One Night in Rutland: 1972, Part 2

Meanwhile, elsewhere on Halloween, 1972...namely 22,300 miles above the Earth...the Phantom Stranger gives the night's weather forecast! (Mostly spooky with patches of evil and periodic gusts of hell.)


from Justice League of America v.1 #103 (December 1972), script by Len Wein, pencils by Dick Dillin, inks by Dick Giordano, letters from Ben Oda
Apparently all the wickedness and wretchedness is due to Felix Faust, or at least, his mother naming him "Felix." Superman vows to stop the DC Universe's version of Baron Mordo by cornering him in Rutland, Vermont! Which, according to the lettering on the map, is a town larger than Syracuse and Rochester put together!


Remember this fantastic four? Why, it's Steve Engelhart, Gerry Conway, and Len and Glynis Wein on their way to Rutland in Engelhart's magnificent crap-mobile. You can place this scene before that in Amazing Adventures #16—they haven't yet picked up Hank McCoy and Vera Cantor! You may also notice that between the events of this book and AA #16, Steve Engelhart's shirt shrank dramatically! And hey, Gerry Conway: still haven't forgiven you for killin' off Gwen Stacy. Just wanted to let you know that.


The quartet arrives in Rutland to meet parade premier Tom Fagan (collect all his appearances!). Enter also the JLA, including The World's Greatest Freakin' Detective, and yet nobody seems to even notice when Hank McCoy and Vera get out of the car from AA #16 (not pictured in this issue). Batman can be forgiven...he's too overcome by Tom's invitation to "live here forever." He asked you, Batman! He finally asked you!


Later in the parade itself, Batman accepts the adulation of the crowd as is his comics-given right. Bow down before Batman!


Crossover alert! A thinly disguised "Commando America," apparently written with the same motivations he was written with in Civil War, orders a Faust-hypnotized Adam Strange and Supergirl...huh, Supergirl? That's no Kara, that's our friend and excellent colorist Glynis Wein, who had disappeared right from underneath her friends' noses earlier in this ish and in Amazing Adventures #16. Now we know where she went! What we don't know, however, is how the possessed Halloween-goers can talk and act so much while The Freakin' Fastest Man Alive just stands there and stares at them. With great speed comes mildly poor reaction time, looks like.


Crossover alert #2! Batman versus a Faust-befuddled partygoer in his Spidey-jammies! Note that Batman reflects that he "has all the powers of the real thing!" That means that A) Batman reads Marvel Comics and B) He considers Spider-Man to be real. He's a fanboy! Bruce Wayne is a fanboy!


Crossover alert #3! Green Lantern is, as usual, knocked out like a chump (sorry, Sally) by a semi-yellow object that is actually colored grey. Batman puts the ersatz Thunder God in his place, though. Good thing the real Thor is nowhere near Rutland, Vermont on this Halloween night. (Or...is he?)


Glynis returns to the land of consciousness, the Justice League battles the Butter Brigade (yellow villains? Better put Hal in the rear), and for the second time this night, someone steals Steve Engelhart's Mustang! even tho' that doesn't really look like a Mustang there. This time it's Felix Faust escaping by the "most inconspicuous means possible"...jumping out of a building into the loudest car in the county. Another excellent escape plan right up there with the stupidest exits on record. He may be a magician, but Houdini, Felix Faust is not.


So it's no surprise that Faust is quickly caught by the boys in blue while the Phantom Stranger watches on. It's too bad that it wasn't the Spectre in this story, who would have designed a hellish and ironically painful torture for the "master" criminal...something along the likes of being turned into a spark plug and then being places in a car continuously driven by Jackie Stewart. Well, something like that. Beats being turned into candles and melted down or into a tree and then sliced up with the Spectre's chainsaw.


The connecting sequences with Engelhart and Company thus prove: this was the first DC/Marvel crossover event ever. the only way it could be more awesome is if Thor was in it. What's that? He was? Well, whaddaya know. There's a Part 3 comin' up!

