{"id":27508,"date":"2023-02-03T09:00:47","date_gmt":"2023-02-03T09:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=27508"},"modified":"2023-02-01T20:01:44","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T20:01:44","slug":"tales-of-the-batman-carmine-infantino-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2023\/02\/03\/tales-of-the-batman-carmine-infantino-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Tales of the Batman: Carmine Infantino"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" \"\"
\nBy Carmine Infantino<\/strong>, Gardner Fox<\/strong>, John Broome<\/strong>, Cary Bates<\/strong>, Gerry Conway<\/strong>, Don Kraar<\/strong>, Mike Barr<\/strong>, Geoff Johns<\/strong> & various (DC Comics)
\nISBN: 978-1-4012-4755-3 (HB\/Digital edition)<\/p>\n

Born on May 24th<\/sup> 1925, Carmine Michael Infantino was one of the greatest comic artists America ever produced: a multi-award-winning innovator who was there when comic books were born, reshaped the industry in the Silver Age and was still making fans when he died in 2013.<\/p>\n

As an illustrator he co-created and initially visualised Black Canary<\/strong>, Detective Chimp<\/strong>, Pow-Wow Smith<\/strong>, the Silver Age Flash<\/strong>, Elongated Man<\/strong>, Deadman<\/strong>, Batgirl<\/strong>, Dial H for Hero<\/strong> and Human Target<\/strong> and revitalised characters such as Adam Strange<\/strong> and Batman<\/strong>. He worked for numerous companies, and at Marvel ushered in a new age by illustrating the licensed Star Wars<\/strong> comic book whilst working on titles and characters such as The<\/strong> Avengers<\/strong>, Daredevil<\/strong>, Ms. Marvel<\/strong>, Nova<\/strong>, Star-Lord<\/strong> and Spider-Woman<\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n

His work on two separate iterations of the Batman newspaper strip is fondly remembered and whilst acting as Art Director and Publisher of National DC, he oversaw the most critically acclaimed period in the company\u2019s history, ushering in the \u201crelevancy\u201d era and poaching Jack Kirby from Marvel to create the Fourth World<\/strong>, Kamandi<\/strong>, The Demon<\/strong> and others\u2026<\/p>\n

Very much – and repeatedly – the right man at the right time and place, Infantino shaped American comic book history like few others, and this bumper compendium comprehensively covers his contributions to the lore of Batman: collecting the stunning covers from Detective Comics<\/strong> #327-347, 349, 351-371, 500 and Batman<\/strong> #166-175, 181, 183-185, 188-192, 194-199 plus the Bat-Saga stories he drew for Detective <\/strong>#327, 329, 331, 333, 335, 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347, 349, 351, 353, 357, 359, 361, 363, 366-367, 369, and 500.<\/p>\n

Also included are the contents of The Brave and the Bold<\/strong> #172, 183, 190, 194 and DC Comics Presents: Batman<\/strong> #1: an artistic association cumulatively spanning May 1964 to September 2004.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m assuming everybody here loves comics and that we\u2019ve all had the same unpleasant experience of trying to justify that passion to somebody. Excluding your partner (who is actually right – the living room floor is not the place to leave your $\u00c2\u00a3#!D*&$\u00c2\u00a3!<\/em> funnybooks) even today, many people have an entrenched and erroneous view of strip art, resulting in a frustrating and futile time as you tried to dissuade them from that opinion.<\/p>\n

If so, this collection might be the book you want next time that confrontation occurs. It offers breathtaking examples of the prolific association of one the industry\u2019s greatest illustrators with possibly the artform\u2019s greatest creation.<\/p>\n

Many of these \u201cLight Knight\u201d sagas stem from a period which saw the Dynamic Duo deftly reshaped for global Stardom – and subsequent fearful castigation from fans – as the template for the Batman<\/strong> TV show of the 1960s. It should be noted, however, that the producers and researchers took their creative impetus from stories of the era preceding the \u201cNew Look Batman\u201d <\/em>– as well as the original l940s movie serial\u2026<\/p>\n

So, what happened?<\/p>\n

By the end of 1963, editor Julius Schwartz had spectacularly revived much of National\/DC\u2019s line – and the entire industry – with his modernisation of the superhero, and was then asked to work his magic with the creatively stalled and nigh-moribund Caped Crusaders.<\/p>\n

Bringing his usual team of top-notch creators with him, Schwartz stripped down and back to the core-concept, downplaying aliens, outlandish villains and daft transformation tales to bring a cool modern take on combatting criminals. He even oversaw a streamlining and rationalisation of the art style itself.<\/p>\n

