Favourite comics: Superboy #182 - the first meeting of Superboy and Batman by Bob Brown , Murphy Anderson and Leo Dorfman

Superboy was a comic that I only really interested me when it featured the Legion of Super-Heroes however, there were the odd exceptions where the urge to pick up a copy of the boy of steels comic minus the Legion was overwhelming. One such issue was Superboy #182 featuring an intriguing cover by the great Nick Cardy in a story where Superboy uses a machine, a 'time-scope' that can see into the future, a DC staple in telling "what if" type tales back in the day. The added interest in this tale was that this story tells of the first meeting between Superboy and a young Batman,or rather the Executioner!

In addition to the above main story this issue also featured an "Album of Unsung Heroes" tale and a reprint of a Super-baby tale

Favourite comics: Batman Family # 19 - Michael Golden, Denny O'Neil

Batman Family was an excellent anthology comic that ran for 20 issues between 1975 and 1978 which was designed to showcase solo stories featuring characters from the Batman universe including Batgirl, Robin and Man-Bat. Initially the series ran a mix of classic reprints with a couple of new stories. However, with issue 11 that all changed and it became an 80 page mag featuring all new strips illustrated by some of comics newest artistic talents. One such artist was Michael Golden who after drawing the Man-Bat series in #15 -17 took over the art chores on the Batman series from #14 until #20, the last issue of the Batman Family. For many fans Goldens Batman has remained a high point in the characters long history, for myself his Batman was always fun and exciting.

This issue also featured a Batgirl back-up.

Although #20 was the last issue of Batman Family the title merged with Detective Comics with #481 a series it out sold but DC decided to keep due to the titles importance to the company. Golden completed one final Batman story in issue 482 before moving on.

Bring on the Back ups: When John Buscema drew Batman......and Superman

A big fantasy of my early fanboy teen years (mid-late 1970s) was the thought of some of US comics greatest artists working for both Marvel and DC on some of their top characters. Of course, it wasn't the case that this never happened back in the 1970’s as artists like Neal Adams, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Gil Kane, and others successfully worked to some extent for both companies. However, artists like John Buscema (who I imagine Marvel had under contract) didn’t make the move to try their hand at working on characters like Batman, Superman. Green Lantern etc. Well, that wasn’t until 2000 when Big John eventually took the opportunity (as did many others ) to work for DC. Although he did work on Superman (of sorts ) in the “Just Imagine Stan Lee creating….” series and provided (very) rough pencils for Gil Kane on the posthumously published “Superman: Blood of My Ancestors” book, he did provide full art on a one shot Batman black and white back up tale that appeared in "Batman: Gotham Knights" #7 (2000) -the the result as you would expect were pretty impressive. Sadly Big John passed away in 2002 only a couple of years after this was publsihed. Enjoy some of the last work of a comic book genius:

Above:The cover to "Batman Gotham Knights" #7 (2000) -Cover by Brian Bolland.

Above: The cover and splash page to "Just Imagine Stan Lee with John Buscema creating Superman" (2001) - Cover byJohn Buscema.

Above:The cover to " Superman - Blood of my Ancestors" - Cover image taken from the Grand Comics Database.

Favourite Comics: Detective Comics # 450 - Walt Simonson & Elliot S Maggin

I had all but forgotten about the above issue of Detective Comics # 450 (cover by Dick Giordano) until very recently when I came across a sale copy in Glasgow last week. As soon as I opened the book and saw that powerful splash page (below) by Walt Simonson, I was instantly transported back to late November 1975 when I picked up my original copy in John Menzies (newsagents) on a shopping trip to Glasgow with my brother.

Elliot S. Maggin offers up an enjoyable story with a powerful twist conclusion. However, the real star of this issue comes from the early art of Walt Simonson who had only recently ended his classic Manhunter storyline with a Batman /Manhunter finale in issue 443. With this issue Simonson’s art had progressed even further and his storytelling and his interpretation of Batman are both striking. Batman crouching with a menacing look on his face and his cape blowing in the wind! Just the way Batman should always look.

