Batman comic book cover gallery

[SprangFan]

I know Batman wasn't goofy pre-Miller, but from my POV he did get awfully boring in the early 80s. Too many running plotlines about romances with Vicki, Selina, Nocturna, et al. Too much corporate intrigue surrounding Wayne Enterprises. And arguably too much time spent on mentoring young (pre-jerk version) Jason Todd. All together, it did "soften" and blunt Batman's "dark avenger of the night" appeal and (again in my opinion) turn him into just another cookie-cutter "Marvel lite" character bogged down by soap opera plots I didn't care about. (When they did try to spice it up, they turned him into a vampire! And that didn't appeal, either).

In interviews at the time, Miller didn't say Batman was "goofy," but he did (rightly, I think) say that his edge had worn away. Actually I think his exact quote was that he'd gone "fat and happy." If you can imagine Bruce Wayne cutting his lawn on the weekend, I think he said, you've lost sight of what the character was supposed to be.

I appreciate Miller's DKR for what it was -- an Elseworlds-like possible future. The real problem came when scores of lesser talents came along and turned it into the "official" version of Batman, stealing as much and as often as they could and ushering in the era of "Bat-Jerk."

That said, there was a wonderful period in there, post-Miller and pre-Knightfall...just a few years...where the books took a real uptick in quality, between Chuck Dixon's work on Detective, Grant and Breyfogle on Batman and 'Tec, and various other neat things. It took a while for things to spiral out of control irretrievably. By the end of "Knightfall" I was gone.

I actually don't know that I've heard anyone suggest Miller "saved" Batman from goofiness, but I do think it's fair to say that prior to his mini-series, Batman was still, in the minds of a lot of people, still stuck in 60s TV mode. But that's because they hadn't been reading the books. DKR was the first Batman project since the 60s to get media attention, so that's probably why so many people don't remember anything in between. Then the Burton films came and got even more media attention, so often HE'S the one credited with "returning Batman to his dark roots."

I don't let it bother me. Whatever happens, I've still got my beloved back issues. Like, to bring this back on topic, this one (courtesy Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin):

[SprangFan]

Actually, after specifically praising that post-Miller "last gasp" of quality, maybe I should have picked a cover from one of those runs. Here's a gem from Alan Davis, up til now un-named in this thread, but awesome:

[SprangFan]

Boy, that annoying little UPC code sure puts a damper on things, doesn't it?

[Yellow Oval]

SprangFan,

as usual I can't argue with most of your statements. However, I view many other comic boards (only belong and am active on this one, I might add) and the general consensus among today's fans (and the younger ones at my comic store) seems to be Miller was the hero in establishing Batman once again. It's like they're too lazy to research the back catalogue and just take the modern rumors at face-value. The subject's highly debatable, but I think that would be for another thread.

Going back to this one your latest covers are well-chosen. I especially like the Scarecrow one. I was always disappointed the '66 TV series didn't have him as he would have been great and highly interesting as a villain. Curiously, he seemed to be okay for the 1968 Filmation series at the time.

My latest cover choice was one that impressed me way back with its very murky atmosphere. The broken statue, the mysterious skeleton within arousing all kinds of questions, the horrified warehouse workers in the background, and Batman in the shadows observing all that transpires. You can almost hear some kind of mysterious, scary music playing in the background. Even though I read the story many times over I would just sit and stare in amazement at Jim Aparo's cover. A sign of a truly great artist and his concept.

[SprangFan]

What can I say, young people are jut generally not up on their history. If it helps, try to take the long view: someday they'll be older and have to listen to the next generation get everything wrong.

I would venture a guess that the Scarecrow wouldn't have worked on the show because so much revolved around "celebrity of the week," often (heresy!) at the expense of the scripts. I doubt any famous types would be lining up to take on a role where their face was always covered. That said, it would be awesome if some talented soul out there edited together a Batman/Scarecrow trailer using footage of Adam's Batman and McGoohan's Scarecrow of Romney Marsh.