The most apparent innovation was a yellow circle around the Bat-symbol, but far more importantly, the stories also changed. A subtle aura of genuine menace re-entered the comfortable and absurdly abstract world of Gotham City.<\/p>\n

Infantino was key to the changeover that reshaped a legend – but this was while still pencilling Silver Age superstar The<\/strong> Flash<\/strong> – so, despite generating the majority of covers, Infantino\u2019s interior art was limited to alternate issues of Detective<\/strong> Comics<\/strong> with the lion\u2019s share of narrative handled by Bob Kane\u2019s then-uncredited deputies Sheldon Moldoff, Joe Giella, Chic Stone & others, plus occasional guest artists such as Gil Kane\u2026<\/p>\n

Punctuated throughout by his chronologically sequenced covers, Infantino\u2019s part in the storytelling revolution began then and kicks off here with Detective<\/strong> #327 – written by John Broome and inked by Joe Giella at the very peak of their own creative powers.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Mystery of the Menacing Mask!\u2019<\/em> is a cunning \u201cHowdunnit?\u201d, long on action and moody peril, as discovery of a criminal \u201cunderground railroad\u201d leads Gotham Gangbusters Batman and Robin to a common thug seemingly able to control them with his thoughts\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2018Castle with Wall-To-Wall Danger!\u2019 <\/em>(Detective<\/strong> #329 with Broome and Giella in their respective roles) follows: a captivating international thriller with the heroes braving a deadly death-trap in Swinging England in pursuit of a dastardly thief.<\/p>\n

A rare full-length story in #331 co-starred Elongated Man<\/strong> Ralph Dibny<\/em>. He was Detective<\/strong> Comics<\/strong>\u2019 new back-up feature: a costumed sleuth blending the charm of Nick (The Thin Man)<\/strong> Charles with the outr\u00e9 heroic antics of Plastic<\/strong> Man<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The \u2018Museum of Mixed-Up Men\u2019 <\/em>(Broome & Infantino) united the eclectic enigma-solvers against a super-scientific felon, whilst in #333 Batman & Robin fought a faux goddess and genuine telepaths in the \u2018Hunters of the Elephants\u2019 Graveyard!\u2019<\/em>, written by Gardner Fox and inked by Giella.<\/p>\n

The same team revealed the \u2018Trail of the Talking Mask!\u2019 <\/em>in #335, giving the Dynamic Duo an opportunity to reinforce their sci-fi credentials in a classy high-tech thriller guest-starring private detective Hugh Rankin<\/em> (of \u201cMystery Analysts of Gotham City\u201d fame) before \u2018The Deep-Freeze Menace!\u2019 <\/em>(Detective<\/strong> #337 delivered a fearsome fantasy chiller pitting Batman against a super-powered caveman encased in ice for 50,000 years\u2026<\/p>\n

DC\u2019s inexplicable (but deeply cool) long-running love-affair with gorillas resulted in a cracking doom-fable as \u2018Batman Battles the Living Beast-Bomb!\u2019 <\/em>(#339) highlighted the hero\u2019s physical prowess in a duel of wits and muscles against a sinister, super-intelligent simian.<\/p>\n

Up until this time the New Look Batman was forging his more realistic path, as the TV series was still in pre-production. The Batman<\/strong> TV show (premiering on January 12th<\/sup> 1966 and running for three seasons of 120 episodes in total) aired twice weekly for its first two seasons, resulting in vast amount of Bat-awareness, no end of spin-offs and merchandise – including a movie – and the overkill phenomenon of \u201cBatmania\u201d.<\/p>\n

No matter how much we might squeal and foam about it, a huge portion of this planet\u2019s population Batman will always regard that \u201cZap! Biff! Pow!\u201d \u00a0buffoonish costumed boy scout as The Real Deal\u2026<\/p>\n

Regrettably this means that the comic stories published during that period have been similarly excoriated and maligned by most Bat-fans ever since. It is true that some tales were crafted with overtones of the \u201ccamp\u201d comedy fad – presumably to accommodate newer readers seduced by the arch silliness and coy irony of the show – but no editor of Schwartz\u2019s calibre would ever deviate far from the characterisation that had sustained Batman for nearly 30 years, or the then-recent re-launch which had revitalised the character sufficiently for television to take an interest at all.<\/p>\n

Nor would such brilliant writers as John Broome, Bill Finger, Gardner Fox and Robert Kanigher ever produce work which didn\u2019t resonate on all the Batman\u2019s intricate levels just for a quick laugh or cheap thrill. The artists tasked with sustaining the visual intensity included Infantino, Moldoff, Stone, Giella, Murphy Anderson and Sid Greene, with covers from Gil Kane and Joe Kubert supplementing Infantino\u2019s stunning, trend-setting, fine-line masterpieces.<\/p>\n

