Happy 80th Birthday Neal Adams!

Above, Neal Adams and yours truly at the 2012 Comikaze Expo in Los Angeles.

by Armand Vaquer

Neal Adams, the comic book artist who many (including me) consider to be the definitive Batman artist, turned 80 today.

Adams recently was released from the hospital after a bout with sepsis. Thankfully, he overcame it and is enjoying his birthday.

It is hard to believe Neal Adams is 80. Then again, it is also hard to believe that I'm 67. But, there you go.

I became aware of Adams's work around 1967 when he started drawing covers for DC's Superman Family of comic books. Then, he started doing some Batman/Superman stories in World's Finest Comics.

Not long after that, he started illustrating stories in Batman and Detective Comics. And, around about that time, he took over the illustrating chores for the Green Lantern/Green Arrow series of stories in the Green Lantern comic book. Adams also illustrated Deadman stories, some included Batman. Those were great reads.

I got to meet Adams at the 2012 Comikaze Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center. I was there as a panelist on Godzilla.

Adams is still very much artistically active and appears at numerous comic book and science-fiction conventions around the country.

A big Happy Birthday to Neal Adams!

Shazam: Does every DC movie need to include Wonder Woman from now on?

It looks like DC is convinced any new film would flop terribly unless it includes Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot):

From Collider

DC Comics’ Shazam! (a.k.a. Captain Marvel) isn’t exactly a straightforward superhero when compared to his Justice League counterparts. Superman’s an alien from a dead planet, Batman’s a tormented billionaire, and Wonder Woman’s an Amazonian warrior princess; “Shazam” is an acronym/code word/name of a mysterious wizard that harnesses the power of six immortal elders in order to transform young, homeless Billy Batson into the costumed superhero, Captain Marvel. It’s a little unwieldy, but what makes the character fun and interesting is that he’s essentially a superhero that encompasses the innocence and imagination of a child with the appearance and abilities of a superhuman adult. There’s a lot of rich storytelling material here.

Luckily Zachary Levi gets this aspect of the character, a good thing, too, since he’s going to portray the hero in DC/Warner Bros.’ film. While promoting the two-part season finale of Tangled: The Series (which airs on The Disney Channel Saturday, January 13th at 8am), Levi spoke with ET about his excitement for the superhero role. The film’s April 5, 2019 release date will mark 20 years to the month that Levi has been auditioning in Hollywood, a milestone he marked in the interview along with praise for the film’s cast, script, and director David F. Sandberg.

“Wonder Woman, because she’s awesome. I think getting a cameo from anybody would be super cool, but I just think Gal Gadot is so effervescent. She has such a charm. And she seems like a really cool broad. Like, she was in the Israeli army. She’s a mom. And I’m like, ‘You seem like you’re grounded and cool, and you’re Wonder Woman, and you rock.’ And I think it would be really funny to have the 14-year-old Billy Batson inside of Shazam that’s really awkward around this beautiful Amazonian. I just think that would be really awesome.”

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Detective Comics #38 - April 1940 Issue - DC Comics

From View Obscura Comics

1995 Blockbuster Video Edition, Reprint 1st Robin appearance from Detective Comics #38.

$9.99 USD - Order Here

Cover art by Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson. Batman story, script by Bill Finger, pencils by Bob Kane, inks by Jerry Robinson.

When the owner of a traveling circus, named Mr. Haly, is confronted by thugs, they ask Mr. Haly to pay a "fine." He refuses to pay. His bestselling attraction, Flying Graysons, are killed "accidentally" while performing that night. The Graysons' young son, Dick, overhears an incriminating conversation between Blade, the killer, and his employer Boss Zucco. Dick plans to call the police. But Batman, who has attended at the show as the millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne, takes in Dick Grayson, instead of immediately pursuing the thugs. Batman trains Dick Grayson, already an excellent acrobat, how to become a crime-fighter. When a period of training is over, Dick is given a red, green, and yellow costume and adopts the identity of Robin, the Boy Wonder. Dick debuts as Batman's sidekick, and the dynamic duo hunt down the extortion gang, and their leader, Boss Zucco. Zucco's new plan is to demolish a skyscraper construction site (the Canin Building), but Robin and Batman defeat the gang in a dangerous battle on the high girders, during which Robin uses a sling to knock one thug off a steel beam and kicks a second gunman off another girder. Zucco is photographed by Robin in the act of pushing Blade to his death; this evidence is given to the police, leading to Zucco's conviction for murder. In the end, Robin swears to be Batman's partner forever.