Hmm.. come to think of it, maybe that's another reason they didn't go there; fear of Disney's lawyers.

I agree that's a great Aparo cover. I always remember that issue for the scene where Silversmith holds a gun inches from Batman's head and gets ready to pull the trigger. Batman's solution may or may not work in real life, but it was insane!



Too bad somebody screwed up and had Silversmith's "What In?" line coming from Batman.

[Batman65]

Oh man, it's great to see these magnificent classic artwork covers! Thanks for sharing these guys, A BIG thank you!

[gothosmansion]

I was in high school when Dark Knight Returns came out and, of the five of us in our little comics group, I was the only one who read DC at all and they all thought Batman was campy. They all loved DKR, though. I finally met some other DC fans when I got to college. My college sweetheart, who was the only girl I've ever met who read comics, absolutely would not read any pre-Miller Batman comics...and I certainly tried to get her to try some.

I admit that I have never really cared for Frank Miller as a creator. I recall an old Marvel Bullpen Bulletins that stated he only drew extremely rough sketches and the inker did most of the actual artwork. That is why the only artwork from Miller that I've ever found passable was his stuff inked by Klaus Janson and it looks just about like Janson's solo work. In DKR, I really didn't find the topical humor (Ruth Weisneheimer, Dave Endocrine, the Reagan stuff) funny at the time and find it horribly dated now.

Sprangfan,

I think the issues you mentioned not caring for are the early 80s ones written by Gerry Conway and Doug Moench; correct? However, Len Wein started the sub plots with the Wayne Foundation and his run is one of my favorite ever. Did you not like his run?

Guys, I'm really digging all the covers from all the different eras. I've only been posting comics that I actually own, which is why I've only posted 60s and 70s so far. Oh, I do have one thing to add. Beneath that Batman/Phantom Stranger Mansion of the Misbegotten cover lurks Jim Aparo's first Batman art job, and he really hit the ground running. I love that issue!

One of the really great runs post Miller was Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle's and this is my favorite Norm Breyfogle cover. I haven't posted a Jim Aparo yet because he had so many great ones I can't pick a favorite yet.

Oh, is this the Neal Adams designed logo that you mentioned? This is from Stacked Cards Power Records book & record set. It was one of my first Batman items and may have been my first exposure to Neal Adams artwork. The logo was used on Detective for a good bit in the early 1980s.

[BATWINGED HORNET]

Batman #180 from May of 1966.



Kane and Anderson cover. Gil Kane was another master of cover layout, but its odd--I always thought he was not a good fit for Batman, but was a great artist for Robin. The Boy Wonder's look and costume just seemed to fit Kane's hyper-flexible style.

[SprangFan]

gothosmansion: I liked a lot of what Wein did early on, like the "Bat-Murderer" storyline (too bad Aparo couldn't finish it!) and later "The Untold Legend of Batman" (too bad Byrne couldn't finish it!). Also, that "Dreadful Birthday Dear Joker" story I mentioned with Simonson, and a few more. But looking back, yes, his run in the early 300's is where the seeds were sown for my discontent, with the boardroom stuff and Catwoman reforming to become Bruce's love interest (a good example to us fans of "be careful what you wish for"). I remember when they announced Lucius Fox would be in the Nolan films I thought, "Why would you want to bring up THAT era?"

I stuck around, though, and only really started to wander off to other books (like Teen Titans and some Marvels) when Conway and Moench dug in. Just in general, when Conway shows up on a book I know it's time for me to leave.

Wein's run gave us some great covers, including a couple of gems from the legendary Joe Kubert, whose work on Batman was rare but always wonderful. This one's probably my favorite:

[SprangFan]

Oh, is this the Neal Adams designed logo that you mentioned?

Yes, that's the one.



