Any Fans of Pre-crisis Batman?

[MikeandRaph87]

Speaking of Two Face and his early history...Two Face was originally set to appear in Batman(1966). He was to be Harvey Dent but have the origin of his replacement. It was scrapped just before being shot deeming the Two Face character too scary for the youthful audience. It will be released in a oneshot comic as the 121st episode by comic book legends Len Wein and Jose Garcia Lopez. Its digital first and will be released in early December in print.

http://www.newsarama.com/21892-first...ant-cover.html

[MikeandRaph87]

I have begun reading through my run of Batman from 1968-1983 and was wondering if anyone has any interest of discussing storylines from that time frame. Also if anyone wants to be referred a story of interest or discuss the characters at the time.

[Spike Spiegel]

I'm currently reading through the Neal Adams omnibus and like what I see so far.

[MikeandRaph87]

Originally Posted by Spike Spiegel

I'm currently reading through the Neal Adams omnibus and like what I see so far.

Which issues specifically have you read? Batman#237 is probably my favorite Batman story overall. I can link you to further stories if you wish. There is hardly a team that can reach the status of legendary writer and artist beyond initial creators the way this pair has.

[TurtleTitan97]

Recently read the following issues, featuring Ra's Al Ghul:

◾Detective Comics #411
◾Batman #232
◾Batman #235
◾Batman #240
◾Batman #242
◾Batman #243
◾Batman #244
◾DC Special Series #15
◾Detective Comics #485
◾Detective Comics #489
◾Detective Comics #490

[myconius]

Originally Posted by Candy Kappa

I love any good written Batman story, doesn't matter what era.

^ what she said!

[myconius]

Originally Posted by Spike Spiegel

I'm currently reading through the Neal Adams omnibus and like what I see so far.

i had that on pre-order but decided to cancel it since i already have all the individual Hardcovers volumes.

i love the later stories in the run with Man-Bat!!!

Joker's 5-Way revenge was pretty cool, eve though Batman was kind'a doofy in it.

Spoiler:

thug- can i go back and get my toothbrush?
Batman- a reasonable request.
thug- you go first, i'll follow.
Batman- ok.
(thug bashes Batman on the back of the head)

YUP! not one of Batman's finest moments!

[MikeandRaph87]

I do find that sequence out of character. Since when is Batman gullible? Joker gets the best of Batman sneak attacking him too not long after that.

It did give us this iconic image:


The next Joker story was even more zany. It was in Batman#260 also by Denny O'Neil which saw the Joker give Batman a toxin in coffee in Arkham that caused him to laugh himself to death unless he can get to one of two people who can cure him in three days. Two-Face plays the good guy in a cameo thanks to the good side turning up on the coin flip!

[Spike Spiegel]

Originally Posted by MikeandRaph87

Which issues specifically have you read? Batman#237 is probably my favorite Batman story overall. I can link you to further stories if you wish. There is hardly a team that can reach the status of legendary writer and artist beyond initial creators the way this pair has.

I skipped through a lot of the "World's Finest" stuff; the last thing I read was the second chapter of that "Man-Bat" storyarc.

I will be on the lookout for #237.

[myconius]

Originally Posted by MikeandRaph87

I do find that sequence out of character. Since when is Batman gullible? Joker gets the best of Batman sneak attacking him too not long after that.

It did give us this iconic image:
http://13thdimension.com/wp-content/...nqg1qbgo38.jpg

The next Joker story was even more zany. It was in Batman#260 also by Denny O'Neil which saw the Joker give Batman a toxin in coffee in Arkham that caused him to laugh himself to death unless he can get to one of two people who can cure him in three days. Two-Face plays the good guy in a cameo thanks to the good side turning up on the coin flip!

i still love the comic even though those parts make me cringe every time i read it!!! xD

but yeah, that is my single most favorite panel Neal has ever drawn!!!

it really does go to prove that no matter how crappy some comic writing can be, as LONG as the art is amazing the Team-up will always go down in history as being Legendary!!!
the stuff Denny O'neil wrote for LotDK never got as much positive attention as the work he wrote with Neal.

it's just a shame Neal's Batman Odyssey got so badly ripped apart! sure it's not the best writing in the world, but i still had fun with it for all it's campiness.

i was lucky enough to get to see the original inked comic art for these pages here.

it was SO beautiful!!!
i thought i was going to pass out in it's presence!

