In this penultimate episode, Shawn and Paul cover the last issue of the Dollar Detective Starring the Batman Family! But we are not quite done! For our finale next month, we are going to do a retrospective of the entire series. And for that, we want as much Bat-Cousin participation as possible! So, we want YOU all to write to us (by November 20, 2024) and tell us your:
- Favorite All-New Story (other than #13 if that is your favorite)
- Favorite Reprint Story
- Favorite Writer
- Favorite Artist
- Favorite Cover
- Favorite Bat-Family History Segment
- Any other favorite item – food, Gabriel’s Horn item, ad, etc.
You can give us your answer to one or all 7 of those categories, and any other general comments you want to make. Don’t forget to make comments on #495 as you would normally do as well.
We will incorporate as many of your comments as we can into our big finale next month! Please leave your answer here on the website or email us at batmanfamilyreunion@gmail.com. But please send in your answers and comments no later than WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20.
Thanks for your support of the show and we look forward to everyone’s answers!
This month’s Bat Family History links:
For Michael Fleisher:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Fleisher
http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/main/features/creator.php?creatorid=561
https://www.tcj.com/michael-fleisher-comic-book-writer-1942-2018/
For Cary Burkett:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cary_Burkett
http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/main/features/creator.php?creatorid=553
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cary-burkett-5024087/
https://www.witf.org/author/cburkett/
https://docs.comics.org/images/0/05/DC_Profiles_30.jpg
For Jack C. Harris:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_C._Harris
http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/main/features/creator.php?creatorid=524
https://battleramblog.com/interview-with-jack-c-harris-golden-book-writer/
https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1760
Have a question or comment? Looking for more great content? Have a specific issue you love and want to talk to us about it?
- E-MAIL: batmanfamilyreunion@gmail.com
- Follow Batman Family Reunion on Twitter: @batfamreunion
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“Cloud Dancer ” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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What a lovely surprise, to have the show drop on a day I need cheering up. I’ve not had time to listen, I raced to the feedback to find out what, finally, after months of being told This is The Time, what the successor show will be, and it is…
… wait a few more months, guys.
GAAAAH. You might as well have said, coming soon, it’s Tomahawk Talk.
Thank goodness for Paul’s DC Special show news, I think a few of us have been hoping for that as the new show anyway. Will Shawn simply jump on board the Paul-Cycle after the six-month hiatuse (you’ve both earned a break), as Atom dived onto Hawkman’s hairy shoulder back back in the day?
Sticking my hand up, please let me play! I expect the biggies like Dinosaurs at Large and Earth-Shatterig Disasters are sorted, but I’ll take anything! That all-cops issue always intrigues me. Wanted is amazing. I’ll even do Strange Sports!
Anyway, back later…
“You get three guesses–and the first two don’t count–who is the guest on the Joe Kubert episode of DC SpecialCast.”
My money’s on Brett Young.
I should be. Also I heard he has a school for wayward youths
Ahhh! Coming in under the wire! This has been a terrific podcast that I was always excited to see in my feed. I love my Bat-cousins! Also, I brought Mrs. Negentropy’s pumpkin pie — appropriate for the end of the reunion and the time of year, and also it’s delicious.
Favorites:
Favorite Writer: probably should be Denny O’Neil for reasons that are or will become obvious, but he’s had so many other honors, and he’s still responsible for the kangaroo race story. Let’s call it a tie between Bob Rozakis, who had Robin call in Superman just to help him troll some villains and had Batgirl date a pretty cool soldier, and Cary Burkett, who handled Batgirl’s trepidation after being shot so beautifully.
Favorite Artist: Don Newton (runner up: Michael Golden)(Yes, I copied and pasted this from Brett’s. He was correct, and I have to go to work!). Also, honorable mention to Bob Brown for his rendering of Babs and Kathy Kane. Wow.
Favorite Bat Family Member: Batgirl (runner up: The Human Target, because chaos, and because being in the book makes it so, and because he whined about Taco Bell and drives a cool car.)
