The 1978 2017 2023 DC Calendar of Super-Spectacular Disasters: May-Hem

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published May 1, 2017.

It's May! For real this time, folks! (Thus contradicting Rocky, who told me that trick never works). And while you're out dancing around the maypole I've been slaving over a hot keyboard (owie! ouch! that's hot!) to bring you the constant variety of comics...the thrill of heroes...and the agony of villains...the superhuman drama of monthly big-ass brawls... This is The DC Calendar of Super-Spectacular Disasters!

"May: Batgirl and Robin" in The 1978 Calendar of Super-Spectacular Disasters; artwork by Dick Dillin and Frank McLaughlin
(Click picture to sequoiadendron-giganteum-size)

What's this?!? Our boistrous Boy Wonder and dominoed Dare-Doll perniciously pestered by pestilent plants powered by Poison Pivy? I mean Ivy. She's threatening beautiful downtown District of Columbia, and she has absolutely zero regard for those clowns in Congress who were voting today to cut down all the national forests to put up a really big parking lot. Also, they're voting to roll back the rights of women and children, stifle the press, raise our taxes, and give the President cushy not-so-much under the table kickbacks!

Hey wait, why are Batgirl and Robin fighting her?!? Some self-described social justice warriors they are.

To remind you of the Pre-Crisis distance in age between Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon (no relation to Gotham's famous Commissioner James Gordon*), this is the period when Dick attended the hallowed halls of Hudson University (good old H.U.! Home of the Fighting Robins!), and when Barbara was a United States Congresswoman! She represented her state which was... um... well... yeah, whatever state Gotham City was in. North Delafornia!


During the summer vacation, Dick worked as a congressional aide. WHOA HANDS OFF THE CONGRESSPERSON, GRAYSON!


Don't forget we've gotta get out our fine-line El Markos and blacken in all the squares on the JLA Satellite Computer Printout (© 1974 Wayne Industries)...


...to get ourselves a head-start on figuring out the super-secret genius behind all these disasters throughout 1978. Frankly, I'm just betting it's Outsiders foes The Masters of Disaster, which would be their cleverest trick yet, as they were not created until 1984.


Seriously, I've got to give it to the designers of this calendar: even though I have an inkling of who the answer is, I really can't tell yet from this graph and I can't even quite see where're they're going with this. Stay tuned and find out as I do!

Just in case, here's also May's entry in the Clue of the Month Club:


OH HOLY COW IT'S BRUCE WAYNE ISN'T IT?!?

* No, wait, Batgirl is a relation to Jim Gordon. I've made another one of my silly mistakes.

Election Day: Batgirl 1972!

Well, there's why Batgirl knew what day today is...she's running for higher office!


from "Batgirl's Last Case" in Detective Comics #424 (DC, June 1972), script by Frank Robbins, pencils and inks by Don Heck, letters by Ben Oda
(Yes, yes. It's entirely possible this doesn't take place in November. It is, after all, a "special" congressional election. But indeeed, in Gotham City, it is still Election Day!)

Today in Comics History, September 15: Happy birthday, Fay Wray!

Born on this day in 1907: actress Fay Wray, star of a whole bunch of films and TV (The Most Dangerous Game, The Richest Girl in the World, The Countess of Monte Cristo and more), but perhaps best known for monkeyin' around.



from King Kong one-shot (Western/Gold Key, September 1968), painted cover by George Wilson

Comics Do Shakespeare: Macbeth, Act 11: "Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind."

from "The Living Statue!" in Detective Comics #405 (DC, November 1970), script by Frank Robbins, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Frank Giacoia, letters by Ben Oda

Today in Comics History, January 4, 2002: So long, Vesper Fairchild...looks like you didn't survive the experience!

cover of Batgirl #27 (DC, June 2002), art by Damion Scott, Robert Campanella, and Patrick Martin

365 Days of Defiance, Day 91: Events like these are occurring right now on Capitol Hill

...well, maybe not exactly like this, but metaphorically pretty close, because here's Usurper President Benedict Arnold stringing Batgirl and Robin from a gallows and forcing them to solve The Prisoner's Dilemma:


Panels from "The Invader from Hell!" in Batman Family #1 (September-October 1975), script by Elliot S! Maggin, pencils and inks by Mike Grell
To quote another great American statesman, Haw haw! Barbara and Dick have worked together to defeat the deathtrap, both simultaneously sacrificing themselves but saving each other through cooperation. Now that's a team-up!


