The Black Bat by Ken Hauser

Artist Ken Hauser has worked on Dynamite Entertainment's Living Corpse series and he provides the rather ass-kicking pinup of The Black Bat below.

At first sight, I assumed it was meant to be a variant cover for a future, but that doesn't seem to be the case.  For one thing, most of the covers seems to be routinely done by the same handful of artists, and for another, the dimensions may not be quite right.

Nevertheless, a pretty awesome image.

"Origin of The (Five Star) Black Bat"

Since starting my primary blog, They Stand on Guard, early last year, I've found myself dealing with more small press publishers than I'd anticipated.  I didn't know that so many publishers included Canadian characters in their books and now I'm finding out how many versions of The Black Bat there really are.

The results of dealing with small publishers are usually very positive.  Supporting those who truly do what they do for the proverbial "love of the game" is in itself rewarding and it's clear that the support is appreciated.

Dealing with Five Star Comics has been as easy as I've ever had it.  I've commented on TSOG about how accomodating Red Leaf Comics has been in providing me with their product.  At least in terms of first impressions, Five Star is very similar.  After some quick e-mail back-and forth, Five Star and I worked out a price and shipping method and I had the three issues of their self-titled book in hand in a matter of days.  I wish it were always that simple.

And so on a windy, cloudy Friday evening at my cottage, I was able to read "Origin of The Black Bat" by the light of my wood stove.  A perfect setting for a moody story.

The Black Bat does not appear in the first issue, aside from the wicked back cover sketch displayed below.  His origin is the kickoff story in the second issue, the cover to which was posted here recently.

It is only six pages long, but covers a lot of ground in regards to Tony Quinn's background and its impact on him on his way to adulthood yet still confounds him in some ways.  The art style makes it particularly interesting.  Both story and art are provided by one Matt Marshall.

The third issue concludes with a 13-page novelette, called "Evil Stalks The Black Bat" (by Terence E. Hanley, the gentleman who ensured I had these books in hand promptly), which builds on the material from issue #2.  There are a few illustrations, most of which are individual panels from the origin story.  There is one new one though, of The Black Bat firing his tricked out pistol (a Five-star customization) from a motorcycle as Manhattan burns around him.  Inserted right on the first page, it helps establish the setting in a story about The Bat seemingly being the only sane person in a city gone mad.

It doesn't appear as though The Black Bat will be included in the fourth issue of Five Star Comics, scheduled to come out in the fall.  However, the character is prominent enough in the publisher's promotion that there's little doubt he'll be used again at a later time.

I'll be keeping an eye open for that.  If you're a fan of Golden Age characters, they also incorporate a number of others, such as Silver Streak and Lady Luck and plan to bring Miss Masque in the next issue.

Makes one wonder about what they'd do with Miss Fury... ;-)

Dynamite Entertainment's August Bat/Fury solicitations!

Looks like Comics Continuum is the first place to find the Dynamite August solicitations (as pointed out by "ChastMastr" on the company's message board).  Let's isolate our flawed heroes and see what we have to look forward to that month:

THE BLACK BAT #4
Written by Brian Buccellato, art by Ronan Cliquet, covers by Jae Lee, Ardian Syaf.

When Black Bat finds himself trapped by police who are determined to take him in "dead or alive", he receives an assist from an unlikely source. Also, a look back at the night that Tony Quinn lost everything.

32 pages, $3.99.

MISS FURY #5
Written by Rob Williams, art by Jack Herbert, covers by Billy Tan, Joe Benitez, Colton Worley, Sean Chen

In a future New York that's been turned into a war zone by a flying V the size of Manhattan, the truth is finally revealed to Miss Fury. Has her time travelling been real or is she insane back in 1943? And who, exactly, has been manipulating her throughout? With only a dead Nazi scientist as her guide, it's time for Marla Drake to decide what she is willing to fight and die for.

32 pages, $3.99.

MISS FURY DIGITAL #1
Written by Rob Williams, art by Wagner Reis, Johnny Desjardins, cover by Jose Luis.

Digital first! An all-new Miss Fury adventure never before seen in print! Miss Fury is back in time again! Or is she? Will Miss Fury be able to make it home for a nice long bath, or will she forever be transported? Find out now! This issues has all three digital chapters of Miss Fury in a new, never printed, super-sized collection!

32 pages, $3.99.