Favorite Cover and Comic: Detective Comics #483 by JLGL (PBHN) and Tatiana Wood
Favorite Story: “The curse of Crime Alley,” duh
Favorite Re-Print Story: “The Year 3000” with Brane, the future Batman, in Batman Family #3 from Batman #26. I always love Batman the insurgent!
Favorite unjustified callback: Frequent references to my teaching Shawn about fair play mysteries when it was Paul who taught me
Favorite firearm featured: the MAC-10, ’cause I never liked it, and I got to say so publicly. No, I’ve never fired it. Yes, I’m being unfair. It’s an inanimate object in a comic book. I can do what I want.
Thank you for this reunion!
Can’t wait to hear you both (and all your guests) in all your upcoming podcasts!
Favorite bat family history segment “ALL OF THEM!”
favorite stories the jokers daughter stories and the one with man bats crazy neighbor who thinks he’s blade the vampire hunter .
Also what is this fame you speak of I thought it was just a movie I never knew there was tv series .
Favorite food the slushy’s .
(Slurping sound ) (drinking a slushy grape in a custom Buster Keaton some made for they have drawn as he looked in his movie Sherlock Holmes jr so I think it counts since Sherlock Holmes has teamed up with Batman ). Jeremy is drinking a cherry one from a bathound cup
Great episode fellas, as always. Thanks for all the extra bits. Extra history segments, extra fake shows to follow up this show, the works!
Here’s my superlatives for the series:
Favorite All-New Story (other than #13 if that is your favorite) – Other than #13, “Bat-Mite’s New York Adventure” in issue #482
Favorite Reprint Story: “Ace, The Bat-Hound”
Favorite Writer: Bob Rozakis. I still think of this as HIS book.
Favorite Artist: Don Newton: Hard to pick over Aparo and Rogers, but again, this feels more like HIS book.
Favorite Cover: For Batman Family proper, #17. For Detective #487
Favorite Bat-Family History Segment: Kurt Schaffenberger!
Any other favorite item – food, Gabriel’s Horn item, ad, etc.: I loved all these segments, and for the record, I like Hostess Fruit Pies. My adult stomach doesn’t, but I still have fond memories.
I have loved this show from the beginning and will miss it. It has always been a great dive into not only the issue but comics at the time. And I have loved it despite the hate heaped on Fruit Pies, the superior Hostess snack.
I had this issue and it really has stuck with me because of the Crime Doctor story. (In fact, if you want to hear my thoughts you can find an episode of Who’s That I was on where Rob and I talk the Crime Doctor.) I try to put together the crumbs of what led me to life in medicine and I think this was one of them, not only for the ‘Hippocratic Oath’ stuff that the Crime Doctor uses (risking his life to save the person in the train station, not violating privilege, etc) but because that panel with him blanking staring after his poisoning has haunted me all my life. Newton’s art is fantastic as always.
The Black Lightning story was a sort of ‘very special episode’ but it also stuck with me as well.
As for my favorites – hard to remember everything but:
Favorite story – Bat-Mite’s New York Adventure #482
Favorite other story – The Eternity Book – The Demon also from #482 (That Michael Golden art !!!)
Favorite cover – Detective Comics #483
Favorite artist – Don Newton
Favorite history – Also Kurt Schaffenberger (given his Lois Lane and Supergirl connections)
I’ll miss the Gabriel Horn section and the Richie Rich countdown.
And look forward to the DC Special show. There is one with a killer Neal Adams’ Supergirl cover!
Bat-cousins, I had to scrap the spaghetti dinner. For some odd reason, the spaghetti noodles came to life and tried to strangle me like Tom Baker’s scarf in a Doctor Who episode. Guess that’s what I get for buying my spaghetti from some guy with two heads and three arms. Guess that’s what I get for travelling near Betelgeuse.