One Night in Rutland: 1972, Part 1

Welcome to 1972, the year one of my favorite comic book characters of all time made a startling leap forward on the evolutionary ladder? Who is it? Geez, you oughta guess...I only devoted an entire year to him...the boisterous, bouncing, blue-maned Beast! Say, what's he doing in Rutland, Vermont, home of the famous (c'mon, you know it by heart by now) Rutland Halloween Parade?


Panels from Amazing Adventures v.2 #16 (January 1973), script by Steve Englehart, pencils by Marie Severin and Bob Brown, inks by Frank McLaughlin, colors by Glynis Wein, letters by Charlotte Jetter
Why, he's...hitchhiking! (After donning his ever-trusty rubber Hank McCoy mask and meeting up with girlfriend Vera Cantor, no relation to Eddie.)


And the kindly folks pickin' Hank and Vera up are none other than Marvel Comics creators Steve Engelhart, Gerry Conway, Len Wein and Glynis Wein! And Steve, who has written The Beast's solo series, doesn't recognize Hank McCoy's name. But I bet he would recognize the Juggernaut dropping out of a hole in the air...or, at they like to call it on Earth-616, the Crimson Corridor of Cytorrak. Please note this improbable but vital plot point: Steve Englehart's Mustang is a piece of junk. How important is this? So important that it will eventually span two comic book earths. Of such cosmic matters are missing mufflers made on.


Engelhart and Co. are, of course, in Rutland this fine Halloween night to attend the annual Parade and party at Tom Fagan's, where comic book characters are the costume de rigeur! Hey, check out that first panel...it's Superman, Batman...um, Aquawoman...and I think that's Vladek Spiegelman just above Batman there.


In the commotion, Glynis Wein disappears! Oh no! Where'd she go? And who will color X-Men now?


It's not a Rutland Halloween Parade comic book without an appearance from pal Tom Fagan, is it? (No. No, it is not.) And let's all say it together...when the Juggernaut crashes a party...he really crashes a party! Meanwhile, Roy and Jeanie Thomas are at the to-do as well and as usual, and Roy's doing a callback to Avengers #83. He really is the ultimate fan!


The Juggernaut attempts to steal Steve Engelhart's car, but he's foiled by faulty...um...(looking in my thesaurus)...fundamentals of his Ford!


Well, that certainly is exciting, and it's not even the whole story! Nope, for more you have to step with me over to the other side of Rutland, Vermont, for an encounter with the Super Friends Justice League of America! Next time! Next post! Nextwave!

Today in Comics History: Morticia Addams disapproves of Pugsley's Halloween costume

Splash page from "1964: Children's Hour" in Superman & Batman: Generations II #2 (September 2001); script, pencils, inks, and letters by John Byrne; colors by Trish Mulvihill; backgrounds apparently by Vince Colletta

One Night in Rutland, 1971: Part 2

How iconic are the founding members of the Defenders, Doc Strange, the Non-credible Hulk, and Namor the Sub-Mareener? In only their second appearance in print, they hitchhike up Route 7 to Rutland, Vermont, to the 1971 Rutland Halloween Parade! (Yep: the same one attended by Batman and Robin in Batman #237.)


from Marvel Feature #2 (Marvel, March 1972), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Sal Buscema, letters by Sam Rosen

Why they're going is a completely different question: because of the appearance of The Prince of Evil!



One thing I haven't mentioned previously here: as brought up by Marvel Feature, Rutland County is home to...Bald Mountain!



Here's the real, Vermont-y, Bald Mountain:



Oh, wait. I need to add something to the photo here:



That's better.

Anyway, 'tis not Chernabog; it is his Earth-616 heterosexual lifemate, Dormammu! (We will now pause for everyone in the audience to declare 'Yo' mammo!')



Here's Rutland Halloween Parade Master of Ceremonies Tom Fagan, greeting those popular guest stars from Avengers #83, Roy and Jeanie Thomas! Wow, it was really cool of the script-writer for this story to fit them in, huh? It's good to have friends in the comic book industry.



