This issue was almost certainly made available to the BATMAN show’s writers & producers, since all three of those elements appeared in early episodes. While the series’ fans are quick to point out its first episode is borrowed from BATMAN 171, this issue provides even more of the raw DNA.
BATMAN 176 (December 1965) is all reprints, & the first issue after sweeping editorial changes a year prior to revisit older material, including the first time Catwoman appeared in years, the only appearance of Mister Zero (later Mr. Freeze), & of the Dick Sprang-drawn “The Joker’s Utility Belt”.
Today, 59(!) years ago, the Greenway Productions BATMAN TV show first aired. It’s a show that looms large in my world, and that (at this point in my life) it’s fair to say I think about at least daily.
It’s hard to take “satire” seriously when the mouthpieces are “Harry Mann” and “Simpson Flanders,” let alone when what it has to say is so tiresomely threadbare…
Creators > characters
People > product
There's a lot of existing entertainment for folks out there. We haven't exhausted our watchlists. If we can't have the patience to wait for new whatever-the-fuck while people try to better their working lives against a gamed system, that's sad and unhelpful.
Old ad for original art by Jack Kirby and John Buscema
#timemachineplease
A comic book cover of a magazine called STAR JAWS, featuring Spider-Man in a space helmet & carrying a ray gun, flying towards the viewer in space away from the STAR WARS Death Star and the earth exploding. It is signed “Shaky”, aka Shaky Kane
The first issue has a Shaky Kane cover referencing that Steranko SHIELD cover, and I’m almost shaking at how excited I am to learn of the existence of this thing! I hope I’m able to find some copies!!
Over on Insta, I’ve only just learned of the existence of a self-published mini/fanzine out of the UK from a few years back called STAR JAWS that seems interested in deconstructing STAR WARS and superhero comics by way of SPIDEY SUPER-STORIES 31, the delirious mash-up issue.
the real kicker here is that if Watchmen had sucked or even just been so-so it would probably have reverted before the end of the 80s, it only stayed in print for one reason: it was good enough to literally change the entire business model for collections up to that point
Hello, world!
