Today in Comics History, March 20: Happy birthday, Robin I (Dick Grayson, Post-Zero Hour)!

Hey Batman, what day is it?


from "A Little Nudge" in Robin 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 one-shot (DC, May 2020), script by Marv Wolfman, pencils by Tom Grummett, inks by Scott Hanna, colors by Adriano Lucas, letters by Tom Napolitano
Batman, you're a bad dad, because today's the birthday of your faithful ward, Dick Grayson, aka Robin I! But: only the post-Zero Hour hero. It's November 11 in the Pre-Crisis days and October 24-ish post-Crisis. Geez, Dick, pick one birthday and settle on it!


from the impeccably researched The DC Universe Calendar
Anyway, we're gonna celebrate today.

Today in Comics History, March 7: Happy birthday, Alan Weiss!

Born on this day: Alan Weiss, comics book and artist (Steelgrip Starkey, Our Love Story, My Love, Tom Strong, The Avengers, Daredevil, Sub-Mariner, Amazing Spider-Man, KISS, Daring Escapes, National Lampoon and more)!


from (left) The Mighty Marvel Calendar 1979 (Marvel, 1978);
(right) from Marvel Age 51 and 87 (Marvel, June 1987 and April 1990); text by Mike Carlin (#51) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#87); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Paul Becton (#51) and Gregory Wright (#87)

Today in Comics History, June 20: Kory gets more dressed than she ever has in her entire life

cover of The New Teen Titans (1984 series) #12 (DC, September 1985), pencils by Paris Cullins, inks by Romeo Tanghal, colors by Anthony Tollin, letters by Gaspar Saladino

Today in Comics History, June 14: Flag Day Bonus: Batman: Fightin' Mad About Flags

from "The First American Detective!" in Batman (1940 series) #44 (DC/National, December 1947), script by Bill Finger (?), pencils by Jim Mooney, letters by Ira Schnapp

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.

Today in Comics History, December 25, Christmas: Through the years we all will be together, if the fates allow / Hang a shining star upon the highest bow...

And have yourself a Merry Little Christmas now.


from Batman: One Bad Day: Mr. Freeze #1 one-shot (DC, January 2023), script by Gerry Duggan, pencils and inks by Matteo Scalera, colors by Dave Stewart, letters by Deron Bennett

Today in Comics History, September 12: Robin attempts to sum up a case to the tune of the theme from Fresh Prince

from Young Justice (2011 series) #17 (August 2012), script by Kevin Hopps and Greg Weisman, pencils and inks by Christopher Jones, colors by Zac Atkinson, letters by Dezi Sienty

Today in Comics History, August 19: At last, it's "Batman's Mysteries on the Moon!"

from Young Justice (2011 series) #11 (February 2012), script by Greg Weisman, pencils by Christopher Jones, inks by Dan Davis, colors by Zac Atkinson, letters by Dezi Sienty

Today in Comics History, July 15, 1982: It doesn't actually have a time attached to it, but we've invested so much in this story, I just wanted to let you know Batman and Robin are A-OK

from Batman Annual (1961 series) #8 (DC, October 1982), script by Mike W. Barr, pencils and inks by Trevor von Eeden, colors by Lynn Varley, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, July 15, 1982, 4:35 AM: Robin assures Talia that they'll find her labradoodle

from Batman Annual (1961 series) #8 (DC, October 1982), script by Mike W. Barr, pencils and inks by Trevor von Eeden, colors by Lynn Varley, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, July 14, 1982, 2:17 PM: Getting Robin and keeping him are not quite the same thing

from Batman Annual (1961 series) #8 (DC, October 1982), script by Mike W. Barr, pencils and inks by Trevor von Eeden, colors by Lynn Varley, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, July 14, 1982, 2:15 PM: Oh, stop it with the Red Hood disguises, Dick

from Batman Annual (1961 series) #8 (DC, October 1982), script by Mike W. Barr, pencils and inks by Trevor von Eeden, colors by Lynn Varley, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History July 14, 1982, 2:10 PM: Mayor McCheese is implicated

from Batman Annual (1961 series) #8 (DC, October 1982), script by Mike W. Barr, pencils and inks by Trevor von Eeden, colors by Lynn Varley, letters by John Costanza

There Is No Hope in Crime Alley, Night 27: There Is No Hope at Haley's Circus

As we saw a few days ago, the death of Dick Grayson's parents occurred on June 27 — a day after the anniversary of the death of Bruce Wayne's parents. Maybe he went to that circus to cheer himself up?


from Nightwing (1995 series) #1 (DC, September 1995), script by Dennis O'Neil, pencils by Greg Land, inks by Mike Sellers, colors by Cathi Bertrand, letters by John Costanza
Naturally, that means that June 27 is a major day in the life of Robin/Nightwing, and even more than Batman, his friends gather around him to support him on those days.


