Coming Soon: Black Bat Tales from Lucky Comics

Being Canadian, I've been a supporter of Red Leaf Comics for a number of years as they published stories about Canadian characters past, present and future.

Roughly two years ago, Red Leaf publisher (and writer) John Michael Helmer launched Lucky Comics with a goal of releasing books about, in part, golden age characters.

And that now extends to The Black Bat!  Below is the solicitation text for the first issue Black Bat Tales, due out later this month.

Battling gangsters and crimelords in the 1940's, the Black Bat wages a never ending battle against those who would do wrong. 

Art by Pedro Cruz
Written by John Michael Helmer
Cover A by Eric Douthitt & Federico Sioc

Available in Print and digital format.
Pages: 8
Format: B&W
Price: $2.00
​Release Date: July 2016

The Lucky Comics website has a fact sheet about The Black Bat on its "characters" page and a small art preview on the blog (dated tomorrow, I just noticed).  Take a peek at those in anticipation in the book coming out later this month!

Sanctum Books' Black Bat Volume 6 Scheduled for Late September!

First seen on the Pulp Coming Attractions Facebook group.

Anthony Tollin's Sanctum Books 

Coming to online retailers in late August/early September!
Coming to comic shops September 28! 

THE BLACK BAT VOLUME 6:  

"The Black Bat and the Trojan Horse" & "The Black Bat's Dragon Trail" 

The Nemesis of Crime returns in classic 1940 pulp novels by Norman A. Daniels and The Spider's Norvell Page. 

First, murderous foreign agents make a deadly attack on America's prewar defenses in "The Black Bat and the Trojan Horse," an action-packed thriller edited by future Batman editor Mort Weisinger!

Then, the Scourge of the Underworld foils the Dragon Master's nefarious plans in "The Black Bat's Dragon Trail," as Tony Quinn attempts to prevent the exploitation of China by a war profiteer!

Plus, the Mask returns in a Golden Age classic from Nedor's Exciting Comics #6.

Softcover, 7x10, 128 pages, B&W, $14.95.

These are stories number nine and ten in publishing order.

Another Option For a Shootout. Again.

I've been a reader of Will Lill Comics for some time now so seeing The Black Bat named in a preview of an upcoming book was a pleasant surprise.

Here is a preview of our next anthology Fun Adventure Comics! #1 on sale in July.

Stories featured: 

"Alex Miracle" by Lloyd Smith, Ernest Edwards & David Vance
"The Black Bat" by Todd Jones & Lee Oaks
"The Midnight Stranger" by Lloyd Smith & Joe Koziarski
"Captain Jain Marlee" by Ron Fortier & Luis Rivera  

Cover Art: Aileen Oracion, colors by Warren Montgomery

That short story gets around. My first exposure to it was in All-Star Pulp Comics #2 by Redbud Studios / Airship 27. It was then released again digitally by Wicked Wolf Comics in the fourth issue of a book called Wicked Awesome Tales last July. If Will Lill holds true to form, they will offer it in both print and digital format as well.

Here's a sample (unlettered) page.

In other comics news, Ron Fortier mentioned on the Black Bat Facebook page that the third issue of Guns Of The Black Bat by Moonstone Books is the final one.  Unfortunate news but he later added that the plan is to go from that book to the Black Bat / Domino Lady series which is expected to run (at least) four issues.

So that gives us a tentative release date for the first issue of the BB/DL book of October or so. The first issue of "Guns" is late, sadly, but expected to be available this week or next. So it's been a long time coming, but it IS coming.

Sanctum's Fifth Volume of Black Bat Reprints Coming in July

The following information was first spotted on the fine, fine Pulp Coming Attractions Facebook group.

THE BLACK BAT VOLUME 5:
"Markets of Treason" & "The Black Bat's Triumph" 

The Nemesis of Crime returns in classic pulp novels by Norman A. Daniels. 

First, murder runs rampant as gruesome cloaked hunchback killers terrorize a city until "The Black Bat's Triumph," in a bizarre thriller edited by future Batman editor Mort Weisinger! 

Then, the Cowled Crimebuster tackles the toughest racket he's ever confronted when ex-bootleggers band together to manipulate "Markets of Treason." 

Plus, The Mask returns in a Golden Age classic from Nedor's Exciting Comics #5. 

Softcover, 7x10, 128 pages, B&W $14.95

Sanctum's selection for this volume follows the pattern of the previous one. Rather than reprint every story in its exact order, they include one early tale and one from later on in the Black Bat's publishing history.

