Dynamite Entertainment's May 2014 Bat/Fury solicitations

So obvious even a blind man could see it (see what I did there?), Dynamite ends their Black Bat book at issue #12 in May.

Writer: Brian Buccellato
Art: Ronan Cliquet 

FINAL ISSUE! In the final chapter to this story, the Black Bat is confronted by the unforeseen consequences of his vigilante quest for redemption. He comes face to face with the shadowy villain that has been pulling all of the strings, and must decide how far he is willing to go to save the city.

So who knows if we'll see this version of the character again.  Dynamite CEO/Publisher Nick Barrucci did hint, on the company's message board, at an announcement by the end of February but nothing ever came of that.  In recent months, Dynamite had done a good job of including some of their less-popular characters in limited series with more popular ones, but they seem so focused on the Gold Key and Chaos universes of late that there's little cause to be optimistic about the Bat (or for that matter, Miss Fury) getting that sort of treatment.

Speaking of minis, the Noir trade paperback is also available in May.  I haven't finished the series yet, but I am enjoying it, though the art is a little rough in spots and Miss Fury only shows up at the end of the first book.  Still, interesting story.

On the flip side, I've finished the first volume of Black Bat Mystery from Airship 27 and will definitely be getting the second before long.  More on that later.

Ron Fortier to pen a more traditional Black Bat for Moonstone Books!

This is good news on a couple of different levels. Ron Fortier is the "Air Chief" of Airship 27 and long-time writer of pulp comics and short stories.  He updated his "Flight Log" earlier today with the following (in part):

...for those of you who faithfully follow this Log every week, you'll remember that a few short weeks ago we wrote a particularly mean rant against Licensors and how they are forever screwing over creative people. 

Well, the reasoning behind that entry was we had just learned that the Licensor of the Spider had opted (to) cancel Moonstone Comics permission to use this classic pulp character right smack in the middle of our producing the new black and white SPIDER - DOMINO LADY comic series.  Needless to say all of (those) involved were both surprised and then justifiably angry with this stupid action on their part. Still it left us with the question as to how to proceed. Or should we? 

Happily, in the end, the Air Chief, Moonstone's Managing Editor and artist Michael Dorman all agreed to save the project by swapping out the Spider for another classic pulp hero who is 100% public domain.  Meaning we don't have to kowtow to any idiotic licensors and can do as we please. 

Get ready for THE BLACK BAT - DOMINO LADY comic series!!  Yup, the Air Chief did a little tweaking where necessary and the hooded avenger of the classic pulps is once again on the trail of evil doers. Note, the page above by Michael and you'll see we are doing the original costume as was described in the actual Black Bat stories...and not the Batman-like cowl that was splashed on the covers and has been adopted by other comic companies. Nope, we wanted to give you fans the real-deal here. We are excited by Michael's' art as ever and can't wait to see this project move forward. Stay tuned for progress updates as we move along with it.

I admit that among the various versions of the character that I've read, Moonstone's was my least favourite. Their Black Bat had some kind of "voices-in-the-head" or multiple personality gimmick going on and there was only limited mention of the entourage that we're used to (Silk and Carol, no Butch that I can recall). Perhaps the intention was to include them more in future stories but the book never really got past the first graphic novel.

The image above looks far more like what we'd expect the Black Bat to look like. And whatever affection Moonstone had for The Spider, they certainly shared the love with Domino Lady.  She is among the most frequently used character by that company, if not the title-holder, so the Bat can only benefit from being paired with her.

So as Dynamite's version appears set to circle the drain, let's see if Moonstone can provide us with a quality alternative.  We'll keep an eye on their solicitations and post the Black Bat-relevant ones here.

Dynamite's Black Bat #11 Solicitation (April 2014)

Writer: Brian Buccellato
Art: Ronan Cliquet 

Black Bat has managed to toe the line throughout his quest for redemption. But when someone close to him dies, will he finally cross that line and become a killer? 

Also, Oliver Snate's mystery guardian angel pulls back the curtain and finally reveals himself... propelling this story towards its gut-wrenching conclusion. 

And Miss Fury is nowhere to be found.

Dynamite is all about their acquisition of the Gold Key characters these days so many of the pulp-style titles that they were publishing are coming to an end.  The Shadow ends at #25 this month as well and Mark Waid's Green Hornet concludes after the thirteenth issue.  In fairness, they've brought back a number of Battlestar Galactica books, so perhaps there's hope for a revival at some point.

In the meantime, I've received the Black Bat Mystery novel in the mail.  It's a collection of four short stories. I've only just started it, but so far so good.  The first story, written by Andrew Salmon, takes place in an unusual setting for the character; inside a blimp called The Valkyrie. The Bat's crew from the original stories are all included and the writing is very similar in style.  I think I'm going to enjoy this.

The back cover illustration below, as well as the ones included throughout the book, is by Rob Davis.