from Identity Crisis #1 (DC, August 2004), script by Brad Meltzer, pencils by Rags Morales, inks by Michael Bair, colors by Alex Sinclair, letters by Ken Lopez
But hey! Identity Crisis?! No way, Dick Gray! (son) Let's focus instead on a good comic book that shows his titanic pals coming to Robin's support on this day.


from "Regarding Robin" in Teen Titans Go! (2004 series) #47 (DC, November 2007), script by J. Torres, pencils and inks by Michael Chang, colors by Heroic Age, letters by John J. Hill
First Cyborg, then Beast Boy, is attentive to his mood. Somewhere in there I hope they offered to make him waffles. Raven is especially attuned to his mood. Well, considering who her father is, she probably wishes he had died in a freak circus accident. "Oh no! The amazing Trigon had fallen from the Big Top!"


Awwwwwwww. Your heart must be made of stone if you don't feel just a little bit sad about this scene.


And good for Starfire! Using her Tamaranean empathy (and cute big green eyes) to comfort Robin.


Maybe this isn't something Batman oughta be spying on, ya voyeur, Bruce.


Seriously, a sweet story, and a reminder that there is hope in Titans Tower.

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"

365 Days of Defiance, Day 253: Deep underwater is where I left my love

Where are Batman and Robin this week? Gotham City? Blüdhaven? It's Markovia, right? I bet it's Markovia.


Panels from "Atlantis Goes to War!" in Batman (1940 series) #19 (October-November 1943), script by Don Cameron, pencils and inks by Dick Sprang, letters by George Roussos
AW HECK NO it's Atlantis! So you just know that Batman's gonna meet Aquaman. Or maybe Sub-Mariner. Wouldja believe Mark Harris?

But actually no! With his usual Batluck, he's meeting Nazis! Hey, have you ever seen Batman do a double-take? Study this panel carefully!


And hey, it turns out that the Prince is a double of Robin! Yes, this is the story where Robin dies and the Prince of Atlantis takes his place for the next 40 years! Naw, I'm jus' foolin' ya. But this is a Prince and the Pauper riff. With Nazis!


Robin strikes back against Atlantian Centurions! (Hey, why doesn't that armor rust?) Also: a face-off with his double! This is the scene where he and the Prince fight and Batman has to decide which one of them to shoot.


Dick knocks out the Prince and impersonates him in order to save Batman, who's about to be executed. But the Nazis prove to be treacherous scum. (Of course.)


Batman is freed and Atlantis shakes off the duplictious Nazis thanks to the decrees of the Atlantean Princess, with whom Dick Grayson has fallen in love!


Aw, don't mope, Dick. I'm sure there'll be another princess for you to fall in love with coming along in a dec ade or four.


Anyway! Punch Nazis, on the ground and under water.

There Is No Hope in Crime Alley, Night 27: There Is No Hope at Haley's Circus

No month-long flashback to the death of Martha Kane (and husband Doctor Tom) is complete without pointing out that while Bruce Wayne lost both his parents

Bruce Wayne: I have lost both my parents.
Alfred Pennyworth: To lose one parent, Mr. Wayne, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.

on June 26 exactly (ahem, clearing throat, obscuring number) years ago, the very next day is the anniversary of the death of John and Martha Mary Grayson, popular swinging couple. Remember: all those years ago, bruce Wayne cheered himself up from June 26 by going to the circus on June 27.


Panels from Nightwing (1995 limited series) #1 (September 1995), script by Dennis O'Neil, pencils by Greg Land, inks by Mike Sellers, colors by Cathi Bertrand, letters by John Costanza
Here's some flashbacks to previous celebrations commemorations of the death of Robin I's parents here, in 2013, 2014, and 2016. Dunno what happened in 2015. Must've had a short case of Robin-blindness.

Anyway, this year's Mr. & Mrs. Robinparents' death is represented by the oboe, as well as their glossy uniforms and substantial blood effects from the never-finished All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder. This one's for you, Mike Sterling!



Panels from All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder #1 (September 2005), script by Frank Miller, pencils by Jim Lee, inks by Scott Williams, colors by Alex Sinclair, letters by Jared K. Fletcher
Ah they're no fun, they fell right over.

Stay tuned next year for even more depictions of the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne, because if there's anything that comics love, it's reminding you of Batman's origin! na na na na na na na na na...CRIME ALLEY!

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, July 4: Dick Grayson discovers The Smiths

from Batman: Dark Victory #10 (DC, September 2000), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Gregory Wright, separations by Heroic Age, letters by Richard Starkings