Give thanks today for a brand new episode of Batman Knightcast! The Dynamic Duo of Chris Franklin and Ryan Daly continue their coverage of Batman’s first encounter with Clayface III in Detective Comics #479, as well as the Dark Knight and Boy Wonder’s earliest adventures against the forces of General Grimaldi and his chameleonic henchman (spoiler: it’s also Clayface) in Batman & Robin Year One #3.
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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: “The Fire Inside” by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
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Enjoyed the show as usual, particularly the conversation about Detective #479. I really got a laugh when Chris suggested that maybe Batman should have seen Silver’s face in the mannequin so that he and Clayface start fighting over it. The more I think about it, the more I wish that’s what Wein had done with it (and I’m still open to someone doing it.) And yeah, Rogers’ art in that issue of Detective is lovely, but I’m preaching to the choir. It’s definitely too bad he didn’t have a years-long run with the character at the time. And speaking of Rogers, he’s definitely in my list of top Bat artists, along with Neal Adams (no explanation needed, I think), Alan Davis (loved his all-too-brief run on Detective with Mike Barr) and, especially, Jim Aparo. To me, Aparo is almost the quintessential Bat artist – whenever Batman is mentioned, I think the Aparo version is the first image that pops into my head. (Others who come close that personal Mt. Rushmore are Don Newton, JLGL (PBHN),
Otherwise, I agree about how outstanding Rude’s art is in that World’s Finest mini. In fact, I’d say it really carries the whole thing, because I found the story pretty middling if I’m being honest. Every single page, though, is simply a joy to behold.
Otherwise, since I’m no longer living in the US, it’s been an ordinary Thursday and Friday for me, but I hope you fellas and everyone else back in the old home country are enjoying the holiday.
I try to give the superhero lenience on stopping a bad guy’s science-ing, and Clayface being a repeat killer that turns people to sludge and is in love with a mannequin, he’s not exactly building confidence in his intentions. But if I had a nickel for every time a hero stopped a villain from curing or depowering themselves, I’d have a backbreaking bag of nickels. So I really don’t like it, and Batman was no exception here, especially with how callously his dialog was written. Still, it was a gripping story, and rarely is Batman shown having problems that aren’t caused by a supervillain, so I appreciated him actually grappling with losing Silver.
Now Batman and Robin Year One continues to be a huge joy! Waid’s take on the characters is on point, while also bringing freshness to it. We’ve seen Bruce and Alfred argue before, but taking it to the level of Alfred shouting was surprising and believable. Like it establishes that Alfred never has to raise his voice again thanks to this one moment. And the end of this story might be when Dick truly realizes this isn’t a game or a show in the circus, deliberately waiting for the third issue to make the point. I’m really looking forward to you covering the next issue.
I don’t have an interesting answer for Batman artists outside of who you both mentioned. But what I just thought about is who you would say are your favorite Robin artists? Is there overlap with the Batman list, or completely different?
Happy post Thanksgiving!
ok bare with me I think I fixed the plothole.
ok Batman most normally fights normal guys
BUT the bigger Batman villians,hugo Strange,JOKER, Catwoman) seem like normal people but they live though fatal injuries all the time, THEY MIGHT not be human!
WAIT Supeman,wonder woman, martian mANHUNTER, Hawkman and 3599 Green Lantren are allien I better build a “bat non-standard dna detector. Naturally clayface DNA is non-standard so it STands out. Thats he tracked him
That is… actually a pretty good solve. Well done.
thanks! that showed up in my failed “Wait What the Hell is clayface? story DC did’nt even say no
Here’s my secret question :
In one of the Batman, the series episode he and Robin later end up, watching it’s a wonderful life at the end of the episode. So this two part
1. Have you watched this now Christmas classic?
2. Do you have a movie that you watch every year on Christmas time or around Christmas time please do not say elf or Christmas story. (I as I feel those are over done .) Wizard of Oz or white Christmas or even Santa Clause with muscles or even a Charlie Brown or Garfield Christmas special are find . Or Santa clause is coming to town .
Bonus secret question I doubt this one will be read on air so this for every one my brother is always looking for new Christmas episodes and movies. Does anyone have any good recommendations?
Great show, guys! I still haven’t really read the Marshall Rogers era of Batman – which may get me kicked off the network now that I said it out loud. But I promise I will. Good looking stuff.
The Batman/Robin series is so good. I agree with your assessment of Chris Samnee, who is quickly climbing the ranks of my favorite modern artists.
As for a Mount Rushmore:
Neal Adams. Reading the Batman from the 30’s to the 70’s as a kid and turning the page to see Adams’ work was mind blowing. Batman looked so intense and real. And he was always in a tree for some reason.
Don Newton. He gave Batman realism plus an organic look and feel. It was like watching a TV show. Every character looked real and different. Perfect and unique for the time.
