Today in Comics History, January 1, New Year's Day: Don't put words in his mouth

from Batman: The Adventures Continue (2020 series) #8 (DC, March 2021), script by Alan Burnett and Paul Dini, pencils by Ty Templeton, inks by Sean Parsons, colors by Monica Kubina, letters by Josh Reed
Check out Robin's happy face!!!

Today in Comics History, December 31, 11:55 PM, New Year's Eve: Jingle Bells, Joker Smells

from Batman: The Adventures Continue (2020 series) #8 (DC, March 2021), script by Alan Burnett and Paul Dini, pencils by Ty Templeton, inks by Sean Parsons, colors by Monica Kubina, letters by Josh Reed

Today in Comics History, December 31, 6:36 PM, New Year's Eve: Batman is here

from Batman: The Adventures Continue (2020 series) #8 (DC, March 2021), script by Alan Burnett and Paul Dini, pencils by Ty Templeton, inks by Sean Parsons, colors by Monica Kubina, letters by Josh Reed

Today in Comics History, December 31, New Year's Eve: Oooh, Joker, I really hate to tell you this about HBO Max, but...

from Batman: The Adventures Continue (2020 series) #8 (DC, March 2021), script by Alan Burnett and Paul Dini, pencils by Ty Templeton, inks by Sean Parsons, colors by Monica Kubina, letters by Josh Reed

Today in Comics History, December 24, Christmas Eve: Deck the Halls with Boughs and Harley

from Batman: The Adventures Continue #8 (DC, March 2021), script by Alan Burnett and Paul Dini, pencils and inks by Ty Templeton, colors by Monica Kubina, letters by AndWorld Design
SWEATER

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!

Today in Comics History, March 2: Happy birthday, Laraine Newman!

Born today, so ya better wish her a happy birthday: Laraine Newman, actor, writer, and comedian! She was one of the first generation of Saturday Night Live's Not-Ready-for-Prime-Time Players (and you know what that means, Marvel Team-Up collectors!) as well as appearing in films, TV shows, and as a voice actress for some fairly big animated movies like Despicable Me and its sequels, The Secret Life of Pets, Sing, Wreck-It-Ralph, Toy Story 3, Monsters Incorporated and many more! She was also one of the two voices of Batman villain Baby Doll from Batman: The Animated Series (the other was Alison La Placa).


from Batman: The Adventures Continue #6 (DC, March 2021), script by Alan Burnett and Paul Dini, pencils by Ty Templeton, inks by Ty Templeton and Sean Parsons, colors by Monica Kubina, letters by AndWorld Design
But Laraine's biggest starring role in a comic book has got to be the one we always turn to when we get to celebrate a SNL alumni, the one that'll never get a reprint so it's best to look for it in the longboxes at your LCS: Marvel Team-Up #74, teaming up the original* *okay, the second season Not-Ready-for-Prime-Time Players with your friendly 30 Rock-visiting Spider-Man!



cover of Marvel Team-Up #74 (Marvel, October 1978), pencils and inks by David Cockrum, Saturday Night Live pencilled and inked by Marie Severin, letters by Irv Watanabe
Here's a cramped corner panel to introduce everyone: Laraine is at the upper-right in green, and clockwise from her: John Belushi, Jane Curtain, Garrett Morris, DeForest Kelley, Jimmy Carter, and that's NBC anchorwoman Maria Shriver comin' in though the door.


from Marvel Team-Up #74; script by Chris Claremont, pencils by Bob Hall, inks and colors by Marie Severin, letters by Gaspar Saladino and Annette Kawecki
You, readers of my blog, well-know this story by now: Belushi has accidentally come into possession of a high-tech ring belonging to the Silver Samurai, and his goons are scouring the NBC Studios looking for it, faced off by Spider-Man and the cast of the show. Here's Laraine dressed up as Ms. Marvel for a skit. Excuse me while my eyes momentarily bug out over the table and my tongue rolls out to make a carpet. ... Ahem. That's better.