Admittedly, I’ve yet to listen to this episode a second time, but it will be coming soon. With impending doom coming soon, I figure I’m going to need to listen to the entire run of the Batman Family Reunion to escape and cope. In fact, that’s why I am glad I found this show and gave it a listen. The show has served as a great escape from the stresses of reality and enabled me to revisit a comic series I’ve wanted to revisit. I also got to remember some memories of reading some of the few issues discussed that I did own in my adolescence in the mid-to-late 1980’s. I remember the stories, the toys I wanted to get even though they weren’t being made, the snacks and gum that were still being made at the time of when I read these stories.
As to Detective 495, the Batman story was a great second-part story. Sterling Silversmith has some great villainous potential, but I think this may have been his last appearance for a good while. I feel making him a ruthless businessman obsessed with silver has some great storytelling potential. Wait, why am I telling you any of this? I have to save that! You never know when I may be slated to write a Batman comic. Ha ha ha!
The Tales of Gotham City was okay, but not wholly memorable. The Batgirl story did have a resolution to the Ray Beeler plot, but did have hints of storylines to come later on. I’m now curious to read the next few issues of Detective to revisit the Batgirl: Murderer storyline. The Black Lightning story was much better overall compared to last issue’s story. Gerald Forton’s art was much better in this issue. The poses and action made better storytelling sense and expressed the tension of the story more effectively. The Robin story…was there any resolution to this story? Anyone? Anywhere? Was it scrapped entirely since the Boy Wonder was appearing in The New Teen Titans? What was that one thing Robin had to do? Did he just quit college? Did Jennifer find out Dick was Robin? Did someone tell Carmen Sandiego where Suicide Slum was?
By the way, with the way the comic speculator market is, can we convince nutcase comic collectors that this issue was the first appearance of Cyborg and Starfire? Look at that ad in the Batcave letters page and tell me that’s not their first appearance. If a small ad in a Daredevil comic could be argued that Wolverine first appeared in that book…ehh, whatever…
So on to the favorites…
Favorite all-new story: Since I can’t say The Man Who Melted Manhattan, I will say the Man-Bat story from BF #12, The Dread Night of the Jaguar (also from the Batman Family digest) and 13 Points to a Dead End from BF #7, my first issue of the Batman Family series. From the Detective issues, Vengeance Vow/At War with General Scarr from Detective 492 and Ticket To Tragedy from Detective #481.
Favorite Reprint story: Challenge of the Man-Bat from BF #1
Favorite Cover: BF# 11 for its sheer absurdity, Detective #487 because it was a well-known image by Jose Luis Garcia Lopez…Praise Be His Name!
Favorite Writer: Because he is one of my favorite Batman writers, the nod goes to the late, great Denny O’ Neill
Favorite Artist: I’m split between Marshall Rogers and Don Newton.
Favorite food item: Zagnut Bars! Toasted coconut and peanut butter…mmm Good!!!!!
I do look forward to the DC Special podcast. I only have the last issue, which is one of my Top Ten favorite comics ever, but I’m sure that guest spot has already been taken. Still, I look forward to hearing about this series, but I do have one question. Are you including DC Special Series as well? There were some interesting books in that series, especially the Batman Spectacular issue. I’m sure I can free up some time from my busy schedule of brooding and sleeping to be a part of that Batman episode…
Paul, Shawn, thank you both for doing this podcast. I’ve enjoyed listening to the insight, the history, and the humor contained in every episode. I will be listening to every episode a third time, but just to hear how goofy and silly my commentary was on some episodes. So, until the utility belts don’t keep the Bat-Fam’s pants up, make mine…Superman Family!
Oh wait, wrong book! I knew I should have rehearsed that last line.
What-no more. Said ah well it was a good podcast while it lasted. Though ware will I make fun of Babs cloths within show gone ? A sad day. Still look forward to both y’all’s future podcast endeavors. Any way I’ll write more later.