Loved it as a kid, but if you look at covers from the period, it was obviously very hard to work it in with the DC bullet, the price tag and whatever was going on in the cover image. (Exceptions being the one in your avatar, and the "Beatle" one). It usually showed up smaller, combined with other heroes' logos in World's Finest or Justice League. And on some merchandise, like the Mego Batman and that book and record set.

Batman's had a number of great logos over the years, but I think my favorite is probably this one from the 60s:

[chrisbcritter]

Sorry, guys - couldn't resist:

[gothosmansion]

Batwingedhornet,

My enjoyment of Gil Kane was usually dependent on his inkers. I always loved his work on the Batgirl back-up stories. That is a fun cover and when I was able to get on eBay, it was one of the first comics I went after. I was always intrigued by the story after reading about it in a text piece in Batman's Strangest Cases. I first saw the cover in a book for Batman's 50th anniversary.

Sprangfan,

We're going to have to agree to disagree on Len Wein's run. I loved it! I really enjoyed all the special guest villains and Bruce's romance with Selina, at least during Wein's run. I did NOT like when Gerry Conway brought Selina back as a jealous shrew out to murder Vicki Vale.

I love that Kubert cover and consider both of the Gentleman Ghost issues to be among the highlights of Wein's run...For me, Wein is one of those rare writers that I always seem to enjoy and he has a good feel for all the characters he writes. I enjoyed his runs on Batman, Spider-Man, Superman and his Hulk run is probably my favorite ever on that character. I even like his non-Super Hero stuff like Swamp Thing.

Oh, and that Batman logo is probably my favorite ever, although I tend to prefer it colored black.

Speaking of Gil Kane's Batgirl.....Detective Comics 369 from November 1967. Cover art by Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson.

[Yellow Oval]

Love that cartoon humor, chrisbcritter.

Gothosmansion - No one can argue Batgirl back then wasn't a great addition. She fit perfectly into the Batman universe. I always enjoyed reading her stories up until I gave up on DC comics back in '99.

SprangFan - I always liked Adams' logo because I associate it with the great old days of Mego action-figure magic and when the Superfriends first hit the Saturday morning airwaves that caused considerable excitement amongst the youth of then. I agree that '60s logo was the definitive one. I always liked this one from the late '60s Detective Comics. Just something about it that I can't quite explain but it defined the world inside the Batman comics for me.



This cover from September 1973 really grabbed me back then. I didn't actually get to read it until recently, but back in '73 I remember seeing it on one those pages that advertised upcoming issues of various titles and I thought, "Man, I just have to read that one as it looks really eerie!" Turns out it was. You have to admit - those b&w cover ads would really arouse the imagination and put you on a mission with a "I have to get that one for sure!" attitude?



I gotta say reading comics back then the fun was more than just admiring the cover and story art or getting into the writing - it was fun reading the ads for the cheapo X-ray glasses, the various model kits for Star Trek, the Ready Ranger backpack (which I wanted soooo badly), the Steve and Bob Scout figures, Big Jim and other action figures like the already mentioned Megos, or observing Batman and Robin rescue Twinkie cakes from the Mummy or some other DC hero saving Hostess cakes in one way or another. I also remember wanting to go to the nowhere-near-me Palisades Park on that coupon they used to print back in the '60s/early '70s. Back then it looked like a magical place Superman was holding up in his hand.



So much fun with comics back then and all because a great cover would hook you at the newsstand for an adventure right through to the last page when you placed the book down next to your bed and shut off the lamp on your desk or nightstand for a night's sleep.

[Lou Szabo]

Batman's had a number of great logos over the years, but I think my favorite is probably this one from the 60s:

[/quote]

That's my favorite too!

[gothosmansion]

Yellow Oval,

That was a wild B&B. I really love how creative and "out there" a lot of Bob Haney's stuff was and early 70s Aparo can't be topped. I have a bit of fondness for that Neal Adams designed logo because it was used on a lot of the great Power Records covers.