, July 1964). Beginning with its 74th issue, The Brave and the Bold became a Batman team-up title. Jim Aparo, who at the time had only been at DC Comics a few years, was the fill-in artist for The Brave and the Bold #98. Beginning with #100, he became the regular artist and from 1971 to end of The Brave and the Bold in 1983, Aparo was the series’ regular artist.

Over a 30-year period, Aparo was probably the most prolific artist on the Batman line of comic books, but during that time, other Batman artists, like Neal Adams, Marshall Rogers, and Frank Miller, received more attention and critical acclaim. Aparo was clearly influenced by Neal Adams, who was his contemporary. Still, Aparo had his own style and was able to stand apart and also influence later Batman comic book artists, including, by my estimation, Norm Breyfogle, Alan Davis, and Bruce Timm.

Unlike the muscular, pumped-up Batman that is familiar to today’s readers or the classic line, cleanly-designed Batman of the Golden and Silver Ages, Aparo’s Batman is a lean, muscular figure. Aparo gives Batman the rangy and nimble physique of a natural athlete. He poses Batman in a way that makes him seem like a normal person, but also presents him in a classical fashion, as if Batman were posing before a figure drawing class. Aparo also gives Deadman the natural/classical ideal treatment during the character’s appearance and team-up with Batman. (The Brave and the Bold #104, “Second Chance for a Deadman”).

Aparo’s Batman is unmistakably human. Of course, Bob Haney gets credit as the writer of the stories reprinted here, but comics is a graphics medium in which a storyteller draws the story. Aparo’s Batman comes across as a tangible person. He is vulnerable and fragile, contemplative and thoughtful, stalwart and steady, brave and bold, and is as surprisingly emotional as he is consistently rational (as a detective).

Whoever made Aparo the regular artist on The Brave and the Bold made the perfect choice. Aparo had the ability to adapt Batman’s emotions, moods, and appearance for wildly differing scenarios. That also made him the perfect artist to draw Batman stories which paired him with other characters that were like him, only somewhat like him, and not like him at all.

In the story “The Commune of Defiance,” (The Brave and the Bold #102), Batman and the Teen Titans unite to help a group of young people save their blighted neighborhood. In this story, Batman is a father figure who not only discourages the young radicals’ propensity towards violence, but also encourages them to work towards their goal. Here, Batman the masked avenger becomes Batman the defender and people’s champ. He believes that if someone saves these young people’s neighborhood for them, it will mean much less than if they did the work to save and rebuild their homes. Today, Batman would be called a “thug hugger” for his stance in this story. So it is safe to say that this Batman, who bucks the police and political power in Gotham to help “young criminals” save their neighborhood, will never been seen again.

What we as readers and people who appreciate the medium lost when Jim Aparo retired was a storyteller who recognized what is best about these superheroes. They are not gods and figures of some new mythology. They are like us, but better; they are idealized versions of what we’d like to be. Our good sense and perhaps, some physical revulsion might keep us from jumping into the middle of an inferno to save a life. A superhero like Batman is someone like us – someone we want to be – who will indeed dive into the inferno. This is Aparo’s Batman.

I don’t mean to do a disservice to Bob Haney, a master storyteller who could do in a single issue what someone apparently can’t do in six issues of Justice League – tell a complete story. However, Legends of the Dark Knight: Jim Aparo Volume 1 is about Jim Aparo. I’ve long thought this, and now, I can unleash this thought. Jim Aparo, at this point in time, is the greatest Batman artist in the history of comic books.

A+

---------------------------