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 (is Tomorrow): Say, what day is it, Barbara Gordon?

Why, tomorrow is Election Day! And Babs is here to remind you of that.


from Batman: The Adventures Continue Season Two #7 (DC, February 2022), script by Alan Burnett and Paul Dini, pencils and inks by Rick Burchett, colors by Monica Kubina, letters by Josh Reed
Don't let being all tied up stop you from voting tomorrow!


Don't worry, folks, she gets outta there. And then she goes and votes! You do that too!

Liberty Bell March, Day 2: Confess! Confess! Confess! Confess!

(slapping my forehead as a thought dawns on me) I shoulda called this feature Liberty Bell March!! Edit on 3/3/2022: I did. I'm not made of stone.

Anyway, you won't be expecting this!:


from "Isle of a Thousand Thrills!" in The Batman Family (1975 series) #3 (DC, January 1976), script by Elliot S! Maggin, pencils by José Luis García-López, inks by Vince Colletta

from "The Spanish Inquisition" on Monty Python's Flying Circus, series 2, episode 2 "The Spanish Inquisition"

Today in Comics History, February 19: Happy Batday, Birthman!

This is a combined, expanded and updated version of posts originally published February 19, 2012 and February 19, 2013.

On this bright and clear February 19 afternoon...what nefarious plot d'you think Alfred and Commissioner Gordon are up to?


from "Surprise! Surprise!" in Batman Family #11 (DC, May 1977), script by Bob Rozakis, pencils by Carl Potts, inks by Frank McLaughlin, colors by Bob LeRose
Why, on this day, (mumble mumble) years ago, Bruce Wayne was born! In other words, it's BATMAN'S BIRTHDAY! Why else do you think that Gordon and Alfred made that extended trip to Party City? Bruce loves Star Wars party supplies!

Today in Comics History, February 14: I hope that's a magic marker Cass is holding, and not A HUMAN EYE

variant cover art of Batgirls #3 (DC, April 2022), art by Rian Gonzales

Stuff Bully Got: Cool Comics from Housing Works!

I bought some cool comics at Housing World the other day! Yes, that is a Marvel comic book about M&Ms. And a Batgirl Purple Rain homage cover!

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™.