All your carefully constructed plans are now scrambled eggs, Benedict! And even our mysterious villain — could it be...Satan? (Yes.) — agrees that you can't fight the American Spirit! Especially when the American Spiurit is encased in purple spandex and little green pants.


This is the canonical first Batgirl/Robin team-up. "How did you and Dick meet, Barbara?" "Well, we fought the ghost of American traitor Benedict Arnold, who was brought back to life by Satan wearing a hastily inked g-string." "Ha ha ha ha! No, really, please!" "Um...we met on Tinder."


The Pre-Crisis DC Universe: There's no stopping us now from printing stories about The Devil and Benedict Arnold fighting Batgirl and Robin™.

Today in Comics History, March 4, 1980: Paul Levitz begins his successful second career as a doctor

from "Barbara Gordon...Murderess!" in Detective Comics (1937 series) #497 (DC, December 1980), script by Cary Burkett, pencils by Jose Delbo, inks by Joe Giella, colors by Gene D'Angelo, letters by Milt Snapinn

Behind the Music: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells

Happy holidays! Since I'm off baking and eating Christmas cookies, here's a Bully Blast from the Past, re-presenting a classic post (and now updated!) from December 27, 2011!

---

For years it has been a popular holiday favorite of school children everywhere.


But what began as an innocent playground skipping rhyme has become a vicious taunt...and a dangerous challenge...to one of the world's most renowned crimefighters. But with its sudden fame came an intense backlash as a tease by tots turned into a killing joke. For every peal of laughter, there's the tears...of a clown.


Its origins...unknown. Its derivation: lost to time. But again and again this sinister rhyme bedevils the crimefighters, both costumed and official, of Gotham City:


Panels from Gotham Central #14 (February 2004), script by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka, pencils by Michael Lark, inks by Stefano Gaudiano, colors by Lee Loughridge, letters by Clem Robins
...but none so much as the nefarious foes of Gothan's caped crusader, the Dark Knight known as Batman, and his cadre of costumed sidekicks:


Panels from The Batgirl Adventures #1 one-shot (February 1998), script by Paul Dini, pencils by Rick Burchett, colors by Rick Taylor, letters by Albert DeGuzman
But...are these lethal lyrics true? Does, Batman, in fact, smell?



Is it simply a malicious urban legend...or did the Batmobile really...lose a wheel?


Panels from Batman #408 (June 1987), script by Max Allan Collins, pencils by Chris Warner, inks by Mike DeCarlo, colors by Adrienne Roy, letters by Todd Klein
Many half claimed creatorship of the malignantly mocking music. The Penguin asserts he wrote it on a cold night in jail. Bane has been heard to hum it while cracking the backs of his victims. Two-Face says he wrote two lines of it. But is the author of this threatening tune actually...the one who got away?

Panels from Batman Adventures (1992 series) #28 (January 1995), script by Kelley Puckett, pencils by Mike Parobeck, inks by Rick Burchett, colors by Rick Taylor, letters by Rick Starkings
Or is this corrupt and criminal clown bedeviled as well by these loathsome lyrics?


Panels from Robin (1993 series) #85 (February 2001), script by Chuck Dixon, pencils by Pete Woods, inks by Jesse Delperdang, colors by Noelle Giddings, color separations by Jamison, letters by Willie Schubert
(Special thanks to CalvinPitt for ID'ing this panel for me!)
When we return...the truth behind the most criminal carol of them all!


(And now, these commercial messages:)





We're back. We've seen that the most dangerous weapon against the ebon-garbed hero known as Batman is the melodic mockery known as "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells." But the true origin of this torturous tune has been unknown...until now. Behind the Music now brings the world the true origin of "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells: What It Is and How It Came to Be!"




from "Batman Smells" in Bizarro World (February 2005), script by Patton Oswalt, pencils and inks by Bob Fingerman, colors by Dave Stewart
Next week on Behind the Music: is she really fighting for your rights in her satin tights...or are they made of polyester? On "Behind the Music: The Theme from 'Wonder Woman!'"

