Something old, something new, one cape yellow, one cape blue. Batman Knightcast returns, and once again Ryan Daly and Chris Franklin review two tales of the Dynamic Duo. In Detective Comics #477, Marshall Rogers bookends a classic tale by Len Wein and Neal Adams. Then, Mark Waid (him again!) and Chris Samnee spin a new take on an old story, the Boy Wonder’s earliest adventures in Batman & Robin Year One #1.
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Music: “The Batman Theme: Epic Version (feat. Mask of the Phantasm + Imperial March” arranged by Samuel Kim. Check it out on Youtube right here: https://youtu.be/m-AnLl9Vyb8?si=H5SsJPY_L8FMdtG5
Additional music: “Haunted House” by Gene Simmons
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My apologies up front for mispeaking: “The House That Haunted Batman” originally ran in DETECTIVE COMICS #408, not BATMAN #408. Slip of the tongue, chums!
During the time the ‘Tec 477 reprinted story was published, JLA was being written by Mike Friedrich. You didn’t include the page you were discussing in the gallery, so IDK the panel in question. Maybe it was Martian Manhunter and Adams didn’t know he wasn’t with the team anymore?
My favorite exchange of the episode:
Chris: “What’s the Who’s Who show Rob and Shag do now?”
Ryan: [indifferently] “I don’t know, I don’t listen to it.”
1 Gotham is dangous for kids might as well make a robin
2 Clayface should be a major bat-foe. is Joker scary? Sure but he cant turn into superman and toss you into the sun
Sorry I don’t know where to source some of my thoughts, but I’ve been a Batman fan for close to a half-century now. My mind gets jumbled about where I read certain information.
As the large amount of panels-per-page, Marshall Rogers wasn’t used to drawing a comic “Marvel Style” and probably didn’t know how to pace the story. Even though Englehart usually wrote “Marvel Style,” he mentioned in an interview (multiple interviews?) that he didn’t know who would be drawing his Batman stories after Walt Simonson bowed out. He wrote his Detective issues full script (DC Style) without knowing who would draw them. Len Wein wrote “Marvel Style” and mentioned in an interview that Rogers quit Detective because he hated working “Marvel Style.”
I’m not sure why the reprint was used. I checked on Mike’s Amazing World. (RIP, Mike. Your site is a godsent.). Action Comics 485, which went on sale shortly after Detective 477, featured a reprint of Superman 233 with a new framing sequence, so there could have been a scheduling glitch at DC. Len Wein’s last issue of Spider-Man had a May 1978 cover date and his last issue of the Hulk an April 1978 cover date, so may that played into it as well.
The black-haired lady at Batman’s funeral could have been Selina Kyle/Catwoman.
Tzin-Tzin was in a Supergirl story that Len Wein wrote, so Len must have liked the character.
There is a fascinating history behind “The House that Haunted Batman.” Neal Adams drew it on spec before Julius Schwartz bought the story. Wolfman and Wein stated Schwartz wanted the death trap, and it causes Tonal Whiplash to me. Attack of the 50 Year old comics provided a concise wrap-up here:
Detective Comics #408 (February, 1971) | Attack of the 50 Year Old Comic Books (google if the link doesn’t work).
Finally (yes, I realized I’ve droned on enough), Chris’s slip of the tongue about Batman 408 brought back up a guilty feeling for me. When I bought my Detective 408 back in the untamed early days of eBay, I bought it from a poor lady who was selling off her deceased husband’s collection. She listed it as Batman and Batgirl 408. She made no mention of Neal Adams, because I’m sure she didn’t who he was. I got it for $4, shipping included. When it arrived, it was immaculate. I hate that she didn’t realize what she had. It was too nice. I preferred to get readers that I didn’t have to worry will get messed up. Not the best deal I ever got back in those early days, but it is up there.
IMO Waid and Samnee are producing the best current Batman book on the shelves right now. And given that Batman seems to have 40 or 50 books each month, that’s saying something.
I haven’t read this issue of Detective Comics, but I remember having the next issue when I was a kid and being creeped out by Clayface 3.
As someone who has read the Englehart/Rogers Batman series in many different forms, I have never read this issue so it was great to see that Boss Thorne epilogue. So I think you for that.
But I have to say, I don’t like Dr. Tzin-Tzin and then saw the Sienkiewicz Who’s Who page. I like Dr. Tzin-Tzin BECAUSE of the Sienkiewicz page. When I saw that page, I thought Tzin-Tzin was going to be a F’ing big deal. That picture is boss. Then I read most of Tzin-Tzin’s appearances and he is definitely not a big deal.
Great show as always, fellas. I’m glad Knightcast didn’t “Fade Out” for good. Chris and Ryan’s “FW Team-Up” really works.
Now allow me to push up my glasses and “um, actually” Chris on the yellow oval. DC did bring back Batman’s yellow oval for Grant Morrison’s Batman Inc. in 2010-2011. And the short-lived 2010 Batman:The Dark Knight by David Finch. I’ll show myself out.
Ok a clay face movie and a penguin tv show and two joker movies and one catwoman movie once the clay face movie comes out we might have enough stuff oh I forgot the suicide squad movies as I think some of Batman’s rouges in there, but I’m not sure. For a new years Batman villain marathon. Might be enough stuff now
Here’s my secret question who from Batman or super mans rouges gallery should get his or her own tv show or movie or mini series?
I just realized I forgot Harley Quinn, and kite man. you both have animated series. I don’t keep up on the series.
My two choices would be either a mini series for the ventriloquist or a movie cyborg super man or metallo .