Wanted to add I remember being dumbfounded by the next issue of Detective, and lamenting the death of the Dollar Comics format for the title. I was also flummoxed why Batigirl got to keep her strip and Robin didn’t. I had seen the ads for NTT, but didn’t manage to find an issue until like #13 or something, a full year later!
Thankfully World’s Finest and Superman Family (there’s that again!) stayed Dollar Comics for quite a while longer. But I definitely felt cheated that the Batman Family no longer got the same treatment!
Yeah, they dropped the dollar format real quick. I’m sure Wolfman and Perez wanting control of Robin for New Teen Titans caused them to drop his solo stories. I wonder if keeping Man-Bat or adding Green Arrow or Hawkman would have made Detective a dollar comic longer..
Thank you, Bat-cousins! This episode dropped at a great time. Last Wednesday morning while walking the dogs I needed the laughs and escape.
Oh, man, we’re at the end! This has been a great ride down memory lane, guys. The song choices this month have a theme; let’s see if you can pick up on it.
Batman – “Happy Trails” by Van Halen
If anything, this reread has really increased my appreciation for Don Newton’s art. Now, I would put him with Jim Aparo as my favorite Bronze age Batman artists.
Did the Crime Doctor ever have a name for his hideout? To keep with the theme, it should be the Crime Clinic.
Silversmith just seems like he should have a longer history in print.
BTW, Shawn, I used “Dropped a Bomb on Me” for the Batgirl story in #484. I’ve tried not to repeat songs, but I’ve been tempted.
TOGC — closing song to “The Carol Burnett Show”
I don’t mind Dan Spiegel’s art, but it depends on the story or series. He does capture the dark noir-ish mood for some of the Gotham City stories, and I liked him on Nemesis.
This had to be simple filler – “hey, Bob, in between answering questions, can you give me a 4 page Gotham City tale?”
Batgirl – “Goodbye to You” by Scandal
Cary Burkett set up a decent supporting cast for Babs. Good thing he gets to continue after the downsize.
Black Lightning – “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds
Well, this was a rough, gritty story??
Even after rereading, it seemed vague whether Ice killed the girl or sexually assaulted her. Some blood on the knife or have BL say “how could you kill her?” instead of “do this” might have made it clearer.
The whole dispute between BL and Henderson was great! He could have let Ice jump, but that would mean Henderson was right. After he caught himself calling the kid an “animal”, like Henderson did, BL knew he couldn’t.
Robin – ‘Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day
This seems like a really weird way to end the Dollar Comics run – with one of the characters leaving the book ending on a friggin’ cliffhanger??
Yeah, I don’t think we ever saw Robin break up the drug ring. There was the exchange y’all mentioned from the New Teen Titans preview, and a lot of tension between him and Batman as they took on Ra’s Al Ghul (a very underrated storyline IMO). Otherwise, he just left.
Did Dick even go back for his van?? Or try to explain to Jennifer everything in a way that she won’t tie together his leaving, Robin’s leaving, and her “Robin is a student” suspicion? Maybe Batman could pay him back for all the times Robin has stood in as Batman when someone has thought Bruce and Batman are the same.
Guys, this has been a fun ride. I’m looking forward to what you have lined up next, whether it’s Superman family, Richie Rich family, or Addams family. I had (and have) a bunch of those DC Specials and am looking forward to that.
Impressive podcast most impressive. So this is it Oy. Gonna miss it, but I’ll listen to y’all’s new projects. Still it is what it is. Nice cover. The crime doc I remember From him from the Animated Series. But, he was Rupert’s brother in that. And not a villain. He just worked on criminals because he lost his practice. He kind of looks like the villain from the Squadron Supreme. The order villain is not a bad dresser.
Points for style with the came.
It’s kind of a standard story.
Next the next was fine k guess the guy was a their after money and landed on the mattress the cash was in but he didn’t get the cash so the other mob guy did. K. The big version of Matt Murdock looks cool. Main guy meh. A simple enough look to him but that’s it moving right along.