Most of the tales here reflect those gentler times and editorial policy of focusing on Batman\u2019s reputation as \u201cThe World\u2019s Greatest Detective\u201d, so colourful, psychotic costumed super-villains are in a minority, but there are first appearances for a number of exotic foes who would become regular menaces for the Dynamic Duo in years to come.<\/p>\n

Broome & Infantino detailed the screen-inspired, comedically-catastrophic campaign of \u2018The Joker\u2019s Comedy Capers!\u2019 <\/em>in #341, with the mayhem and mystery continuing in Detective Comics<\/strong> #343 (September 1965) with \u2018The Secret War of the Phantom General!\u2019<\/em>: a tense thriller pitting our hard-pressed heroes against a hidden army of gangsters and Nazi war criminals.<\/p>\n

Detective<\/strong> #345 brought forth a terrifying and tragic new villain in \u2018The Blockbuster Invasion of Gotham City!\u2019 <\/em>(scripted by Fox), as a monstrous giant with the mind of a child and the raw, physical power of a tank is driven to destructive madness at sight of Batman and only placated by the sight of Bruce Wayne<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2018The Strange Death of Batman!\u2019 <\/em>(Fox, in Detective <\/strong>#347) fired the opening shot of habitual B-list villain the Bouncer<\/em> in a bizarre experimental yarn which has to be seen to be believed, whereas it\u2019s business as usual when monstrous, microcephalic man-brute returns in \u2018The Blockbuster Breaks Loose!\u2019<\/em>: a blistering, action-fuelled thriller from Fox, Infantino & Giella first seen in Detective<\/strong> #349. This tale sports a cover by Infantino\u2019s colleague Joe Kubert whilst also hinting at the return of a long-forgotten foe\u2026<\/p>\n

Detective<\/strong> #351 premiered game-show host turned felonious impresario Arthur Brown<\/em> in a twisty, puzzle-packed battle of wits detailing \u2018The Cluemaster\u2019s Topsy-Turvy Crimes!\u2019 <\/em>(Fox, Infantino & Sid Greene) after which the action accelerates as \u2018The Weather Wizard\u2019s Triple-Treasure Thefts!\u2019<\/em> (Fox\/Giella in #353) bring a torrent of trouble to Gotham and the Dynamic Duo battle in spectacular opposition to the Flash<\/strong>\u2019s meteorological arch-enemy. This was one of the earliest times a Silver Age DC villain moved out of his usual haunts\u2026<\/p>\n

Detective <\/strong>#357 then delivers a clever secret identity saving puzzler when – apparently – \u2018Bruce Wayne Unmasks Batman!\u2019 <\/em>(Broome, Infantino & Giella) as a prelude to big changes in the Batman mythos\u2026<\/p>\n

After three seasons (perhaps two and a half would be more accurate) the Batman<\/strong> show ended in March, 1968. It had clocked up 120 episodes since the US premiere. The era ended but the series had instilled an undeniable effect on the world, the comics industry and – crucially – on the characters and history of its four-colour inspiration. Most notable was a whole new caped crusader who would become an integral part of the DC universe.<\/p>\n

The comic book premiere of that aforementioned character came in \u2018The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl\u2019 <\/em>(Detective Comics<\/strong>#359, cover-dated January 1967). Fox provided art team supreme Infantino & Greene a ripping yarn to introduce Barbara Gordon<\/em> (mousy librarian and daughter of the Police Commissioner) into the superhero limelight. Thus, by the time the third season began on September 14th<\/sup>, 1967, she was well-established among comics fans at least\u2026<\/p>\n

A different Batgirl – Betty Kane<\/em> (teenaged niece of the 1950s Batwoman<\/strong>) – was already a nearly-forgotten comics fixture, but for reasons far too complex and irrelevant to mention, she was conveniently ignored to make room for a new, empowered woman in the fresh and fashionable tradition of Emma Peel<\/strong>, Honey West<\/strong> and the Girl From U.N.C.L.E.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBabs\u201d was considered pretty hot too, which is always a plus for television\u2026<\/p>\n

Whereas she fought The Penguin<\/em> on the small screen, her print origin features the no less ludicrous but at least visually forbidding Killer Moth<\/em> in a clever yarn that still stands up today.<\/p>\n

Editor Schwartz always preferred to play-up mysteries and crime conundrums in Detective Comics<\/strong> and #361\u2019s \u2018The Dynamic Duo\u2019s Double-Deathtrap!\u2019 <\/em>was one of Fox\u2019s best, especially as drawn by the now increasingly over-stretched Infantino & Greene. The plot involves Cold War spies and a maker of theatrical and stage paraphernalia; I shall reveal no more to keep you guessing when you read it\u2026<\/p>\n

