Happy birthday, Bernie Wrightson!
According to the Comics Reporter, it’s the 63rd birthday of popular horror artist Bernie Wrightson.
He’s known as the co-creator of “Swamp Thing” and for his work on comic book titles from “House of Mystery” to “Batman: The Cult.”
I read “Batman/Aliens” from 1997 last night, a two-part series written by Ron Marz with art by Bernie Wrightson, and Wrightson does as well as anyone in making the alien creatures of the “Aliens” universe truly disturbing.
His work on “Creepy” and as an illustrator of “Frankenstein” have been reprinted in the past year, and are worth seeking out. Wrightson has recently worked with writer Steve Niles on projects including “The Ghoul” and “Doc Macabre.”
- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 1,608 Still to go: 403.
Avengers first look in EW; Beware the Batman cartoon; Walking Dead webisodes
First look at the Avengers are in Entertainment Weekly; the new Batman cartoon “Beware of the Batman” is set to debut in 2013; and Walking Dead webisodes are online at AMCtv.com this week on the Planet 46 
comics show.
REVIEW FILE: Penguin Pain and Prejudice #1, Huntress #1, Action Comics #2, Supernatural #1, X-Men Schism #5
Comics read in 2011: 1,540 Still to go: 471
2,011 in 2011 comic-book reading challenge: Week 38 and 39 recap
Grant Morrison’s “Batman and Robin” provided a solid chunk of the comics I read over the past two weeks, as did the new releases of DC Comics’ “The New 52.” That put DC Comics at 72 comics read of 108 read total in the past two weeks of my 2,011 in 2011 comic-book challenge. I am attempting to read 2,011 comic books in the calendar year. With almost 75.6 percent of the year over, I’ve read 1,535 comics, or almost 76.3 percent of the total comics I need to read. I’m ahead of pace, but just barely. Click past the cut for the full breakdowns of comics read.
Aquaman #1 and other DC The New 52 week 5 reviews
Here are brief reviews for the final week of #1 issues from DC’s “The New 52.” The final week was strong, with several titles that are worth adding to your pull list.
Grant Morrison’s “Batman and Robin” gives heroes new roles
Former Robin (and Nightwing) Dick Grayson took over for his mentor in “Batman and Robin” 1-16 by Grant Morrison. The dynamic of the Batman and Robin team is flipped from the traditional: Batman is the more upbeat hero, while young Damian Wayne, the 10-year-old son of Bruce Wayne, is a grim and determined (if bratty) avenger.
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Batman Year One DVD trailer; DC Comics’ sexy superheroines; X-Men Destiny videogame released
Batman Year One trailer shown in advance of Oct. 18 release; X-Men Destiny hits shelves; and DC Comics’ sexy superheroines cross the border in the Planet 46 Comics Podcast.
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Batman #1 out today!
I’ll get to a more in-depth review when I can, but I thought I’d remind everyone that Batman #1 is out today as part of The New 52 from DC Comics. It’s by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, and I highly recommend checking it out!
Also out this week as part of The New 52:
* BIRDS OF PREY #1
* BLUE BEETLE #1
* CAPTAIN ATOM #1
* CATWOMAN #1
* DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #1
* GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1
* LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1
* NIGHTWING #1
* RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
* SUPERGIRL #1
* WONDER WOMAN #1
And, if you’re a Marv Wolfman or George Perez fan, today is the release date for the LONG awaited New Teen Titans: Games!
- Matt Price
Happy birthday, Adam West!
Happy birthday to Batman himself, Adam West. I was in Austin last year when the mayor declared it “Batman and Robin Day” in honor of Adam West and Burt Ward, and these guys remain great ambassadors.
Canada’s Xtra has a new interview with West, where he talks about his career and his how he never cared for the term “camp.” He says in the interview he has devoted, and sometimes strange, fans.
“People come up and play entire scenes from Batman for me,” West said. “That’s a little strange. But it’s wonderful. In airports they start yelling, “It’s the mayor!” because of Family Guy.”
- Matt Price
Celebrating Batman artist Jim Aparo
Tony Isabella points out on his facebook page that today is the birthday of the late Jim Aparo, one of the finest Batman artists of the 20th century. Aparo died in 2005.
Aparo worked under editor Dick Giordano at Charlton, then followed Giordano to DC Comics. Aparo worked on Aquaman, Brave and Bold, Batman and the Outsiders, Detective Comics, and many more. In the 1980s, he was the artist responsible for the “Death in the Family” storyline in which the second Robin, Jason Todd, was killed. In the 1990s, he pencilled “Batman” #497, the part of the “Knightfall” storyline in which Batman’s back was broken by the villain Bane.
Aparo was one of a very few artists who would pencil, ink and letter his own work.
Two Morrows has an interview on its web site from the magazine Comic Book Artist with Aparo from 2000.
A hardcover collection of some of Jim Aparo’s Batman comics is set for release in April, 2012. According to the blog “The Brave and the Old,” a collection of “Phantom” comics featuring Aparo’s work is set for November of this year.
- Matt Price
Click past the cut for more Jim Aparo comics.
Action Comics 1, Batman 1 variant covers by Jim Lee, Ethan Van Sciver unveiled
Action Comics #1 variant by Jim Lee
Robot 6 has unveiled the variant covers to “Action Comics” No. 1 and “Batman” No. 1, part of DC Comics September relaunch, The New 52.
The Superman cover is by Jim Lee; the Batman cover is by Ethan Van Sciver. Click past the cut for the Batman cover.
- Matt Price
