Tag Archives: Neal Adams

COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (30 March 2020)

Media and politicians continue to refer to the ongoing pandemic as a ‘war,’ but I have some issues with that metaphor. It’s the kind of jingoistic language that is used to exclude any possibility of critical dissent, to exacerbate xenophobic … Continue reading

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The despicable pre-Crisis Man-Bat

Man-Bat isn’t one of the most inspired concepts in Batman comics. Taking to the extreme the notion that great villains are an inversion of the heroes, Man-Bat’s name is a literal reversal of Batman’s… As for his origin, it’s just … Continue reading

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15 wedding-themed covers of Batman comics

Valentine, Schmalentine. Still, everything can serve as a pretext to browse through goofy covers of the Batman family of comics… Throughout the years, brilliant artists like Neal Adams, Curt Swan, and Joëlle Jones have had a field day enveloping the … Continue reading

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Spotlight on Aquaman / Batman team-ups

I tend to give DC’s live-action movies a lot of crap in this blog, so I guess it’s only fair to admit I had a great time watching James Wan’s Aquaman. It’s a fun slice of schlock that manages to … Continue reading

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My ideal deluxe omnibus volume – part 1

A couple of months ago, I listed a bunch of comics I assume every Batman fan will come across, sooner or later. With that out of the way, let us move on to some of my personal favorites – i.e. … Continue reading

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Essential Batman stories every fan should read – part 1

A while ago, reader Dave Shevlin wrote to me about his latest project of picking somewhere around 30 or so of his favorite Bat-centric tales for an imaginary deluxe volume and challenged me to do the same. The idea would … Continue reading

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10 WTF Batman covers, by Neal Adams

Neal Adams’ work in Batman comics is often associated with gothic art. The tales he drew in the early 1970s (collected in stark black & white in Showcase Presents: Batman, volumes 5 and 6) are mandatory reading for any fans … Continue reading

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Scars of Vietnam in Gotham City

As an embodiment of changing fads and obsessions of US pop culture, Batman’s adventures could hardly stay immune to the social impact of the Vietnam War. And while the Caped Crusader’s TV incarnation could initially be seen advertising war bonds, … Continue reading

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Jim Aparo’s schlocky Batman

Batman #415 For some, it may sound odd to describe Jim Aparo’s Batman comics as ‘schlocky,’ given that not too long ago Aparo came in second at CBR’s poll of greatest Batman artists, right after the immensely talented Neal Adams. … Continue reading

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Batman collections for casual readers

You know who Batman is. At least the gist of it. You’ve seen him in books or in films or on television, hopefully at his best. Probably, you’re even familiar with some of his supporting cast and rogues gallery, not … Continue reading

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