Detective <\/strong>#363 was a full co-starring vehicle as the Dynamic Duo challenged the new Batgirl to deduce Batman\u2019s secret identity whilst tracking down enigmatic Mr. Brains<\/em> in \u2018The True-False Face of Batman!\u2019<\/em>, leading to a taut suspense thriller stretching across Detective<\/strong> #366 & 367 – an almost unheard-of event in those cautiously reader-friendly days\u2026<\/p>\n

As devised by Fox, Infantino & Greene, \u2018The Round Robin Death Threats\u2019 <\/em>involves a diabolical murder-plot threatening to destroy Gotham\u2019s worthiest citizens, with the tension peaking and drama concluding in high style with \u2018Where There\u2019s a Will\u2026 There\u2019s a Slay!\u2019<\/em>: a dark and deadly denouement barely marred by that dreadful title\u2026<\/p>\n

It was just a symptom of the times – as is Detective<\/strong> #369 (November 1967) – which somewhat reinforces boyhood prejudices about icky girls in otherwise classy thriller \u2018Batgirl Breaks Up the Dynamic Duo!\u2019<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

Here, Robin seemingly abandons Batman for a vivaciously curvaceous new partner, and the best of clandestine reasons, ignominiously signalling – other than for the occasional cover – the end of Infantino\u2019s tenure as a bat-illustrator.<\/p>\n

His next Bat-contribution came in anniversary landmark Detective Comics<\/strong> #500 (March 1981): part of a huge creative jam-session specifically examining the legend of the immortal hero in \u2018What Happens When a Batman Dies?\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

Scripted by Cary Bates and inked by Bob Smith, this extracted chapter from a greater saga co-stars restless revenant Deadman<\/strong> as the Gotham Guardian hovers in a coma between this world and the next, yet still manages to find a way to save himself\u2026<\/p>\n

The cover is another collaborative effort with Dick Giordano, Jos\u00e9 Luis Garc\u00eda-L\u00f3pez, Joe Kubert & Tom Yeates all joining forces.<\/p>\n

What follows is a quartet of tales from The Brave and the Bold<\/strong>, with Jim Aparo providing covers whilst Infantino handled interior art. Issue #172 (March 1981, inked by Steve Mitchell) paired the Caped Crimebuster with Firestorm <\/strong>in Gerry Conway scripted \u2018Darkness and Dark Fire\u2019<\/em>, with the World\u2019s Greatest Detective seeking to solve the mystery of the Nuclear Man\u2019s periodic mental blackouts, after which #183 (February 1982, written by Don Krarr and inked by Mike DeCarlo) sees the crimebuster allied with The Riddler<\/strong> to prevent \u2018The Death of Batman!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

Scripter Mike Barr & inker Sal Trapani worked with Infantino on B&B <\/strong>#190 (September 1982) and #194, January 1993), respectively challenging the Dark Knight to visit planet Rann and find \u2018Who Killed Adam Strange?\u2019 <\/em>before subsequently working with the Flash against Doctor Double-X<\/em> and the Rainbow Raider<\/em> when they \u2018Trade Heroes – And Win!\u2019<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

One final Infantino fling comes from DC Comics Presents: Batman<\/strong> #1 (September 2004), courtesy of writer Geoff Johns, with inks by Giella and a retro cover from Ryan Hughes, as \u2018Batman of Two Worlds\u2019 <\/em>gets real metaphysical with narrative boundaries as the modern Batman and Robin investigate murder on the set of the 1960s Batman TV show in a bizarrely engaging romp with a mystery villain to expose\u2026<\/p>\n

The visual cavalcade then ends on a nostalgic high with \u2018Batman and Robin Retail poster\u2019 <\/em>– AKA the front cover of this titanic tome – possibly the most iconic bat-image of the entire era.<\/p>\n

Whether you tend towards the anodyne light-heartedness of Then, the socially acceptable psychopathy of assorted movie franchises or actually just like the comic book character, if you can make a potential convert sit down, shut up and actually read these wonderful adventures for all (reasonable) ages, you might find that the old adage \u201cQuality will out\u201d still holds true. And if you\u2019re actually a fan who hasn\u2019t read this classic stuff and revelled in the astounding timeless art, you have an absolute treat in store\u2026
\n\u00a9 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1981, 1982, 1983, 2004, 2014 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Carmine Infantino, Gardner Fox, John Broome, Cary Bates, Gerry Conway, Don Kraar, Mike Barr, