By Tim Seeley, Javier Fernandez, Chris Sotomayor, Carlos M. Mangual
Once again I find myself in awe of this series. I continue to have barely any interest in Batman, or any of the other Bat-titles, but Dick Grayson’s solo adventures have held my interest for well over three years now. In that time, Tim Seely (with co-writing credit to Tom King on Grayson) has built an impressive tapestry around Richard Grayson. It’s only now that things start to come full circle. Continue reading This Week’s Finest: Nightwing #26→
By Tim Seeley, Marcus To, Chris Sotomayor, Carlos M Mangual
Following (the new/old) Superman’s advice, Dick Grayson has moved to Bludhaven in order to reestablish himself as a hero and a man. As these things go, Dick has had to adjust to life in a new city with new friends and enemies… Continue reading This Week’s Finest: Nightwing #12→
“Everyone whose life has ever been touched by random, tragic chance has come away from it changed . . .” –Alan Brennert
Dick Giordano
In 1989, as part of their celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of Batman, DC printed a series of testimonials about the enduring importance of The Dark Knight. These ran in the back pages of Detective Comics #598-600 as postscripts to Sam Hamm and Denys Cowan’s Blind Justice serial. Most of the remembrances covered the familiar territory of how Batman stood apart as the non-powered hero who was most relatable to the average reader. A couple stood outside the pattern, though. Stan Lee, as if he were auditioning to write a Demon series, turns in a rhyming poem which somehow manages to be silly and grandiose at the same time. Adam West reflects on the then rare privilege of playing a superhero on screen. Writer Alan Brennert took a different track. His focus is not on the tragedy of Bruce Wayne, but the ideals of the Batman. For him, the hero’s sense of justice is what makes him so popular. It is not the anger which defines him; it is how he “channel[s] that anger into something constructive.” Batman is a creature of justice, not madness.
Alan Brennert has had a long career writing for different mediums. His most prominent work has been as a producer/writer in television, where he won an Emmy for L.A. Law. He has authored several prose novels as well. His contributions to comic books are sparser, yet, significant. His handful of issues include two of the all-time great Batman tales: “The Autobiography of Bruce Wayne” and “To Kill a Legend.” “Autobiography” (The Brave and the Bold #197, 1983) remains the best treatment of the long, tangled relationship between Batman and Catwoman. “To Kill a Legend” appeared in 1981 as the lead tale of Detective Comics #500. In it, Brennert delves deep into the origins of The Dark Knight, emerging with a fresh, fascinating take on the iconic character.
Growing up is never fun, but it can be funny. Childhood cartoons constantly used the concept of childhood and adulthood as fodder for humor and stories, but what can we learn from aging in cartoons that could be applied to our favorite comic characters?
Over the past couple weeks, Nothing But Comics has been providing a variety of coverage on the 2015 New York Comic Con. From the creators to the cosplayers they inspire, we have offered reflections on the different facets of fandom. The last in this series of articles is a compilation of comments from some of the panels attended during the convention.
Coverage of Valiant’s Book of Death and Beyond Panel can be found here & here.
At the Dark Horse Comics Classified Panel, there were a few announcements, but the main pleasure was hearing the creators discuss their craft. These observations included a healthy sense of humor, such as when Matt Kindt was asked what it was like playing the role of both writer and artist on a series. He replied that collaborating with himself was a pleasure, as “most of my deadlines get along.” For his part, Brian Wood offered that he always wants to be enthusiastic about the art in one of his titles. His wish is to be a “fanboy” of it just like any other reader. Continue reading NYCC: Panel Roundup→