Hollywood-style Batman Day At Warner Bros. Studios

Above, Batman and friends at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Did you know that July 23 will be Batman Day in Hollywood? Well, it is and there will be some celebrating at Warner Bros Studios.

According to Japan Today:

LOS ANGELES —Ker-pow! Batman is celebrating his 75th birthday this month with a series of comic-book, video-game and other events putting Gotham’s famed Caped Crusader firmly back in the spotlight. 

July 23 is officially Batman Day, and to mark the occasion in Hollywood, Warner Bros has organized a VIP studio tour including Batmobiles, masks, capes and other souvenirs of the Dark Knight. 

“The world has no heroes… Batman gives you some hope and some faith,” actor Danny DeVito, who played the caped one’s nemesis the Penguin in the 1992 movie “Batman Returns,” told AFP in an interview. 

Batman was born in May 1939, the creation of artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, who were tasked by DC Comics with creating a new superhero in the wake of the success of Superman. 

To read more, go here. 

Golden Age comics collection expected to fetch $1 million

From Comic Book Resources

The Golden Age comics collection of a Kentucky insurance executive is expected to bring more than $1 million in an online auction that ends Tuesday.

Among the about 175 comics being sold by John C. Wise through ComicConnect are Action Comics #1, All Star Comics #1, Detective Comics #27, Marvel Comics #1, Archie Comics #1 and Wonder Woman #1. However, the jewel of the collection may be a pristine copy of 1940′s Flash Comics #1, featuring the first appearances of Jay Garrick, Hawkman and Johnny Thunder.

“This copy is in incredible high-grade condition and is the second-best copy known to exist,” ComicConnect co-owner Vincent Zurzolo told The Associated Press. The current bid for the CGC-graded 9.2 copy of Flash Comics #1 is $91,000; the 7.0 copy of Action Comics #1 is at $75,000.

The record price paid at auction for a comic book is held by a near-mint copy of Action Comics #1, which fetched $2.16 million in 2011.

Wise, 62, began collecting comics at age 12, but sold them to buy a car when he was a teenager. Among his early finds was a $200 copy of Detective Comics #27, the first appearance of Batman, which he sold just a few years later for $400. “That comic today would be worth $1 million,” he told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “That’s an example of woulda, coulda, shoulda.”

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The Dynamic Duo - Batman 75th Anniversary - Batman & Robin - Batman Comic Book No 9 Cover - Poster Print

The Dynamic Duo - Batman 75th Anniversary - Batman & Robin - Batman Comic Book No 9 Cover - Poster Print

$10 @ View Obscura

This is a poster graphic print featuring an image from the cover of Batman no. 9 published in February 1942. The print looks amazing matted to 8 x 10 to 24 x 36 and framed and will make a great addition to your comic book collection. A must for all Batman fans!

This image was reworked by renowned California photographer Ken Hulsey.

Each image is a limited edition that is signed by the artist and numbered (1-50).

The image is printed on professional studio grade glossy paper by a professional photography studio not a home printer.

The item will be shipped in an acid free bag with a protective board to prevent folding or creasing.

Larger items will be shipped rolled in a protective tube.

Limited Edition: 50 numbered pieces.

Teen Titans DC Comics New 52 Batgirl Action Figure

Teen Titans DC Comics New 52 Batgirl Action Figure

$22.99 - Entertainment Earth

Based on her design from the monthly Teen Titans comic book! This Teen Titans DC Comics New 52 Batgirl Action Figure joins the DC Collectibles lineup. Measures nearly 6 1/2-inches tall.

Batman The Dark Knight The Joker 1:4 Scale Action Figure

Batman The Dark Knight The Joker 1:4 Scale Action Figure

$99.99 - Entertainment Earth

From Christopher Nolan's smash-hit film The Dark Knight, comes an amazing and exceptionally detailed 1:4 scale action figure of the Joker. Based on Heath Ledger's haunting portrayal, Joker stands a full 18-inches tall and comes with faithful accessories from the movie, like a knife, pistol, and machine gun, along with incredibly lifelike detail and interchangeable hands. This figure is a must for any fan of Heath Ledger and The Dark Knight films!


Heath Ledger's The Joker as an amazing 1:4 scale action figure!
Includes knife, pistol, and machine gun accessories, along with amazing lifelike detail.
Measures an incredible 18-inches tall!

Directly out of Christopher Nolan's hit The Dark Knight film comes an amazing action figure of the break-out character from the film - The Joker! Based on Heath Ledger's haunting portrayal of The Joker in The Dark Knight, no detail on this fantastic figure has been overlooked. Sculpted gloriously in the 1:4 scale, this amazing action figure measures a whopping 18-inches tall. Complete with faithful accessories from the movie like a knife, pistol, and machine gun along with incredible lifelike details and interchangeable hands, this is a must-have for any fan of Heath Ledger or The Dark Knight films!