One possible criticism of Simonson’s (wonderful) art could be levelled at his interpretation of Bruce Wayne, who doesn’t really look like himself here.

In the story itself Batman searches for the person who assassinated Senator Locksley. He suspects Harcourt a criminal mastermind, who he thinks knows the assassin is Jeremy Wormwood, but not the person who hired the assassin.

Wormwood is invited to Bruce Wayne ‘s office where he finds Harcourt who hires him to steal Batman’s cape and cowl. Wormwood asks why Harcourt wants the cape and cowl and Harcourt offers him a deal, he will tell him his reasons if Wormwood tells him who hired him to kill the Senator. Wormwood reveals that is was Mike Carley (the Senators party boss), then asks Harcourt what he's going to do with the cape and cowl. Harcourt replies "I'm going to wear them."

Wormwood turns to find Batman attacking. After a short struggle, Batman defeats Wormwood and ushers in the awaiting police. Batman had been impersonating Harcourt all along

The final panel with Batman's cowl and cape hanging over a chair was a fantastic visual ending by Walt Simonson from a time comics could be dark and fun.

Favourite covers: Batman: 100 Page Spectacular - DC-14 -by Nick Cardy

As I have stated many times before, I have a great fondness for those thick US 80-100 specials, especially those published by DC in the early 1970’s. There was just something appealing about these books with their thick spines and the classic reprints all contained within the confines of some of comics greatest cover. I have waxed lyrical in the past over some of these stunning covers that still take pride of place in my collection and to this list I have to add the above classic cover by legendary artist Nick Cardy for DC-14, from February 1973.

Although all issues in this series featured some form of a wrap-around covers, it was only issues DC-6 to DC-14 that featured a continued cover illustration (others featured either a poster type back cover or a reproduction of the front cover without the logo). Above shows Cardy’s cover in its full glory (illo taken from DC Wiki as my copier isn’t big enough to scan the full cover).

Above: The table of contents page from this issue.

The above page containing an article on the contents of this issue.

The DC 100 page Super-Spectacular series ran for 19 issues that were published between 1971 – 1973. This series had a strange numbering system, for example the first 100 page spectacular (Weird Mystery Tales) started with issue 4 (there were no issues numbered as 1,2 or 3) and with issue 7 the numbering system was changed to add the prefix “DC” (ie. DC-07 – DC-22)to the number. In addition some issues like DC-13 which featured Superman (above), were also numbered as part of the regular Superman series, in this case Superman issue 252. From issue DC-14 - DC22 the title of the series was changed to "100 Page Super-Spectacular".

Favourite comics: Detective Comics #443 -Batman & Manhunter

Detective Comics in 1973/1974 was an excellent 100 page title featuring some wonderful new stories alongside many classics from the golden and silver ages by some of comics greatest artists and writers. However it was with issue 437 that (for myself at least) the comic went into another gear when it featured a brand new character called “Manhunter” written by Archie Goodwin with art by relative new comer (and future comic legend) Walter Simonson. The excitement of this storyline came to a climax with the above issue #443 (cover by Jim Aparo.)

The Manhunter character seemed to appear out of nowhere in issue 437 (cover by Jim Aparo) and it was an instant fan favourite. The strip itself appeared in 8 page segmentsand was always the last story in each issue until the final Manhunter tale when the character appeared on the cover with Batman as the main feature, it was fanboy heaven.

Manhunter told the tale of Paul Kirk a man raised from the dead by a secret organisation of super scientists called the “Council” intent on controlling mankind. The Council give Kirk healing abilities, martial arts training and a natty 1970’s glam rock style costume and sent him out as an operative for their cause. In order to test his loyalty to the Council Kirk is tasked with killing an Interpol agent, which he refused to do. As a result the Council clone him and send the clones to kill him. Realising that the Council are corrupt Kirk sets out to kill the clones and destroy the Council.

At the end of the story Paul Kirk, Manhunter destorys the Council but in doing so he sacrifices his own life. The Goodwin/Simonson Manhunter series has been collected several times and is worth picking up if you havent read this 1970's classic series.