And since I appear to have forgotten to mention it in a past post, Excelsior Comics is up to page 15 with its Bat web comic. I wish they were a little fast with the production, but I'm enjoying their version of the character nonetheless.  Check it out.

Dynamite's Black Bat #10 Solicitation (March 2014)

Writer: Brian Buccellato
Art: Ronan Cliquet

The Black Bat is forced to deal with the idea of betrayal in his own inner circle. Also, the blowback from his prison break-in escalates as he is declared public enemy number one; and the war against him is brought right to his doorstep.

And...that's it!  Noir ends this month (the solicitation for that book's 5th issue was posted earlier) and Miss Fury's last issue was scheduled for February.  So unless a series similar to Mask or Noir is announced soon, The Black Bat book will be the only relevant solicitation from Dynamite for however long the series lasts.  Here's hopin'.

Noir #5 early Solicitation

The solicitation below was among the "first look" at Dynamite's upcoming books for March 2014.  It appeared on comicvine.com.

Writer: Victor Gischler
Artist: Andrea Mutti

FINAL ISSUE! Lost in the labyrinth of the Templars and separated from the others, Miss Fury must outwit the demented Minerva and the Mohawk Akash. Meanwhile, The Black Sparrow has problems of her own. The sadistic Orlando has overdosed on Dr. Ravels super serum and he's out for blood. And just what is the lost treasure of the Templars that the Mohawks guard so jealously? Find out in the exciting conclusion of NOIR!

With the regular Miss Fury series coming to an end in February, it's easy to get the sense that this may be the last we see of this character for a while.  However, writer Victor Gischler made an interesting comment during an interview recently when asked about his dream line-up for Noir.

VG: I don't really know what the plans are beyond this first arc. But the real dream for a book like this is that the line-up could always be changing. Sparrow and Miss Fury this time ... maybe Miss Fury and Green Hornet next time. Or The Back Sparrow and Doc Savage. You could crack open a beer and daydream about the possibilities all day.

Sure could. I don't expect additional volumes of Noir, but there's nothing to suggest that a similar limited series could not appear in the future.  Dynamite has apparently developed a strategy along the lines of late, and Miss Fury's time-hopping aspect may make it easier to include her in any number of books.  So here's hoping.

Black Bat to guest-star in Captain Action novel

Got wind of an upcoming Black Bat appearance from 13th Dimension blog, by way of a Black Bat themed Facebook group.  Here is an excerpt from the post which made mention of it:

Below are the roughs by Rob Davis...for the sequel to (Jim) Beard’s “Captain Action: Riddle of the Glowing Men.” Included are a preliminary character study for one of the female leads … and the appearance of a different Bat-winged hero.

And here's our man:

The book is being published by Airship 27.  It is hardly their first handling of the character; they've had two novels dedicated to him specifically.  I have yet to read them but they will find their way into my collection before long, no doubt.

From a giant Nazi-bred monster to a gun-slinging Commie assassin, here are four brand new tales by Andrew Salmon, Aaron Smith, Mark Justice and Frank Schildiner starring the master of the night, the Black Bat, once again thrilling pulp fans with his daring exploits. Long considered the template from which dozens of comic book heroes were inspired, including Marvel’s Daredevil and DC’s Batman, the Black Bat is truly one of the most unique characters ever born of the pulps.

The above was released in mid-2010. The four stories are told over 208 pages.  It can be purchased from Amazon, as can the second volume.

It also includes four stories but is a slightly shorter read at 176 pages.

If you are into characters from that era to any degree, you owe it to yourself to work your way through Airship 27's online catalogue. They have a huge selection featuring a wide variety of pulp characters, some classic and some original creations.  It's hard to believe you wouldn't find something to enjoy.

Noir #4 Solicitation

The bulk of Dynamite's February solicitations were revealed about two weeks ago but the fourth issue of the Noir mini series, which features Miss Fury, did not appear among them.

This surprised me a bit, but the Black Bat book did skip a month recently.  Dynamite has a history of falling behind with books, so I assumed that they were trying to avoid to promote a book they knew full well they would not be able to produce on time, for whatever reason.

The publisher has finally updated its website to include the solicitations and Noir #4 does appear among them.  So maybe they just didn't submit it to news outlets earlier in the month.  Regardless, it's there now and presumably will be available on time.  There was also an alternative cover to Black Bat #9 revealed, which I've displayed at the bottom of this post.

NOIR #4 (of 5)
Writer: Victor Gischler
Art: Andrea Mutti

In the Labyrinth of the Templars, The Black Sparrow and Miss Fury follow the deranged villains Orlando and Minerva on a trail of a lost treasure. Along the way, they dodge traps and pitfalls and learn of the Templar connection to the Mohawk Tribe. Will the ladies be forced to join forces with the bad guys to attain their goal, or will one stab the other in the back at the first opportunity. Blazing guns, snapping bullwhips and the looming shroud of betrayal await you in the next issue of Noir.