Stories one through six were published in volumes one through three. Volume four included the seventh, so now volume five will have the eighth in The Black Bat's Triumph from September 1940.

Markets of Treason, meanwhile, is from winter 1944 and the 27th Black Bat story published. It is notable for being the story in which The Black Bat ceases to wear his wings. He continues to dress in black and blend into shadows but does not resemble a bat as such, a significant turning point in his "career".

While arguably making him far less distinctive, it doesn't appear to have hurt his popularity. He continued to have stories published regularly right into the 50s.

Guns Of The Black Bat #3 solicitation

Writer: Ron Fortier
Art: Silvestre Szilagyi
Cover: Michael Stribling 

32pgs, grayscale, $3.50 

UPC: 685239899108 

Domino Lady and the Phantom Detective travel to the Congo to find a life-saving plant as the Black Bat and the rest of his team continue to battle prehistoric humans and animals on the streets of Manhattan..

Might have me a new banner picture coming soon...

Edit: In response to a question asked by a fan on Facebook, writer Ron Fortier identifies the two men on either side as I.V. Frost and Jim Anthony. And Ki-Gor in the middle, but most people probably figured that part out based on past solicitation material.

Faces Of Fear Solicitation!

Good stuff! Maintaining a fairly steady monthly stream of Black Bat content starting next month, our hero's team-up with The Purple Scar will hit stores in July.

The BLACK BAT & The PURPLE SCAR
“Faces of Fear”
Illustrated novel 

Story:  Ron Fortier
Art: Rob Davis 

Cover: Dennis Calero
100pgs, grayscale, 7” x 10”,
$9.99 

ISBN: 978-1-944017-04-0 

When dead gangsters begin appearing all over New York, the Black Bat and his team find themselves on the trail of a merciless crime boss known as Mr. Mask. 

At the same time a strange vigilante known as the Purple Scar enters fray, but is he friend or foe? 

Will even the pairing of the Black Bat and this mysterious new crime-fighter to solve the mystery of the Faces of Fear?

And dig that killer cover by Dennis Calero. This should be a blast.

Volumes 3 and 4 of Sanctum Reprints Coming Soon!

Sanctum Books' plans to reprint the original Black Bat stories appear to be proceeding nicely although there is an odd aspect to the two next releases.

Much of the information below is lifted from the Pulp Coming Attractions page.

THE BLACK BAT  Volume 4: "Black Bat's Crusade" & The Black Bat's Flame Trail" 

The Nemesis of Crime returns in classic pulp novels by Norman A. Daniels and The Spider's Norvell Page.

First, voodoo drums sound in cities across the nation as a wave of mysterious murders fueled by ancient magic takes a terrifying toll in "The Black Bat's Crusade," edited by future Batman editors Mort Weisinger and Jack Schiff!

Then, "The Black Bat's Flame Trail" leads to a sinister arsonist who wields a deadly torch of terror as New York tenements burn.

Plus, The Mask returns in an illustrated adventure from Nedor's Exciting Comics #4. 

Softcover, 7x10, 128 pages, B&W    $14.95 

THE BLACK BAT  Volume 3: "Captains of Death" & The Black Bat's Spy Trail" 

Sanctum Books presents two espionage thrillers showcasing the cowled superhero written by Norman A. Daniels!

First, with the outbreak of World War II, foreign spies flood the United States to challenge the Nemesis of Crime in "The Black Bat's Spy Trail," edited by future Batman editors Mort Weisinger and Jack Schiff!

Then, a rogue Nazi agent offers former District Attorney Tony Quinn a deal he can't refuse in "Captains of Death."

Plus, The Mask returns in a rare 1940 illustrated classic from Nedor's Exciting Comics #3. 

Softcover, 7x10, 128 pages, B&W    $14.95

The peculiar thing is that Pulp Coming Attractions displays a tentative release period for #4 of "late April", but #3 is said to be "coming soon". Odd that they'd have a clearer picture of the release timing of the second of their next two issues. I assume PCA got the information from Sanctum directly.

Whatever. Sanctum's schedule appears to be more or less monthly so it's probably safe to assume that #3 will hit shelves around the middle or end of March.

