Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
#1
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
I was born and raised on Marvel Comics and other than an for a few years in the early 2000's and dabbling in some of the more famous stories over the years, I've not read much DC. In fact I've read barely anything pre-Crisis.
I've always been interested in 70's/80's era Batman in particular and picked up a couple of issues from Comixology thanks to the Joker sale that's going on now. They certainly piqued my interest (although the recoloring on the Neal Adams issues made me want to kick a puppy), and I want more. Unfortunately DC has never really been good about collecting their back catalog from this era; at least not in the comprehensive way that Marvel collects their stuff. Most of what they have come out with is creator specific like the Neal Adams collections or the Len Wein hardcover. Because of this, the issues bounce around a lot. That leads to some questions I have:
- How important is the in-series continuity in DC from this era? In other words, is it necessary to read extended runs on these titles to get the overall story (like, say, X-Men from the 70's), or is it ok to bounce around and cherry pick issues like DC does in their collected editions?
- I know names like Englehart, Adams, O'Neil, Wein, Wolfman and Aparo, but did any of them have a definitive extended runs on any one title that I should check out? As far as I can tell DC wasn't as hung up on locking in creative teams for extended runs the way Marvel was at the time.
- What was the relationship between Detective Comics and Batman during this era? Were they two separate but equal series? Did they have different creative mandates? Was one series considered to be better than the other?
- What are some recommendations for someone who's read pretty much nothing pre-Crisis?
I've always been interested in 70's/80's era Batman in particular and picked up a couple of issues from Comixology thanks to the Joker sale that's going on now. They certainly piqued my interest (although the recoloring on the Neal Adams issues made me want to kick a puppy), and I want more. Unfortunately DC has never really been good about collecting their back catalog from this era; at least not in the comprehensive way that Marvel collects their stuff. Most of what they have come out with is creator specific like the Neal Adams collections or the Len Wein hardcover. Because of this, the issues bounce around a lot. That leads to some questions I have:
- How important is the in-series continuity in DC from this era? In other words, is it necessary to read extended runs on these titles to get the overall story (like, say, X-Men from the 70's), or is it ok to bounce around and cherry pick issues like DC does in their collected editions?
- I know names like Englehart, Adams, O'Neil, Wein, Wolfman and Aparo, but did any of them have a definitive extended runs on any one title that I should check out? As far as I can tell DC wasn't as hung up on locking in creative teams for extended runs the way Marvel was at the time.
- What was the relationship between Detective Comics and Batman during this era? Were they two separate but equal series? Did they have different creative mandates? Was one series considered to be better than the other?
- What are some recommendations for someone who's read pretty much nothing pre-Crisis?
#2
Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
The only person on that list that worked the longest on any Bat title is Aparo. Even though Adams is my favorite Batman artist I would have to say Marshall Rogers' version should be the definitive one. The stories from that era were not really connected but mostly standalone and 2 or 3 parters. So, if you jump around it won't matter. Besides, if they refer to something in a story they always tell you what issue to read to expand on that info. Someone told me they don't do much of that today.
As for reading suggestions. The Marshall Rogers issues are probably the best imo. He only did a few issues but they are worth searching for.
As for reading suggestions. The Marshall Rogers issues are probably the best imo. He only did a few issues but they are worth searching for.
#3
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
The only person on that list that worked the longest on any Bat title is Aparo. Even though Adams is my favorite Batman artist I would have to say Marshall Rogers' version should be the definitive one. The stories from that era were not really connected but mostly standalone and 2 or 3 parters. So, if you jump around it won't matter. Besides, if they refer to something in a story they always tell you what issue to read to expand on that info. Someone told me they don't do much of that today.
As for reading suggestions. The Marshall Rogers issues are probably the best imo. He only did a few issues but they are worth searching for.
As for reading suggestions. The Marshall Rogers issues are probably the best imo. He only did a few issues but they are worth searching for.
#4
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Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
I'm not the person to answer this question, as I grew up on Batman mostly through The Brave and the Bold, which is how I grew to love Aparo. It's a great run, but pretty standalone as a lot of the stories tend to center on the guest star.
My understanding is that Batman was more centered around supervillains while Detective was more mysteries and crime-solving, but I'm not sure about that.
I'm not aware of many long story arcs, though I mentioned elsewhere that the Len Wein hardcover included the "Bat-murderer" arc from Detective that I really enjoy. It seems natural that there could've been more cross-title arcs like they did with Knightfall later, but I'm not aware of them if there were.