Today in Comics History, August 16: Happy birthday, Jason Todd!

Today in Comics History: Cyclops goes clubbing!


from Detective Comics #790 (DC, March 2004), script by Andersen Gabrych, pencils by Pete Woods, inks by Cam Smith, colors by Jason Wright, letters by Clem Robins
Hey, August 16 is also the birthday of Robin II, Jason Todd! Are ya gonna throw him a big party today, Bruce?


Oh. Whoops.

Today in Comics History, December 27: It has taken Barbara Gordon only four weeks to morph into Mary Jane Watson

from "Tall, Dark, Handsome — and Missing!" in Detective Comics #384 (DC, February 1969), script by Mike Friedrich, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Murphy Anderson

Today in Comics History, December 20: Bruce Campbell continues to ignore Barbara Gordon

from "Tall, Dark, Handsome — and Missing!" in Detective Comics #384 (DC, February 1969), script by Mike Friedrich, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Murphy Anderson

Today in Comics History, December 13: Batgirl has a hunch

from "Tall, Dark, Handsome — and Missing!" in Detective Comics #384 (DC, February 1969), script by Mike Friedrich, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Murphy Anderson

Today in Comics History, December 6: Batgirl's crazy for a sharp-dressed man

from "Tall, Dark, Handsome — and Missing!" in Detective Comics #384 (DC, February 1969), script by Mike Friedrich, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Murphy Anderson

Batman's Great Escapes Month, Day 23: I'm glad that DC has forgotten the subplot that Barbara Gordon was afraid of black people

Panels from "The Attack of the Annihilator!" in Detective Comics #508 (November 1981), script by Cary Burkett, plot assist by Wendy Beraud, pencils by Jose Delbo, inks by Joe Giella, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, March 6: Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane attempts rebranding

from Detective Comics #503 (June 1981), script by Gerry Conway, pencils by Don Newton, inks by Dan Adkins, colors by Adrienne Roy, letters by Ben Oda

Comics News for February 8, 2014

Top: from "The Last Days of Lois Lane!" in Lois Lane #27 (August 1961),
script by Robert Bernstein, pencils and inks by Kurt Schaffenberger
Middle: from "Bride of Destruction!" in Detective Comics #510 (January 1982), script by Cary Burkett, pencils by José Delbo, inks by Joe Giella, colors by Tom Ziuko, letters by John Costanza
Bottom: from "The Invisible Crimes" in Detective Comics #138 (August 1948),
script by Bill Finger (?), pencils and inks by Dick Sprang

365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 333: The Dazzling Debut of the Dominoed Daredoll*

House ad for Detective Comics #359 (January 1967); printed in Batman #189 (February 1967)
Comic cover art: pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Murphy Anderson, letters by Ira Schnapp
Ad designed and lettered by Ira Schnapp
*Yes, they really did call her that, both in the comic book...


Panels from "Batgirl's Costume Cut-Ups!" in Detective Comics #371 (January 1968), script by Gardner Fox, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Sid Greene
...and on the TV series:


Dominoed Daredoll!

Today in Comics History, October 14, 1973: Happy Birthday, Vesper Fairchild! Hope you survive the experience!

cover of Batgirl (2000 series) #27 (DC, June 2002), art by Damion Scott, Robert Campanella, and Patrick Martin
Check back here to see if she did on January 4, I guess.

365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 206: Super-Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves

House ad for World's Finest Comics #169 (September 1967); printed in Detective Comics #367 (September 1967)
Comic cover art: pencils by Curt Swan, inks by George Klein
Ad designed and lettered by Ira Schnapp

Today in Comics History: Barbara Gordon spots robbery at party, but can't tear herself away from those delicious crab puff hors-d'oeuvres

Panels from "Barbara Gordon...Murderess!" in Detective Comics #497 (December 1980), script by Cary Burkett, pencils by Jose Delbo, inks by Joe Giella, colors by Gene D'Angelo, letters by Milt Snapinn