DETECTIVE COMICS #359 FACSIMILE EDITION DC COMICS
Amazingly, just as William Dozier was filming a 7-1/2 minute mini-episode of the 1966 Batman television show to introduce Yvonne Craig to networks to show off the gimmick that would give the show a third season, the creative crew at DC Comics was putting this little beauty on newsstands. As the cover highlighted, this was an all new Batgirl. This wasn’t Betty Kane the niece of the original Batwoman from Batman Comics #139 (1961) According to the cover, she could be a hero or a villain. One thing was for sure, she was not, like her predecessors, here to stop rumors of BatCave hanky-panky between Batman & Robin. And once we found out she was Commissioner Gordon’s daughter that opened up a whole new continuity issues. While James Gordon had an unnamed wife way back in World’s Finest #53 (1951), we never saw her. We never heard about her. She was just a brief mention (at least until 30 years later when she finally got a full name in Batman #500). She was never mentioned in the tv show. So this became a real shocker. Not only was Jim Gordon married but they had a kid! Mind blown! And you know that it was good as the men behind this tale were Julius (Ah, Bean Soup) Schwartz, Carmine Infantino, and Murphy Anderson. As well as the fact that that 7-1/2 minute short had Batgirl fighting the Killer Moth just like here in the comic. In an time before wide spread commercial tie-ins (I am omitting Dell Comics) this was an amazing debut. Plus you got an extra Elongated Man back-up feature. How could you go wrong? 9 out of 10 Grahams.
GRIMM FAIRY TALES DARK CIRCUS COSPLAY PINUP SPECIAL
Right about now, I’d be commenting (rather sarcasticly) that I was only reading this for the short story before the ho-hum pin-ups. But in this case, I really enjoyed the story. Meet Jynx & Stitches. A classic tale of a satanic hottie dressed up in sexy clown gear who just happens to be resurrecting Victor Harlequin aka Stitches the Patchwork Horror. Imagine Art the Clown from the Terrifier franchise if he was cursed by a dark magician and then ripped apart but angry townsfolks. And then we get to the pinup pages. Old friends like Jyn Leonard and Keith Garvey are here along with art talents like Paolo Pantalena, David Nakayama, and Sabine Rich. This is definitely a case of come for the horror story, stay for the cheesecake all wrapped up in a carnival motif. 9 out of 10 Grahams.
KING DRACULA #4 ZENESCOPE
The final fight between Dracula and the demon Vrykolakas has all sorts of ups and downs. Strained allegiances. Double crosses. Ultimate weapons that need some more R&D. But in the end after the smoke clears and the blood stops dripping, Dracula needs to discover more about the new world he finds himself in. An interesting 4 parter that will obviously lead to more. 7 out of 10 Grahams.
CRITTERVERSE PRESENTS #4 ANTARCTIC PRESS
Another fine tale by Tom Hutchison and Pat Shand brings us another anomaly in the Critterverse. A being who created herself first a body. Then an understanding of right and wrong. And then an identity not beholden to anyone or anything. Meet Slipstream! Somewhat medieval with mysterious bearers of unwanted destinies and princesses (of a type) that want more out of existance. All covered in the anime-ish art styles of Owen Giene. And it wouldn’t be an issue of Critterverse Presents without a cameo by Paradox, spouting some gibberish about events developing off kilter. Just another exampleof what independant comics have to offer us. 9 out of 10 Grahams.