And she helps out Dan Ackroyd attack the baddies in full military style using fire extinguishers. Hey, you kids! Those aren't for fooling around with! Make sure Lorne has these recharged after this stunt!


Now, if you're feeling clever, you might proclaim at moi right now: "Hey, Laraine Newman played Connie in SNL's Conehead sketches, and Marvel did a Coneheads miniseries, so she also appears in that!" And you would be wrong, for I am nothin' if not a little stuffed nit-pickler. The Marvel Coneheads comics are based upon the Coneheads movie (1993), and Laraine did not play Connie in the movie: Michelle Burke (Dazed and Confused did! (Laraine did appear briefly in the movie as alien Laarta, but that character's not in the comic book.)

So with a hearty thank you to Marvel Team-Up #74, we bid a very happy birthday to Laraine Newman!

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!'"

A Month of... There Is No Hope in Crime Alley, Night 19: The night Joe Chill ran in spirals

Panels from Batman Adventures (2003 series) #17 (October 2004); script by Ty Templeton, pencils by Rick Burchett, inks by Terry Beatty, colors by Heroic Age, letters by Pat Brosseau

Today in Comics History, January 1: Batman does not care for cheesesteaks

from "Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot" in The Batman Adventures Holiday Special one-shot (DC, January 1995), script by Paul Dini, pencils and inks by Dan Riba, colors by Bruce Timm, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, December 31, New Year's Eve: The Secret Origin of the Liberty Bell: What It Is and How It Came to Be

from "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" in The Batman Adventures Holiday Special one-shot (DC, January 1995), co-plot by Bruce Timm, co-plot and script by Paul Dini, pencils by Kevin Altieri, inks by Butch Lukic, colors by Glen Murakami, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History: The rock tumbler is invented

Panel from The Batman Adventures v.1 #34 (August 1995), script by Kelly Puckett, pencils by Mike Parobeck, inks by Rick Burchett, colors by Rick Taylor, letters by Tim Harkins

366 Days with Alfred Pennyworth, Day 365

Page from Batman Adventures v.2 #10 (March 2004), script by Dan Slott, pencils by Rick Burchett, inks by Terry Beatty, colors by Zylonol, letters by Phil Balsman

Today in Comics History: The opening number to the Batman Family Christmas TV Special goes a little bit overboard

Splash panel from "White Christmas" in The Batman Adventures Holiday Special one-shot (January 1995); script by Paul Dini; pencils, inks, and colors by Glen Murakami; letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, December 20: Contradicting Fleetwood Mac, Batman prefers thinking about yesterday

from Batman Adventures (1992 series) #28 (DC, January 1995), script by Kelley Puckett, pencils by Mike Parobeck, inks by Rick Burchett, colors by Rick Taylor, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History: I shamelessly attempt to boost my blog hits by posting Harley and Ivy comics

Page from "The Harley and the Ivy" in The Batman Adventures Holiday Special one-shot (January 1995); co-plot by Paul Dini; co-plot, script, pencils, inks, and colors by Ronnie Del Carmen; letters by Richard Starkings

The Eight Nights of Comic Book Hanukkah, Night One: Harley Quinn is hard on her Hanukkah gifts

from "The Harley and the Ivy" in The Batman Adventures Holiday Special one-shot (DC, January 1995); co-plot and script by Paul Dini; co-plot, pencils, inks and colors by Ronnie Del Carmen; letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History: You better not pout. I'm telling you why.

Splash page from "Jolly Ol' St. Nicholas" in The Batman Adventures Holiday Specials one-shot (January 1995); script by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm; pencils, inks, and colors by Bruce Timm; letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, December 1: Only twenty-four more swooping days until Christmas

from The Batman Adventures Holiday Special one-shot (DC, January 1995), script by Paul Dini, pencils and inks by Dan Riba, colors by Bruce Timm, letters by Richard Starkings

366 Days with Alfred Pennyworth, Day 314

Panels from Batman: The Lost Years #1 (January 1998), script by Hillary Bader, pencils by Bo Hampton, inks by Terry Beatty, colors by Lee Loughridge, letters by Tim Harkins