Tim Sale. It may or may not be a popular choice with others, but I loved his cartoony “ugly” style in the Long Halloween and Dark Victory. His Batman stood out from the other characters as a broad shouldered superhero. Plus, I’m a sucker for commissioner Gordon’s glasses not showing his eyes.
Greg Camilo. He has a long enough Batman resume to belong on this list. He gave Batman a youthful, but powerful and determined look. At the time it was a breath of fresh air for the dark Knight.
Excited to hear my name read on your podcast live on the air! It’s a Christmas miracle!
I’m assuming you meant Greg Capullo, yes?
That should be Greg Capullo, not Camilo. Damn autocorrect!
Kicked off the network? Shag hasn’t read this stuff!!!
I have read an issue or two or the Englehart/Rogers Batman run, but like Brett Young above, I plan to read it all as soon as I can. B&R: Year One just may land on my year-end top 10 list. Just really good comics.
As for a Mt. Rushmore of Batman artists, today mine would be Neal Adams (the GOAT IMHO), Jim Aparo, Tim Sale, and Graham Nolan. But there are SO many like Rogers, Sprang, Breyfogle, Daniels, etc.
Looking forward to the Christmas episode. Happy holidays to Ryan and Chris!
Am I the only one who wants to hear Chris combine his Batman and Jerry Reed impersonations?
“I am vengeance. I am the night. I am SNOWMAN!!! Son.”
SUB QUESTION:
If Jerry Reed had appeared on BATMAN ’66, what villain would you have wanted him to play, Chris?
A Mount Rushmore of Batman artists is difficult to narrow down. Neal Adams and Jim Aparo are musts for me. I’m having a difficult time making up my mind filling the last two spots between Dick Sprang, Marshall Rogers and Don Newton. I’ve read a lot more Batman stories drawn by Sprang and Newton, so I guess I’ll go with those two.
Fun episode! Batman no longer has a robot hand. He received a gifted graft of a Bruce Wayne clone’s hand! This was wrapped up in the last few issues of Zdarsky’s run.
But Alfred is still dead.
Awesome episode. Great discussion about Marshall Rogers art. In terms of my Bat-Rushmore (among those who drew him a LOT):
Jim Aparo
Don Newton
Norm Breyfogle
Neal Adams (classic, not modern)
Others just missing were Tim Sale and Irv Novick.
In general, the Len Wein run of Batman/Detective is VERY high on my list of favorites. Excited to hear you guys talk about it.
And I have been wracking my brain and I cannot think of a more “polite” villain.
I’ve got to start taking notes while I listen so I can remember MONTHS LATER what I want to comment on! In an interview, probably in The Comics Journal, Marshall Rogers expressed his distaste that Batman saw Silver’s face. He didn’t want to draw it. I think he also had trouble with a monthly book, which is why there had to be a fill-in. Nevertheless, what Len Wein did with this story was, I think, significant. First, he referenced the recent (Englehart) story. This was new for Detective Comics at that time. Englehart’s story is kind of out-of-time with very little reference to DC continuity and recent Batman stories. He brought in brand new characters and locations, including the new Bat-Cave, dusted off a couple of long unseen villains, and wrapped up everything with a definitive ending. Prior to that had been a string of mostly one-and-done stories by David V. Reed. It had been about four years since Wein’s four-part Bat-Murderer storyline. Here, Len references Bruce’s recent romance, and starts laying in future plots and sub-plots, i.e., Selina Kyle. Wein’s run on the Batman title starts a few months later, where he introduces other new characters, like Lucius Fox, and also overlapping storylines, but this is the starting point for a great run for Batman.
I enjoy hearing about the current comics, even though some elements really stick in my craw, and not just because I’m a grumpy old man! This characterization of Dick Grayson as an impetuous, undisciplined snotty kid is one of those things. I get that it’s trying to set up a kind of confrontation between Alfred and Bruce, but I don’t buy it. First, Dick. He’s got to be a very health-conscious young athlete from his upbringing in the circus. Junk food and lots of time for TV may be a novelty to him, but who bought all that food? Who put him in a room that can be locked like that? I also don’t like this obsessive Bruce. He’s a guy who should be an expert at compartmentalizing. If anything, I would find it more interesting if he was too concerned with Dick’s welfare and training and Dick would have to be the one to get him to focus on the current mystery. Also, how old is Dick in current continuity (as if that means anything anymore!)? 22? 23? He becomes Robin at age 9? 10? This story takes place in 2011? 2013? Do you think it feels that way?
Oh, Clayface is a great name! The other Clayface hadn’t been in a new story since the Silver Age. As a contemporary reader in 1977, that was a long time before! This was still when many writers at DC were taking pains to dis-associate their characters from those stories. Ryan, Waxman is not a good name for a villain, unless he was a homicidal film composer!