Altus still leads the reprint race 12-8. ;-)

Guns Of The Black Bat #2 Solicitation

From Moonstone's June 2016 solicitations:

GUNS OF THE BLACK BAT # 2 

Writer: Ron Fortier
Art: Silvestre Szilagyi
Cover: Michael Stribling
32pgs, grayscale, $3.50 

UPC: 685239899085
UPC (variant): 685239899092 

Someone has poisoned Manhattan’s water supply and is turning both humans and animals in to de-evolved monsters and beasts. Only the Black Bat and his assembled team, Phantom Detective, Domino Lady, I.V. Frost and Nighthawk, can hope to stem the nightmare tide and save their city before it is too late. 

RETAILER INCENTIVE: If you purchase 3 or more of Guns of the Black Bat #2, you can purchase a variant…AND you get one variant free!

We'd seen the regular cover quite some time ago (though I believe at the time it was said to be the cover for the third issue) but it looks great with the header. And the variant follows the close-up style used for the first issue.

Hey, Look Who's Back!

For the first time in quite a while, Dynamite Entertainment solicitations actually look like the Dynamite Entertainment that I enjoyed so much a few years ago. No knock on whomever happens to enjoy books about Grumpy Cat and Bob's Burgers but it ain't my deal and it certainly is not what I'd grown to expect from Dynamite.

Today felt more like "old times" though when I stumbled into the following among Dynamite's upcoming books for April:

MISS FURY VOL. 2 #1 (OF 6)
(W) Corinna Bechko (A) Jonathan Lau
(CA) Tula Lotay, Jonathan Lau 

The Golden Age heroine returns! New York during the Second World War is a place of mystery and intrigue, but with all our boys fighting in Europe, who will stand up to the forces of darkness at home? 

Miss Fury is ready to step into the breach, but even she doesn’t understand the shadow she carries within herself. Is it a force of good or of evil? And can she learn to control it in time to stop the deadly attack that threatens to destroy the Big Apple?

I didn't expect to see this blog's former co-star any time soon, unless it was in a team-up book similar to Noir or Masks. It raises hope that Dynamite may, one day, give The Black Bat another try. 

Masks 2, Issue 8 solicitation

I can't say that this series has blown my mind, but the final line of this solicitation is intriguing.

MASKS 2 #8 (OF 8)  

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Eman Casallos 

FINAL ISSUE! 

The masked heroes have been cast through time and twisted into strange versions of themselves. Now, they make one last attempt to set things right... without damaging the time stream any more than they already have. The final confrontation with the Red Death will lead to the emergence of a new masked hero! 

Full color, 32 pages, $3.99

Masks 2, Issue 7 Solicitation

Coming in October:

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Eman Casallos 

In this issue, the machinations of the Red Death have scattered the masked heroes of three eras into the time stream. Now, wildly altered versions of the heroes have reunited for one last campaign to defeat the Red Death and save all of reality.

More "alternate versions" of these characters, including a cyborg Shadow, apparently, judging from the above cover.

Have you heard of "event fatigue"? It's the term used to refer to being punch-drunk from all the line-wide storylines that the comic companies have going, such as DC's recent Convergence books and Marvel's Secret War nonsense.

I believe I have some sort of "alternate version fatigue". While I try to be open-minded to that approach from publishers, there's just a point where you want to read about the character that drew your attention and captured your imagination in the first place. Dynamite seemed poised to provide exactly that in the first volume of Masks, but have since gotten further and further from it (whereas Moonstone is doing the exact opposite, to their credit)

Of course, it may be that writer Cullen Bunn will come up with something clever for his version of The Black Bat. But his treatment of the character so far does not inspire confidence, sorry to say.

The Black Bat Returns!

Credit to First Comics News for breaking this because NO ONE else seems to have it.

Cover art: Mike Fyles 

6” x 9”, sc, 270pgs, $13.95 

The original Black Bat returns in this thrilling collection of all NEW action-crime stories! 

Read the character that was created at the SAME TIME as Batman! 

Ex-District Attorney Tony Quinn is blinded in a courtroom assault! 

He now seeks justice outside of the law as the relentless hero who can see in the dark: The Black Bat! 

Guest-starring: The Green Lama, Domino Lady, and Golden Amazon! 

Stories by Ron Fortier, Bobby Nash, Adam L. Garcia, Colin B. Harvey, Sean Taylor, James Palmer, David Boop, David White, and Josh Vogt!

The publisher is not named, and FCN uses a Dynamite banner in the announcement, but the book's logo appears to be the Moonstone logo. It seems clear that this is the anthology book that Ron Fortier has talked about a few times in recent months and that the character will be be done far more traditionally than Moonstone's earlier version. I assume this is an October solicitation.