Dynamite Entertainment's Bat/Fury February 2014 Solicitations

And they come with disappointing news.

MISS FURY #11
Writer: Rob Williams
Art: Jack Herbert

FINAL ISSUE! With Miss Fury now allied with US Naval Intelligence she is parachuted into wartime Europe in order to track down Schauburger's laboratory in Germany. Can she find her kidnapped lover, Captain Chandler, there? And who is attacking Schauburger during his garbled ghostly messages? Nazi forces are everywhere but a war can be fought on many fronts, as Miss Fury is about to discover...

The BLACK BAT #9
Writer: Brian Buccellato
Art: Ronan Cliquet

To save Carol Baldwin's life, the Black Bat must do the unthinkable and break his most hated enemy out of prison. But will doing so cement his status as an outlaw? Also, the police start to lose their grip on the city as vigilantism takes hold with disastrous results.

These two items are from an "exclusive first look" at the solicitations that Comic Vine posted.  The fourth issue of Noir should also come out that month, but it was not included in the first look.  When its solicitation is available, I'll add it here.

And so ends the Miss Fury series, unfortunately.

Now historically Dynamite would tend to forget about characters that did not sell well for them.  Of late they've improved on that level though.  They have restored their 1940's version of the Green Hornet, for example, and have included some of their character in other books, much like they did for both The Black Bat and Miss Fury in Masks (and Fury in Noir).  So it's not necessarily the end for our leading lady.

And quite frankly, I believe The Black Bat is headed for a similar fate.  Brian Buccellato's current story ends at #12 and the book isn't a top seller for the company.  As best as I could determine, it was about in the middle of the pack in  terms of sales, but several of the books that sold similar amounts are now cancelled, including Vampirella, Jennifer Blood and Green Hornet: Legacy.  The positive side of that is that those titles all had 30 plus issues published, so perhaps there's hope.

Dynamite Entertainment's Bat/Fury January Solicitations

Dynamite was so late announcing their December solicitations that it feels I just got around to posting those.  Let's have a look at what we can now expect from them in the new year.

THE BLACK BAT #8
Writer: Brian Buccellato
Art:Ronan Cliquet
The fallout from recent events changes the dynamic between Carol, the Black Bat, and the shadow organization behind his creation. Black Bat wrestles with the choices he has made, and how far he is willing to go to get justice. Are the strings attached to his redemption worth the price?

MISS FURY #10
Writer: Rob Williams
Art: Marcio Abreu
PHILADELPHIA 2 of 2. Miss Fury's search for the missing Captain Chandler continues, and US Naval Intelligence are willing to give her the top secret location of Schauburger's laboratory in Nazi Germany, but first she has to do something for them. A deal with the New York underworld to keep the docks safe from saboteurs and Axis agents has become a deal with the devil, as a new murderous costumed crazy has appeared calling himself The Mob. Miss Fury will have to return to her pulp roots in order to take down a super-villain who is all about respect...

NOIR #3 (OF 5)
Writer: Victor Gischler
Art: Andrea Mutti
The unlikely team of The Black Sparrow and Miss Fury strong arm the Mohawk Akash into revealing a map they hope will lead them to the lost treasure of the Templars. But is the map actually worthless without the rune codes? Their quest takes them deep into the wilderness and to an ancient place that's been locked away for centuries. Danger and betrayal lurk around every corner.

These solicitations were revealed by Newsarama earlier today but they are likely incomplete as they do not include other standards like Vampirella, Red Sonja, etc. It's possible (but doubtful) that either Black Bat or Fury appear in other books in January so we'll keep an ear to the ground.

Sensational Sundays 1941-1944

This came out last week, but I only found out about it today.

Eisner Award-nominee for BEST ARCHIVAL COLLECTION!

Reprinting every Miss Fury Sunday page from the beginning in April 1941 through April 1944 (where IDW's companion volume picks up), we learn the origins of Miss Fury and her skin-tight panther costume - complete with its sharp claws on her hands and her feet!

By day, she was socialite Marla Drake - by night, the costumed adventuress Miss Fury. These early exploits introduce all of the memorable characters who remained in the strip for the rest of the decade: the one-armed General Bruno, the Baroness Erica Von Kampf (with a swastika branded on her forehead), Albino Jo, and the all-American Gary Hale and Detective Carey, who each vies for Marla's affections. The stories range from downright kinky to all-out action against Nazis, spies, cuthroats, and thieves.

Edited by Trina Robbins and designed by Lorraine Turner.

The "companion" volume had a release date of June 2011 and reprints material from 1944 to 1949.  I have no idea why it came out two years earlier when it contains the latter material, but presumably there's a good reason.

I've read reviews that state that the current Dynamite Entertainment Miss Fury series is nothing like the original version.  That may be so, but I can see why writer Rob Williams felt comfortable with including a healthy dose of wackiness.  Albino Jo indeed.