[MikeandRaph87]

The problem with Neal later art was the late Dick Giordano did not ink his art. Neal will be the first to tell you that he may be a great artist, but his art would not be half as good without Giordano to make it much better. Odyssey printed after Dick's death is good proof of that as well as the redrawn versions of issues in Neal Adams Illustrated volumes.

As far as Odyssey's art one thing bothered me is Batman's eyes are seen instead of slits. It also bugged me with Perez doing that in Dick Grayson's latter days as Robin. I realize there is a larger population of people with black hair and blue eyes in the DCU, but it is best to shield them for identity reason among others.

[TurtleTitan97]

Odyssey is probably the first Batman story that I've read so far that I actually dropped. Everything from the art, dialogue, and story was completely awful.

[MikeandRaph87]

Originally Posted by TurtleTitan97

Odyssey is probably the first Batman story that I've read so far that I actually dropped. Everything from the art, dialogue, and story was completely awful.

Like I said Neal is in his early 70s and Dick is no longer around to ink it, but the art is a problem? He and Jose Garcia Lopez define the way I see DC Comics characters with their drawings. As for the story, I cannot speak of it as I have only flipped through it. The series came out during a time I was on a tight grad school budget so I cannot speak for the plot. I understand it is a bit out there and includes Robin, Aquaman and Deadman.

[myconius]

i personally enjoyed the art.

the inking was a bit sketchy at points, but that really didn't bother me.

[MikeandRaph87]

Neal never drew Batgirl in a comic during the character's heyday which crossed over with his peak. Here is his rendition of Batgirl. I love the way it is drawn, but would have liked to see what Dick's inks would have done to his Batgirl.

[myconius]

Originally Posted by MikeandRaph87

Neal never drew Batgirl in a comic during the character's heyday which crossed over with his peak. Here is his rendition of Batgirl. I love the way it is drawn, but would have liked to see what Dick's inks would have done to his Batgirl.
http://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/...e247c431d8.jpg

i could be mistaken, but i don't think Neal ever drew Catwoman back in his classic run either? which is a shame because i absolutely love Catwoman and would really have enjoyed seeing the rendition.

[TurtleTitan97]

Originally Posted by MikeandRaph87

Like I said Neal is in his early 70s and Dick is no longer around to ink it, but the art is a problem?

For this particular story, yes. Compared to his early work, his recent art is like that of Miller: Garbage

[myconius]

no way!!! Neal and Frank Miller are not even in the same boat!!

.....not even the same ocean!!!

[MikeandRaph87]

Originally Posted by myconius

no way!!! Neal and Frank Miller are not even in the same boat!!

.....not even the same ocean!!!

Amen to that. I never understood the fascination and praise both Miller and Alan Moore for that matter got. Bleak street grit. I did enjoy Batman Year One and for Moore I liked the follow up of Clayface III in Batman Annual#11. One story I like each does not mean pantheon of creators in my opinion.

Neal and Jose are my #1 and #2 artist and forever capture the heroes of DC Comics in a classic era.

Catwoman appeared in Batman#256 and Batman#266, but I do not believe Neal drew the O'Neil penned stories. Neal's last job as regular artist was Batman#255.

[TurtleTitan97]

Originally Posted by myconius

no way!!! Neal and Frank Miller are not even in the same boat!!

.....not even the same ocean!!!

Have you READ his recent work? The man has lost his touch, and Batman Odyssey and his recent Superman comic are proof of it..