Batman's Great Escapes Month, Day 2: Beam me up, Alfred

Panels from Detective Comics #466 (December 1976), script by Len Wein, pencils by Ernie Chan, inks by Vince Colletta

Batman's Great Escapes Month, Day 1: Keep Your Eye on the Batman

As the late great Mr. Sammy Davis Jr. once reminded us, "keep your eye on the sparrow."



But if Sammy Davis Jr. had ever lived in Gotham City...



Okay, okay, point taken. Because Sammy Davis Jr. lived in Gotham City, he ought to have sung "keep your eye on the Batman." Because you know the moment you turn your back, for even just one glance at the rainswept city reflected in a moody noir fashion in your glasses, Batman will disappear on you.


Panel from Detective Comics #476 (March-April 1978), script by Steve Englehart, pencils by Marshall Rogers, inks by Terry Austin, colors by Glynis Wein, letters by Milt Snapinn
What can we take from this? First, Batman does not enjoy long goodbyes. Second, Batman is the World's Greatest Escape Artist, because there's no conversation he can't slip away from surreptitiously.

That's what August is all about. This month, all month, it's a celebration of Batman's Great Escapes, all those times he didn't stick around to hear the parting words of Commissioner Gordon (or, indeed, pretty much anybody else). If you've ever wanted to get out of a phone conversation by shooting the receiver and muttering "boring conversation anyway," take a tip from the Caped Crusader and learn, every day in August, how Batman is here today and gone today!

Top Ten other Avengers NOW changes fans are furious about

• 10. Asian Ant-Man
• 9. Inuit Black Panther
• 8. Native American Rick Jones
• 7. Even more New Universe characters join the Avengers, including Kickers Inc.
• 6. Dr. Druid
• 5. Dead Wolverine
• 4. Plaid Hulk
• 3. The new Mantis is Vietnamese and also a prostitute. Oh wait
• 2. Teen Iron Patriot
• 1. New milk chocolate Jarvis the butler melts in your mouth, not in your hand

Bear Attack! Month 2014, Day 31: I saved the bearst for last

Panels from Teen Titans (1966 series) #8 (March-April 1967), script by Bob Haney, pencils by Irv Novick, inks by Jack Abel, letters by Stan Starkman

Bear Attack! Month 2014, Day 30: 99 Bottles of Bear on the Wall

Panels from "Ursus the Ultra-Bear!" in The Age of the Sentry #2 (November 2008), script by Jeff Parker, pencils by Nick Dragotta, inks by Gary Martin, colors by Val Staples, letters by Dave Lanphear

Today in Comics History, July 29, 1985: First issue of Jim Shooter/Power Man Team-Up premieres

from Swamp Thing (1985 series) #41 (October 1985), script by Alan Moore, pencils by Stephen R. Bissette, inks by Alfredo Alcala, colors by Tatjana Wood, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, July 29, 2009: Ben Grimm had better have a darn good explanation

from Fantastic Four #569 (Marvel, September 2009), plot by Mark Millar, script by Joe Ahearne, pencils by Stuart Immonen, inks by Wade Von Grawbadger and Scott Hanna, colors by Paul Mounts and Dean White, letters by Rus Wooton

Bear Attack! Month 2014, Day 29: Bearcause you demanded it

Showcase! The exciting 1950s DC comic which features the stories you demanded!


"The Story Behind Showcase" from Showcase #1 (March-April 1956), script by Jack Schiff, pencils and inks by Win Mortimer
OKAY THEN SO WHICH ONE OF YOU DEMANDED THIS?!?




Panels from "Runaway Bear" in Showcase #2 (May-June 1956), pencils and inks by Russ Heath

Bear Attack! Month 2014, Day 28: How to Get Ahead in Bearsness

Panels from Harley Quinn (2014 series) #6 (July 2014), script by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, pencils and inks by Chad Hardin, colors by Alex Sinclair, letters by John J. Hill

Gwen of a Kind

(More Ten of a Kind here.)

Bear Attack! Month 2014, Day 27: Number 3 is trying to find her arm

Panels from Detective Comics #511 (February 1982), script by Gerry Conway, pencils by Don Newton, inks by Frank Chiaramonte, colors by Adrienne Roy, letters by John Costanza