Today in Comics History, December 24, Christmas Eve: The best Batman celebrates the holidays appropriately

from Batman: The Brave and the Bold #12 (DC, February 2010), script by Landry Q. Walker, pencils and inks by Eric Jones, colors by Heroic Age, letters by Rob Clark

The Eight Nights of Comic Book Hanukkah, Night Six: Bat Mitzvah

Once again, Sholly Fisch explains Hanukkah for us in the pages of a comic book! A Batman comic book at that! But don't worry: if you're tired of the same old Batman, have I got a guy for you:


from The All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold #14 (DC, February 2012), script by Sholly Fisch, pencils by Rick Burchett, inks by Dan Davis, colors by Guy Major, letters by Dezi Sienty

Today in Comics History, February 10: Happy birthday, Vigilante!

Born on this day in the DC Universe: Vigilante! Naw, not the guy on the Peacemaker show...the original Vigilante, Greg Sanders (later "under the name of Saunders"), the Singing Cowboy Crimefighter, Rogue with a Rope, Fighting Hero of the West!


from DC Super Calendar 1976 (DC, December 1975), letters by Ben Oda
Vigilante! Created in the pages of Action Comics by Mort Weisinger and Mort Meskin, he rode out of the west to sing and rope criminals, and he's all out of songs! But wait, he does have some rope and he's gonna lasso himself up some crime! Yee-haw!




from "[The Origin of the Vigilante]" in Action Comics (1938 series) #42 (DC, November 1941), script by Mort Weisinger, pencils and inks by Mort Meskin
"Next month: A thrilling Vigilante adventure!" And DC were better than their word. Vigilante appeared in the next issue of Action Comics and for the following 155 issues. Give or take a racist sidekick (ugh) or two, that's a lotta cow-punchin' adventures. (Dear Mr. Saunders: please do not punch cows. Love, Bully.) And he was a founding member of the Seven...or Eight, if you count Stripesy...or nine, if your count Wing...okay, okay, the Nine Soldiers of Victory!


from "Beware! The Black Star Shines!, Chapter 1" in Leading Comics #2 (DC/World's Best Comics, Spring 1942), script by Mort Weisinger, pencils and inks by Mort Meskin
Vigilante even holds the record as EDIT: one of the first DC heroes ever on film in a 1947 Columbia serial, played by Ralph Byrd (Dick Tracy). Start wondering now: "Gosh, how is he ever gonna get outta that cliffhanger?!?" Thanks to eagle-eyed commenter jmurphy for reminding my little stuffed brain that I'd forgotten the first DC serial was the 1943 Batman!


But you (and I!) probably know Vigilante better from his exceptional song-story "Grey and Blue: The Ballad of Batman" from the much-loved and -missed ('specially by me!) animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold!:


So happy birthday, Vigilante, and keep on dispensing both justice and trhose easy-listening cowboy hit songs of the Golden Age!

There Is No Hope In Crime Alley, Hour 6

Panel from The All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold #7 (July 2011), script by Sholly Fisch, pencils by Rick Burchett, inks by Dan Davis, colors by Gabe Eltaeb, letters by Dezi Sienty

Well, That'll Happen: Mayan End-of-Days Edition

from Batman: The Brave and the Bold #12 (DC, February 2010), script by Landry Q. Walker, pencils and inks by Eric Jones, colors by Heroic Age, letters by Rob Clark

Today in Comics History, Father's Day: Happy Father's Day, Bruce Wayne

from The All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold #10 (October 2011), script by Sholly Fisch, pencils by Rick Burchett, inks by Dan Davis, colors by Guy Major, letters by Sal Cipriano

366 Days with Alfred Pennyworth, Day 153

Panels from The Brave and the Bold #100 (February-March 1972), script by Bob Haney; pencils, inks and letters by Jim Aparo

Today in Comics History, April 22, Earth Day: Commemorating the Earth Day When Aquaman Saved the Entire Planet!

from Batman: The Brave and the Bold #4 (DC, June 2009), script by Matt Wayne, pencils by Andy Suriano, inks: by Dan Davis, colors by Heroic Age, letters by Sal Cipriano