I absolutely LOVE that cover and I need to get my hands on a bigger version. Check out some of Mike Fyles other work on his Facebook page.

Edit: Moonstone posted about it on their seldom-used Facebook group. It is actually a November solicitation, not October.

Another edit: Ron Fortier stated on Facebook that his Black Bat story involving Dr. Satan is included in this book.

Masks 2, Issue 6 solicitation

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Eman Casallos 

Cast though the time stream, the masked heroes of three different eras find themselves face to face with the sinister forces that spawned the Red Death… the menace who has laid waste to the world! 

But wild adventures through time have brought about amazing… and sometimes horrific… changes in the Shadow, Green Hornet, Black Sparrow, and the others. In order to set things right, the league of heroes–(as) you’ve NEVER seen them before–must band together in hopes of saving all of reality.

Masks 2, Issue 5 solicitation

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Eman Casallos 

The Red Death has sprung a dangerous trap, scattering our masked heroes through time. From the prehistoric era to the post-apocalyptic future, the Shadow, Green Hornet, Peter Cannon, Miss Fury, and others face dinosaurs, murderous masqueraders, and mutants! Along the way, they uncover the terrible truth about the Red Death.

Masks 2, Issue 4 solicitation

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Eman Casallos 

Heroes from across time meet, the bizarre origins of the Red Death are revealed, and an insidious trap springs shut. A dangerous adventure unlike anything you might expect awaits as the masked vigilantes of three different eras! The epic team-up of The Shadow, Black Terror, Miss Fury, Peter Cannon, Green Hornet, The Spider, and more continues, courtesy of Deadpool writer Cullen Bunn.

Legenderry: Vampirella #4 solicitation

Here's an eye-catcher from the Steampunk version of Vampirella currently being published by Dynamite:

Legenderry #4 (of 5) 

Writer: David Avallone 

Art: David Cabrera

Page Count: 32 pages 

ON SALE DATE: May 20 

Moreau makes a monster, Kurtz stirs the masses, and Toomey gets lucky in the most unlucky way possible. Vampirella kisses a boy, storms the Council and fights a Bat-Man. 

Sex, violence, and everyone is wearing goggles for some reason.

That's written kind of strangely...Here's the cover:

When Dynamite published the first volume of Legenderry recently, warping a number of their current characters into Steampunk versions, I was curious as to The Black Bat would get the same treatment. I envisioned someone with artifical steampunk "technology" eyes. Does that make any sense? Probably not, but I'm not the writer so it's not my problem. ;-)

But it was not to be. There were steampunk versions of The Green Hornet, Flash Gordon, Red Sonja...But no Bat.

Until now. Well...Until May 2015, rather. Here's an excerpt from a Bleeding Cool interview with Legenderry: Vampirella writer David Avallone:

BB: Tell us more about this “Bat-Man” that Vampi meets this issue, if you dare! 

DA: The idea came organically (no pun intended): I’ve got Doctor Moreau as one of my villains. In the Wells book and our series, he creates human-animal hybrids. Well, how would a human/vampire (human/Draculon) hybrid turn out? It seemed like an opportunity to engage in a little cheap satire of certain famous caped crusaders. Additionally… as established by Bill Willingham, the Legenderry universe tries to bring all the Dynamite characters together in one continuum, so this is my twisted steampulp version of the Black Bat.

Hmmm...Not quite what I had in mind. I was thinking more of a Victorian era style of Black Bat, not a half-vampire creature like DC Comics' Man-Bat or Marvel's Morbius. We'll keep an ear to the ground but right at the moment there is little cause for optimism. Let's see what comes out of it.

Masks 2, Issue 3 solicitation

Issue one drops on April 1st! No foolin'!

MASKS 2 #3 (OF 8)
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Eman Casallos
Peter Cannon AKA Thunderbolt smashes his way into the struggle against the Red Death! The mysterious villain has plagued the heroes of three different timelines. Her scheming is even more dangerous than anyone could possibly guess, but now the adventures of the masked heroes of the last 80 years are coming together in a way no one could possibly imagine!

Oh dear. Is that The Black Bat on the right? Certainly looks like his kind of scene.

While looking for information about this issue, I happened across a cover to the previous one that I had not seen earlier. I include it below because it features another pulp era favourite of mine, Miss Fury.

Can't wait for this series to start, even if BB's contribution seems limited.

Dynamite's Black Bat Omnibus drops on Wednesday!

One of the reasons I'm grateful for the arrival of this book is that tracking it has been a chore.