Ah Babs at the end there. She is ….. the undisputed queen of…… tacky cloths. Gonna miss laughing at her bad choices in clothes. Green and a mustard orange ascot. Geez did she shop at the Elton John cloths out let? It’s a crime against eye balls. Ah the pain.
Next story the Black Lighting story was fine. Verry of it’s time, geez Jimmy got jacked. Next the Robin story was fine. I wonder why Dick just transfer to Gothem U or something?
Take the test at home in Gothem and boom . Only otgg he er thing I got is Geez that thug Robin is kicking. A purple and green our fit? Why? Just why? then the good hat on this Oy. And the boots don’t fit the look why not cow boy boots? And the lines on the shirt Oy.
As for my fav bit on the show? Probably Shawn singing True Colors or The Bat Shawn bit.
Alright cool. T’was a great podcast.
Hey, Bat Cousins, sorry I’m late, some blonde-haired fail son in a bow tie and shorts was trying to sell me on a pyramid scheme called Grit. Anyway, seeing how we’re packing up the picnic soon, I thought I’d go back to the beginning and bring some Turkey Hill iced tea and Tastykake Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes.
Amazing art from Don Newton to close this out. Sterling Silversmith looks like a life goals meme for every southern U.S. Senator. I appreciate the Crime Doctor wanted to disguise himself to skip town. But maybe dressing like ginger Grizzley Adams in an urban area isn’t the best way to blend in.
How should I feel about the Tales of Gotham City story? Like I’d rather read Bat-Mite.
Overall, the issue was okay. I see they couldn’t help throwing Vince Colletta into the mix for old time’s sake. The saving grace was the Robin story went full van. There’s so much van action in this story, I can’t help but wonder if big van was trying to influence teens.
Anyway, on to my Bat-Favorites:
Favorite Writer: Bob Rozakis (runner up: Denny O’Neil)
Favorite Artist: Don Newton (runner up: Michael Golden)
Favorite Bat Family Member: Batgirl (runner up: Man-Bat)
Favorite Cover: Detective Comics #482 by Dick Giordano/Rich Buckler/John Workman
Favorite Story: “The Tomb of the White Bat” – Batman Family #19 (my first BFR appearance)
Favorite Re-Print Story: Ace the Bat Hound” – Batman Family #5 ”
Favorite Team-Up: Commissioner Gordon and Alfred
Favorite Fight: Batman beats the dignity out of some thugs in the sewar – Batman Family #18
Favorite Villain: Chain-Saw Bandit – Ax hand and chain-saw hand! Hope he can carry the money with his feet!
Favorite Robe: The Huntress – Detective Comics #20
Favorite Pin-Up: “Sinisterly Yours, The Super Villains” – Detective Comics #484
Favorite One Semester Girlfriend: Jennifer. Not much for swim safety, but way less baggage than Lori.
Favorite Place to Relax with Evil Girlfriend: Talia Al Ghul’s cottage getaway
Favorite Gabrielle’s Horn: All of Don Newton’s thug fashion choices
Favorite Bat History Lesson: Making me feel bad for ripping on Don Heck.
Favorite Ad: Indoor BB Gun Fun! What could go wrong? – Batman Family #15
Most Horrifying Toy: Dan Greenfield’s Joker’s Daughter dolls
Best Gotham Real Estate:
Tired of parking your van in the woods with all the other vans because housing prices are out of control? Well, come on over to Gotham Realty. Do we have a place for you!
– Crime Doctor’s Underground Headquarters. Who needs a view and all those pesky windows to clean? Let the psychos have the abandoned warehouses and amusement parks. Go underground and set up your criminal enterprise in a cozy bunker with secret entrance. No neighbors!
– Gotham Maternity Ward. Does your birthing plan include a man-sized bat spreading his wings and flying around the room fighting a demon? This is the spot for you. Plenty of space and comfort to take your epidural as an agent of chaos keeps the room temperature for mommy and baby warm and cozy with hellfire.