Batman Arkham City ArtFX+ Statue

Batman Arkham City ArtFX+ Statue

$49.99 - Entertainment Earth

The Caped Crusader of smash-hit Batman: Arkham City comes to three-dimensional glory in Kotobukiya's premium format ArtFX+ statue! In his gray and black outfit straight from the game, Batman crouches, about to spring into action with the grapple gun he's holding.

From the best-selling multi-platform Batman: Arkham City video game comes none other than the Caped Crusader himself! This Batman Arkham City ArtFX+ features Batman in his gray and black outfit as seenBatman: Arkham City. Batman is perched in a battle pose atop a stone cornice. The Arkham City Batman ArtFX+ 1:10 scale statue stands approximately 6 1/3-inches tall with display base. The statue comes in a displayable window box.

Batman Classic TV Series 5 1/2-Inch Bendable Figure Box Set

Batman Classic TV Series 5 1/2-Inch Bendable Figure Box Set

Price: $27.99 - Entertainment Earth

Bend these 5 figures to your will! Twist and turn your favorite characters from the classic 1966 TV series Batman featuring Adam West, Burt Ward, Cesar Romero, and more with the Batman Classic TV Series 5 1/2-Inch Bendable Figure Box Set! Batman, Robin, Catwoman, The Penguin, and The Joker measure 5 1/2-inches tall and make terrific collectibles for those into vintage-styled toys. Bend and pose your favorite DC Comics superheroes and villains with the Batman Classic TV Series 5 1/2-Inch Bendable Figure Box Set!

‘Wonder Woman’ Gal Gadot Signs Three-Picture Deal with Warner Bros.

Gal Gadot, the Israeli actress who was recently cast as Wonder Woman, has signed a three-picture deal with Warner Bros., Variety has confirmed.

We’re told Gadot will play the role in not only the upcoming “Batman-Superman” flick, but in a Justice League movie and a Wonder Woman standalone film.

The Israeli entertainment show “Good Evening with Gai Pines” reported that Gadot will earn $300,000 per film.

The untitled “Batman-Superman” film was originally scheduled to open next year, but has been pushed back to May 6, 2016.

Batman 1966 TV Series Catwoman 1:8 Scale Model Kit

Batman 1966 TV Series Catwoman 1:8 Scale Model Kit

$34.99 - Entertainment Earth

If anyone can get under Batman's skin, it's that most feline of foes, Catwoman! This model kit features a remarkable likeness of the sensational Julie Newmar as Catwoman. She stands about 9-inches tall when fully assembled, stacked with accessories like a whip, Cat-pistols, and cat statues, all atop a Batcave rock display base.

Julie Newmar as Catwoman!
Includes optional whip, cat-pistols, and cat statues.
Requires paint and glue, not included.

If anyone can get under Batman's skin, it's that most feline of foes, Catwoman! Featuring a remarkable likeness of the sensational Julie Newmar as Catwoman, this Batman 1966 TV Series Catwoman 1:8 Scale Model Kit stands about 9-inches tall when fully assembled. The styrene kit includes an optional whip, cat-pistols, and cat statues, all atop a Batcave rock display base. Requires paint and glue, not included.

The Silver Age Batman Next For Hardcover Treatment

From IDW

IDW And The Library Of American Comics Next Team-Up!

Renowned for its Eisner and Harvey Award-winning archival work, IDW's The Library of American Comics will continue its collaboration with DC Entertainment by collecting the Batman's Silver Age newspaper strips in a matching format to the Silver Age Superman series!

Hot on the heels of the successful hit Batman television show starring Adam West and Burt Ward that resulted in what can only be described as "Batmania," the Batman newspaper strips debuted in 1966. Written by longtime Batman editor Whitney Ellsworth, with art by DC Comics giants Shelly Moldoff, Joe Giella, and Carmine Infantino, the newspaper strip was a huge success.

The first volume, reprinting all B&W dailies and color Sundays from 1966 and 1967, features an all-star list of Batman and Robin characters, including Catwoman, the Penguin, the Joker, Poison Ivy, and Batgirl! The 11 x 8.5" hardcover designed and edited by Dean Mullaney will feature a dust jacket cover by Pete Poplaski, and will be 256 pages, including an introduction by Joe Desris, "Ellsworth and the artists perfectly captured the flavor of the television show," Mullaney says. "It's a tremendous amount of fun, both as nostalgia and as a unique creation of its time."