Say, where are our title heroes...the Marvel Featurettes Defenders, during all this? They're blending into the crowd in civilian guise, these civilian guys. They're masquerading as Clea, Charles Xavier, Dick Tracy, and Howard the Duck! And hey, I see Fawcett's DC's Captain Marvel Jr., the world's only superhero who can't say his own name!



If you subscribe to the concept that all stories in all universes take place at the same time (and hey, isn't it our nature to try to link up every fictional character with each other...I'm lookin' at you, Phillip Jose Farmer), then consider this: the Defenders' battle versus Dormammu takes place at the same time Batman faces off against the Grim Reaper and Nazis. That's one busy Halloween Parade. But trust me...it gets even busier in 1972...the year of the first, albeit unofficial, DC/Marvel crossover! Stay tuned, gals and goons!

Today in Comics History: Lucy didn't tell Linus she was going to kill it

Panel from "The Great Pumpkin" in Robin Annual #7 (2007); script by Keith Champagne; pencils, inks, and colors by Derec Donovan; letters by John J. Hill

366 Days with Alfred Pennyworth, Day 305: Alfred's Happy Halloween, Day 19

Panels from Batman: Ghosts one-shot (1995), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Gregory Wright, color separations by Android Images, letters by Todd Klein

One Night in Rutland: 1971, Part 1

It's Halloween, 1971! And green-shirted, brown-vest, tan-chinoed Dick Grayson (aka Robin), during his single semester in college, has dragged (drug?) his friends from Hudson University in New Carthage, New York to Rutland, Vermont, home (you oughta know by now) of the famous Rutland Halloween Parade!

Double-page spread from Batman #237 (December 1971), script by Denny O'Neil, pencils by Neal Adams, inks by Dick Giordano, letters by John Costanza

(Click picture to parade-i-size)

Please note, not only the reference to our Rutland pal Tom Fagan, but Dick's groovy college classmate who is so totally into floats. That's not just a character trait, it's an entire subplot!



With all the crack training of years studying under the Batman, Robin stumbles into a blackjack-wieldin' group of professional nogoodniks. He also takes note that perhaps Rutland's chemical sewage processing systems are not working as efficiently as they should. That's the greatness of a character like Robin: not only crime-fighting but sociological observations!



Luckily, Batman shows up. Whoops! Batman is dead! But, but, but...that trick never works!



Special guest appearance by Christopher Lee!:



Meanwhile, the real (and alive) Batman shows up to meet the Batman-clad Tom Fagan. (Batman is more musclely than Tom.) Also, some Marvel Comics character cameos, including an iconic character from Neal Adams's run on X-Men, Alex "Havok" Summers! Hey, dude, try to keep your brother from eventually committing murdering his mentor, huh?



Now that he has his own series in the New 52, it's fun to see where The Guy Who Really Likes Floats got his start in comics!



Also, this is the first Silver Age appearance of all-angry, all-insultin' All Star Batman. Hey, how does he get his cape to whip around like that?!?



In this following panels, part of DC's famous Public Service Announcements, we are warned against the danger of cos-playing Batman. It's just not worth it, kids! Just say no to dressing up like Batman!



Hey look! There's Havok again! He's the life of the party! Hi, Havok!



Besides all that, Batman battles the Grim Reaper and Nazis and solves some crimes. Wow, this Rutland Halloween Parade has become pretty deadly, hasn't it? Here, master Batman author Denny O'Neil explains the genesis of the story and some background on Tom Fagan and the parade and party. Sounds like the best time ever.



So that's what was happening in 1971 at the Rutland Halloween Parade. ...Part of it, at least! Because across town (and on Earth-616), it's not just Death making an appearance in Rutland...it's one of the most "devilish" antagonists straight from "h-e-double-hockey sticks!" Could it be...Satan? No. No, it's Dormammu. Check him, and the Defenders, when One Night in Rutland: 1971 continues out in the next post!