MASKS VOLUME 1 TP
Written by Chris Roberson, art by Alex Ross, Dennis Calero, cover by Alex Ross.

Before Superheroes, there were Masks! The Shadow. The Green Hornet and Kato. The Spider. In 1938, these masked vigilantes operated outside the law, working independently to strike fear into the hearts of evildoers. But when the corrupt politicians of the Justice Party transform New York into a fascist state run by mobsters, when an oppressive regime grants jack-booted stormtroopers free rein to imprison, extort, and execute the innocent, when the law itself becomes unjust -- justice must be served by outlaws! Outnumbered and outgunned, the legendary vigilantes emerge from the shadows to fight, joined by Zorro, the Green Lama, Miss Fury, Black Terror, and the Black Bat! Nine renowned pulp heroes, brought together for the first time in an epic conflict of Law vs. Justice!

200 pages, $24.99.

I ususally like to include a cover from each of the Black Bat and Miss Fury books, but the Fury ones weren't on display.

I'm not certain I understand what the Fury digital book is all about.  A new story but "all three digital chapters" in a collection?  Where did these digital chapters come from?  The digital version of the comic includes script pages.  Do they mean that they compiled those with a new story?  If so, how is it "super-sized" when it's listed at the usual 32 pages?

Lastly, stoked to see Masks referred to as "volume 1".  I choose to believe that this means there's a second volume planned for down the road at some point, hopefully one in which the pulp Bat is more prominent.

"The Black Bat Chats with Carol Baldwin" by Danny Budge

Danny's blog (which you can reach by clicking on the image above) only has a few posts over the course of a few months in 2011.  I don't know if he still draws, whether professionally or as a hobby, but I thought the brief scene above was well worth sharing.  I'd like to see how Budge does with an ongoing story.

Daring Dames: Comely Catwomen by Mini-Komix

Here's a little something I picked up on Drivethru Comics this past weekend.

Only six story pages are dedicated to Miss Fury (under her original name of Black Fury) but they are important ones.  Her first adventure is on display as the middle story in this collection.  Unfortunately, some of the art is a little rough, but for $1 it makes a nice little addition to the collection.

Here's a look at the first page.  Give 'er a click to be taken to the order page.

The Five Star Bat

Five Star Comics, based out of the Ohio, describe themselves as "a joint venture of cartoonists and comic book creators, some experienced, some just beginning, all committed to making fun and wholesome comics in the spirit of the Golden Age and Silver Age of Comics".  They have their own version of the Black Bat, and he is on display on the cover to the second issue.

Five Stars' take seems interesting; Their Bat is the son of the original.  Click on the cover, or the link at above left, to be taken to their blog if you'd like more information about their books.  As I write this, the first two issues are available and the third is on its way.

For now, it appears as though you can only purchase their books through the mail by cheque or money order.  I've written to them to ask about the possibility of a digital option down the road.

Edit, May 13th: Praise to Five Star's Terence Hanley, he's quick to respond to e-mails.  He adds that issue #3 is in fact available, that just hasn't been stated on Five Stars' blog as of yet.  They've considered going digital but have some work to do still with that option.  It appears that paypal payment may be available as well, thankfully.

This all sounds very positive and I hope to have another version of the Black Bat to sink my teeth into real soon!

Dynamite Entertainment's July Bat/Fury solicitations!

On the day the Black Bat's first issue was released, as well as Miss Fury's second, Dynamite's July soliciations appeared on their website.

The books specific to our featured players are displayed below.  We'll get to their two current issues a little later but at first read, I'm pleased to report, with a small sigh of relief, that it doesn't appear as though Black Bat will disappoint.

Writer: Brian Buccellato
Art: Ronan Cliquet

The Black Bat continues his redemptive quest to right the wrongs of his alter-ego Tony Quinn. But, before pursuing criminal kingpin Oliver Snate, Black Bat steals a page from Robin Hood to come up with the resources to fund his campaign. Also, Quinn's past unfolds as he recalls his first meeting with Carol Baldwin.

Writer: Rob Williams
Art: Jack Herbert

The covert Nazi army has laid claim to 2013, determined to make the nation's capital into Miss Fury's final resting place. But help comes from the most unexpected figure imaginable and in the form of one of the greatest weapons of World War II! If she survives, will Marla Drake finally discover the identity of her true enemy?

Man, I love the Fury cover.  Click on the images to be taken to the full solicitation from Dynamite for each book.