Writer: Brian Buccellato
Art: Ronan Cliquet
Format: Softcover
Page Count: 336 pages 

The classic pulp vigilante, reimagined for a new generation!

Tony Quinn is a brash defense attorney to the mob who compromises his ethics for financial gain. When he refuses to cross the line and commit murder, he is tortured and blinded by his gangster employers. When a fortuitous meeting with a covert agency gives him a chance to make amends, Quinn transforms into the Black Bat and embarks on a redemptive quest to right the wrongs of his past. 

The complete 12-chapter epic, written by Brian Buccellato (of DC Comics' Flash) and collected into one massive omnibus!

Dynamite at one point advertised a "volume 1" of The Black Bat. Perhaps prompted by the book's cancellation at its 12th issue, an omnibus collecting all 12 issues was later solicited. I thought at first the plan was to have it out by the end of last year. Next thing I knew Amazon had a release date of July 2015, yet here it is, sporting a release date of February 18th, 2015.

Dynamite's website, by the way, includes the book under its "Black Bat Hardcovers" category while the solicitation clearly labels it as a softcover. Based on price, I assume the solicitation is accurate.

Now as to the book itself, it'll drive purists absolutely nuts (much like Dynamite did to fans of The Phantom and The Green Hornet). But understanding it was a "reimagined", modernized version, I went in with an open mind. And loved the book.

To the extent that I read it, anyway. When the book was cancelled, I stopped getting individual (digital) issues in anticipation of buying trade paperbacks for the cover galleries. Essentially, I'm paying for issues nine through twelve or so, the gallery and better packaging.

And hopefully a better cover. What I hated about the Moonstone version of the The Black Bat from a couple of years ago is that he came off like nothing more than psychotic thug. Making a character schizophrenic does not modernize him, in my opinion. The Black Bat was a cerebral character, not just a gunslinger and making him mentally unstable strips away a portion of his appeal for me.

The cover above is one of very few from Dynamite (and there must have been in the range of 40 covers created for the 12 issues, not counting black and white versions and so on) that gives off that Moonstone vibe. That said, Dynamite's page does not display a cover at the moment, so perhaps we'll be lucky and the omnibus will feature a different one, or a new one altogether.

I should probably mention that the "Dynamite covers" page under the banner is about 95% complete. They should all be on the display aside from an occasional virgin art version or black and white variety or some such. I may need to work on the spacing but the eye candy itself should be all there. Enjoy!

Masks 2, issue 2 solicitation

The Pulp Coming Attractions page posted the solicitation for Masks 2, due to come out in May, though damned if I know where they got it from.

MASKS 2 #2 (OF 8)
Covers: Butch Guice and Jae Lee
Writer: Cullen Bunn Art: Eman Casallos
The influence of the fiendish Red Death spans history. In the 30s, she stood against the Shadow, the Green Hornet, and Black Terror. In the 70s, the Red Death resurfaced to challenge two surprising heroes–the new Black Sparrow and Miss Fury!

Looks like the Black Bat is the seven of hearts! Unless that's a character I'm not thinking of.

It still doesn't appear as though our hero will be very prominent in this series but the solicitation does make me curious about one thing: If they're introducing a "new" Black Sparrow in the 70's (I assume they mean that part of the solicitation literally) then it's certainly possible that they could do the same for The Black Bat. It doesn't seem like they have any intention of revisiting their modern day version of the character any time soon, but they could choose to create a new one, as well as one based in the 70's.

A significant role in the book is probably too much to expect, but at this point I would settle for a pleasant surprise that sets the stage for future projects.

Here's the other cover that has been revealed. No Bat, but still pretty cool.

Solicitation: Masks 2, #1 (of 8)

While there doesn't appear to be much Black Bat content in this book, I'll still record the official solicitation here.

Cover A Main: Butch Guice
Cover B Variant: Jae Lee
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Eman Casallos

The Shadow. The Green Hornet and Kato. Black Terror. These are just a few masked vigilantes drawn into a mystery that spans the decades – a plot that threatens our society again and again. With the devastating power to kill thousands of people in a matter of seconds, the Red Death is a villain who may be impossible to stop. It will take more than a dozen masked heroes from three different time periods to stop this madwoman from bringing the world to its knees!

We don't learn much that wasn't already revealed in the press release announcing Casallos as the book's artist, but we do now know that the mini series is eight books long. That's something I guess. With any luck, Dynamite will give us a regular dose of Black Bat throughout the bulk of 2015 starting in April.