One Night in Rutland: 1970

from the "Bullpen Bulletins" of Marvel Comics cover-dated December 1970
The year: 1970! The day: October 31! The place: Rutland, Vermont! The event: the first appearance of Tom Fagan and the Rutland Halloween Parade in comics! We begin our first night in Rutland by looking in on the familiar sight of Captain America ordering people around:


Panel from Avengers #83 (December 1970), script by Roy Thomas,
pencils by John Buscema, inks by Tom Palmer, letters by Herb Cooper
Don't get your red-white-and-blue knickers in a twist, Cap! Actually, we quickly find out these are Halloween revelers at the home of Rutland Parade major-domo Tom Fagan, who welcomes the "real-life" Avengers to his home. Also, a certain self-biographing guy named Roy Thomas (and his wife Jeanie!) For those of you wondering why Tom is dressed as Nighthawk...well, on our world (Earth-1218), Tom was generally costumed as Batman! But no way Marvel would let such a venerable character appear in their mags, so instead here Tom is dressed as Batsman's Squadron Supreme doppelganger Nighthawk! Also, we find out that Clint Barton really likes Dr Pepper.


The Avengers are in Rutland to track down The Masters of Evil...and there's a whole subplot about the female Avengers striking out on their own as the Liberators...but that all takes back seat to the sight you wanted to see: The Avengers on a parade float!


Hey, lookit all the attendees in Marvel-hero costumes! Well, that makes sense. As I said above, Marvel certainly wouldn't allow a DC character to appear in their comic book...


D'oh! Look who Sneaky John Buscema hid in the crowd! This may very well be the first unofficial Marvel/DC crossover event! I'm not certain if it counts, because that's not the real McCoy Wayne...it's only an incredible simulation! (No, if you want a proper crossover, you'll have to wait until 1972...or a few posts from now!

Here, Tom Fagan faces off against the Masters of Evil and survives! Why, of course...otherwise the Rutland Halloween Parade would be in danger!


In the end, the parade is a smashing success and all's well that ends well...except for the battle of the sexes! And once again, we find out that Clint Barton oughta keep his mouth shut. Especially since he's been trying to date Wanda since ish #16! Dumbass.


More Rutland Halloween goodness coming right down the road when we stop in on 1971 and check out the adventures of a certain dynamic duo and a non-team extraordinaire! (No, no, not the Boston Red Sox.)

One Night in Rutland: One day, I'll leave you a phantom to lead you in the autumn to join the Rutland Parade

A lot of Halloween parades have been cancelled because of Sandy!



No, not that one.

Luckily, the world-famous Rutland, Vermont Halloween Parade was held before the deadly storm


Panels from Uncanny X-Men #147 (July 1981), script by Chris Claremont, pencils by Dave Cockrum, inks by Joe Rubinstein, colors by Glynis Wein, letters by Tom Orzechowski

...no, not that one! ...this past Saturday. (Sorry I missed it, Rutland guys!) But even if you couldn't get to the Rutland Halloween Parade in 2012, you'll get to go...in 1970! And 1971 And 1972! '73, '76,' 77! 1981, '85, '92, and even in 96! (And 1997.) "How?" you may ask. (And that's a very good question.) And I'll give you the same answer I give to any question of this blog...through the magic of comic books!

To begin, let's check in on Detective Comics #327 in May 1964 (the first ish of the "New Look" Batman, by the way) for 'Tec's very first letters page, and let's introduce you to Tom Fagan, the man credited with the early creation and superhero focus of the Rutland Halloween Parade. But let's hear it from Tom himself. Take it away, Mr. Fagan:



Well, that idea...a parade featuring Batman is sure to attract attention among the comic book community. And so it did. Here's Tom again, in the letter column of Avengers #88, recounting the success of 1970's parade:



Holy cow! Now that's a parade! And what's more, we're gonna all go there...to the Rutland Halloween Parade of 1970, and many more years besides! No, you don't need a time machine (my Delorean is in the shop)...all you need is to stick around here today as I parcel out One Night in Rutland: a series of posts on the R.H.P. as seen in comic books! (And we'll see plenty more of Mr. Fagan along the way, too!) Pack your overnight bags, get ready to bring home some souvenir maple sugar candy, and join me here in a wee bit for One Night in Rutland: 1970!