– Man-Bat’s Gotham City Apartment. Can’t afford coffee? No problem. This 2 bed, 2 bath, cathedral ceiling apartment has a gorgeous view of the Gotham City skyline. Perfect for quick exits if you’re a human bat.
– Jim Gordon’s Mansion. Are you a civil servant on the take and don’t care who knows it? Head out of the city and into the burbs to flaunt your wealth in this spacious 17 room mansion. Complete wth a convenient maid who is only around if the story requires. Great space for entertaining murderous ballet dancers or resting up after being shot numerous times. Bonus, this secluded location is the perfect alabi for your vigilante daughter.
Well. That’s it. Gotta go, Great Aunt Ethel just fell in the duck pond after drinking too much spiked Turkey Hill iced tea. Thanks for all the fun, fellas. You did great.
First, about the issue. The Crime Doctor is fascinating, as he doesn’t come across as a supervillain who’s *EVIL*, rather a guy who’s bored with his job and going thru a midlife crisis and thought “I could either buy a Corvette, or plan crimes.” Keeping his medical principles makes him more interesting than yet another insane maniac or crime boss. (cough, Sterling Silversmith, cough) Lots of potential, but learning Batman’s identity forced this to be a short career. Ah well.
Gosh, another JM Dematteis story! I love seeing this early DC work of his. Much darker than the rest of the issue with that poor girl, and a little troubling that none of the kidnapped women had dialog, but I’m no writer, and maybe it would have made the death even more disturbing. Still, an interesting point in JM’s career.
Now, I am terrible at doing favorites, so I’m going to make up my own:
Favorite name for the not-happening-but-still-teased podcast: Superman Family Therapy
Favorite name I suggested for a podcast: Rags to Riches, the Ragman/Richie Rich podcast
Favorite Batman Family related podcast: Batman Family Reunion
Thank you for this great show, and I’ll be here when your new shows start. Also, thank you Shawn and Paul for your support of my podcast on the social media. I appreciate it so much. See you at the victory lap episode!
The final picnic! I am bringing Hostess Twinkies and Fruit Pies to throw on the barbecue. And leave them there.
I love Shawn’s idea for a Calculator style serial involving Batman Family members having to protect the doctor because he knows Batman secret identity! Someone wrote it.
I do disagree with Shaun that perhaps DC should’ve started with Don Newton style artwork on Captain Marvel when they brought back Shazam in the 70s – if it’s not like the original strips then why bother?
We really were spoiled that month, so much George Perez!
Gosh, not one but two but three Batman creator histories, thank you Paul.
Well done to Shawn for getting a mention of Patty Spivot in the Batgirl story recap. Let’s see you get Enrichetta Negrini into the Superman Family Feud show.
Aha, the secret origin of Richie Rich – is his real name G RITchie Rich? What kind of name is Grit for a newspaper, anyway? Heck, what kind of name is grits for a breakfast food? Grit is something you throw on the road when it’s icy.
When Shawn starts his Fame Fans show I want to do the Hi Fidelity Hi episode. Thank you.
Congratulations on your final regular show. I am horrible at ranking things, I’m far too lazy. I can tell you that Best Cover was anything that was in a box.
Congratulations on a fine end to this series. I’m looking forward to hearing all of the fake podcasts which were mentioned, and also the real one(s).
Issue 13 really was the best. I’ll have to thank my older brother for convincing my parents to buy it. But since we can’t pick that issue, here are a few of variations of the “top picks” categories
Favorite cover with characters wearing a crazy variation of their own costumes – the “wedding” cover to issue 11
Favorite writer who was also a guest on the show – Bob Rozakis
Favorite artist who also graduated from the same art school as my son 83 years earlier – Kurt Schaffenberger
Favorite long suffering spouse to a member of the Bat Family – Francine Langstom
Favorite Bat-history segment: Kurt Schaffenberger By a mile, and that’s accounting for the fact that they were all awesome, especially Fleisher (he became the academic researcher in Africa, right?)