Created in 1939 by Bob Kane, Batman has become an icon, a catalyst, and one of the most revered comic book properties of all time. With countless series, animated television shows, video games, and feature films under his utility belt, Batman perches on the top of American pop culture.

How Man Of Steel Stopped The Shazam! Movie

From Cinemablend

It was all the way back in 2006 that director Peter Segal became attached to direct the DC Comics movie Shazam!, a superhero film about the character best known as Captain Marvel. The project made a good amount of progress building towards production, landing John August to pen the script and Dwayne Johnson to play the villainous Black Adam, but despite its efforts the film wound up falling in Hollywood's dreaded development hell anyway. Given how popular comic book movies are nowadays, it's strange to think that a project as high profile as Shazam! could fall apart, but now the director has revealed to Coming Soon exactly what happened behind the scenes.

While Black Adam may have been Captain Marvel's big screen foe, the character's biggest enemy behind the scenes of Hollywood is Superman. According to Segal, Captain Marvel has always had a problem co-existing with the Man of Steel, as the two characters have very similar powers. As a result, any time that a movie about him has been in development it has been undercut by the guy in red and blue tights. Said the filmmaker,

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Has It Really Come To This? Gal Gadot Defends Breast Size For Wonder Woman Role In 'Batman Vs. Superman'

From The Playlist

From Jennifer Lawrence sharing her stories about producers telling her she needs to lose weight, to websites seemingly devoted to nothing but shots of sideboobs or actresses or musicians parting their legs as they step out of a car, being a woman in the biz brings with it a whole bizarre set of baggage. But in case you need a bit more evidence of how surreal it can all get, let's turn to Israeli entertainment show, "Good Evening with Guy Pines."

Gal Gadot, the "Fast & Furious" star who is suiting up to play Wonder Woman in "Batman Vs. Superman," was recently interviewed on 'Pines' and of course, the conversation turned to the superhero sequel. But the questions weren't about trying to dig up plot points, or how much of a factor the character will be in the highly anticipated "Man Of Steel" followup, rather it focused on Gadot's chest. Here's the excerpt

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DC Comics Joining DC Entertainment In Burbank

by Armand Vaquer

Above, DC's characters are prominent on a sound stage at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

DC Comics has announced that it is moving its last publishing vestiges from New York to "Beautiful Downtown Burbank" in 2015. It will be joining DC Entertainment.

According to the Hollywood Reporter:

In 2015, DC Comics will leave its base of operations for more than three quarters of a century when the publishing arm of DC Entertainment moves across the country from New York to join its digital and administrative divisions in Burbank, Calif. 

The move, initially reported as rumor this morning, was confirmed in an email sent by DC Entertainment president Diane Nelson to staff this afternoon. "The move is not imminent and we will have more than a year to work with the entire company on a smooth transition for all of us, personally and professionally," she wrote. 

DC Entertainment initially moved its multimedia-related offices to Burbank in 2010, a year after the formation of DCE as an entity within the larger Warner Bros. corporation.

Ever since I can remember, DC Comics has always been based in New York, with some operations in Sparta, Illinois. I still remember when DC was still National Periodical Publications back in the 1960s. I also remember their New York address back then: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York. Some things just get tattooed in one's gray matter.

Hopefully, maybe the change in scenery will work to the company's advantage to publish better comics. I am not impressed with their current offerings. With very few exceptions, the "New 52" stinks to high heaven.

To read the full story, go here.

Legal Steps To Prevent Al Platino Superman-JFK Art Auction Initiated

by Armand Vaquer

Above, artist Al Plastino with the 'splash page' of the artwork in contention.  Photo: Facebook.

It was good news that Heritage Auctions pulled the Al Plastino original artwork of "Superman's Mission For President Kennedy" and will investigate how it ended up in private hands instead of being at the John F. Kennedy Library, where it was intended.

But this is just a temporary withdrawal. However, steps are being taken to keep the artwork from going on the auction block permanently.

According to the New York Post:

But advocates for comic book artists say that since the art was never given to the museum, Plastino remains the rightful owner. Comic book publishers, they claim, only buy the publishing rights to an artist’s work, not the work itself. Publishers generally dispute this, and it’s an issue that’s been debated for decades. 

“He never gave up ownership of the art because DC never purchased it from him or paid sales tax,” asserted Kris Adams Stone, daughter of comic book legend Neal Adams. She added that legal papers are being prepared to halt the auction for good.

To read the full story, go here.

Was Al Plastino's Superman-JFK Artwork Stolen?

by Armand Vaquer

Above, the cover of Superman issue no. 170.

It is interesting that this story should hit now, since the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy is coming up next month.

There is a bit of a flap over some original artwork that appeared in the July 1964 issue of Superman (no. 170). The issue contained the story, "Superman's Mission For President Kennedy" that was penciled and inked by Al Plastino. In the story, Kennedy enlists Superman's help to get flabby Americans to become physically fit.

As I have this issue in my collection, I remember it well. On the very last panel of the story, it stated that the original artwork would be donated to the John F. Kennedy Library at Harvard University (at the time, that was where the library was planned to be located).

Above, the Plastino art. Note the last panel stating that the original art will be donated to the Kennedy Library.

According to a story at Bleeding Cool.com, the Plastino original artwork is now up for auction at Heritage Auctions. They are looking to get $200,000 for it.  Somehow, the artwork never made it to the Kennedy Library and they have no record of ever receiving it.

Artist Al Plastino is quite upset over this.

 He said:

Please help if you can. The art I donated and thought for all these years was being housed at the Kennedy library at Harvard is now being auctioned off on the anniversary of Kennedy’s assassination. And now I am finding out that the art may have never made it to the library. The archivists tell me there are no records of it ever being received. I asked for the art back and they will not give it to me. I asked for the consigner’s name and they will not tell me that either. They tell me I have no rights to my work and that it is too late to get it back.

I don't blame Plastino for being upset about his artwork, intended for the Kennedy Library, ending up in someone else's hands, possibly by theft.

However, the story gets more complicated.

The story was originally scheduled for Superman no. 168, but it was pulled when Kennedy was assassinated. This version was drawn by artist Curt Swan and inked by George Klein. The editor of Superman, Mort Weisinger, published an announcement in the current issue stating that the artwork would be donated to Jacqueline Kennedy.

Above, editor Mort Weisinger's announcement containing a panel of the Swan/Klein artwork.

Later, President Johnson asked National Periodical Publications (DC Comics) to publish it, and it is speculated that the Swan/Klein artwork was donated already, so it had to be re-drawn and Plastino got the assignment.

Herein lies the confusion or complication.

It appears that the Swan/Klein artwork may have been donated directly to Mrs. Kennedy and not to the Kennedy Library (I assume there was a foundation set-up to get the library built at the time). But, as it shows on the last panel of the Plastino version, his artwork was intended to be donated to the Kennedy Library. It is possible that both versions were intended to be donated (the Swan/Klein art to Mrs. Kennedy and the Plastino art to the Kennedy Library) by National.

Since it was stated on the last panel of Plastino's version that it was to be donated, how did it end up not going to the Kennedy Library, but eventually to an auction house in 2013? Could the artwork have been stolen? What happened?

Heritage Auctions should pull the artwork from their auction schedule, put it on hold (treat it as possible stolen property) and begin an investigation to see if the artwork was stolen as well as the chain of custody since 1964. That would be right thing to do.

UPDATE: Bleeding Cool reports that Heritage Auctions has withdrawn the auction for the Plastino artwork and will investigate.  For more, go here.

Batman Classics 1966 TV Series Batman Action Figure

Coming in September 2013

Pre-Order now and we'll deliver in September 2013 (estimated date / subject to change).
Item Number: MTY9634

Price: $17.99

Batman Classics 1966 TV Series Batman Action Figure:

From the classic 1966 Batman TV series! This Batman Classics 1966 TV Series Batman Action Figure features the Caped Crusader as he looked during the campy show, and features a realistic head sculpt of the iconic actor who played him, Adam West. Measuring approximately 6-inches tall, this action figure of the original live-action version of Batman is a great item for young and old collectors alike!

Celebrities: Adam West

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Canadian Superman Stamps

by Armand Vaquer

The Canada Post is issuing a run of Superman postage stamps in commemoration of the Man of Steel's 75th anniversary. The stamps depict the evolution of Superman through the years.

 The reason Canada has gotten involved is that Superman co-creator Joseph Shuster was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His Superman artwork is represented in the stamps.

 

Other artists' work that are represented include Wayne Boring, Dick Giordano, Neal Adams, Kenneth Rocafort and Jim Lee.

I do have one gripe about these stamps. The work of definitive Silver Age Superman artist, Curt Swan is not represented in this collection. That, to me, is a major omission on the part of the Canadian post office.

At least Swan's work was represented in a stamp in the United States when the U.S. Postal Service issued some DC Comics super-hero stamps in 2006 (left).

To order Superman stamps from Canada Post, go here.