My understanding is that Batman was more centered around supervillains while Detective was more mysteries and crime-solving, but I'm not sure about that.
I'm not aware of many long story arcs, though I mentioned elsewhere that the Len Wein hardcover included the "Bat-murderer" arc from Detective that I really enjoy. It seems natural that there could've been more cross-title arcs like they did with Knightfall later, but I'm not aware of them if there were.
#5
Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
That Englehart/Rogers run on Detective is actually what I purchased on Comixology (along with a couple of other random issues). I haven't read it all yet, but what I did read so far was great. I'm disappointed that those issues were the extent of that collaboration. I was hoping there was more.
#7
Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
^^^ Yeah that`s it. There was also DC Special Series #15 with art by Marshall Rogers. Not much else really after that....a couple of Batman family issues and Legends of the Dark Knight.
Not Batman related but his run on Mister Miracle was awesome, too.
Not Batman related but his run on Mister Miracle was awesome, too.
#10
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
Don Newton is my All-Time Favorite BATMAN artist.
He drew many BATMAN and DETECTIVE COMICS stories from this era. Had a nice run with Gerry Conway.
He drew many BATMAN and DETECTIVE COMICS stories from this era. Had a nice run with Gerry Conway.
#11
DVD Talk Limited Edition
#12
#14
DVD Talk Limited Edition
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Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
#15
#17
Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
Last edited by mrhan; 03-18-15 at 09:52 AM.
#18
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
An actress from Predestination, for starters. It's supposed to be "books," but auto-correct would apparently prefer something which isn't a word.
I do not have drain bammage! Wait, does that mean that to rehabilitate myself, I have to join a dance competition with Jennifer Lawrence ?!
Ah, Cartoon Network in the 1990s. The best days of my life .
They were like the Smurfs, except not as popular.
Between this and the B:TAS thread I'm really starting to think hanshotfirst is suffering from some sort of head injury.
Ah, Cartoon Network in the 1990s. The best days of my life .
They were like the Smurfs, except not as popular.
#19
Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
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#20
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
I've always been interested in 70's/80's era Batman in particular and picked up a couple of issues from Comixology thanks to the Joker sale that's going on now. They certainly piqued my interest (although the recoloring on the Neal Adams issues made me want to kick a puppy), and I want more. Unfortunately DC has never really been good about collecting their back catalog from this era; at least not in the comprehensive way that Marvel collects their stuff. Most of what they have come out with is creator specific like the Neal Adams collections or the Len Wein hardcover. Because of this, the issues bounce around a lot. That leads to some questions I have:
They have been pretty good at collecting the more famous Bat artists of this period in recent, oversized hardcovers.
#21
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
DC is pretty terrible at collecting runs from the 1970s. Apparently they don't like negotiating royalty rates with too many different creators on a single hardcover. That leads to bizarre situations where only 3/4 of a story will end up in the hardcover and other strange omissions.
They have been pretty good at collecting the more famous Bat artists of this period in recent, oversized hardcovers.
They have been pretty good at collecting the more famous Bat artists of this period in recent, oversized hardcovers.
#22
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
You can read digital comics on a computer. I'm not sure why anyone would read anything for more than a few minutes on a computer, but it's doable.
#23
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
Apparently hardcovers are one-and-done deals unless they're big Absolute Editions of something. A lot of the series I've wanted to get in hardcover- the JLA: Deluxe, Gotham Central, Starman Omnibus-don't seem to be things DC is keen on reprinting, either the initial pressing is for collectors and the paperbacks are for the mass market, or it's an issue with royalties.
I should get some sort of digital gizmo so that I can get individual issues like "Joker's Five-Way Revenge" on Amazon for 99c, but then I'd have to get an iPad or a Kindle or something, and they're a lot more than a dollar .
There does appear to be a Neal Adams Batman Omnibus coming out soon. He's going to be at my local comic-con this year...
#24
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Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
To me, what O'Neil and Adams did pretty much set up the whole of what creators used as a grounding template for what is known as now for in terms of his world.
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#25
Re: Teach me about 70's/80's Batman
Presumably that Neal Adams Omnibus is just a compilation of the 3 previous Neal Adams tpbs. That means that a lot of the artwork has been modified from it's original look. It was recolored to look more modern and Adams even redid some of the line work. Objectively speaking I guess it looks pretty good, but I don't like it. The digital version of the aforementioned "Joker's Five-Way Revenge" features this redone artwork so you can take a look at that and see how you feel.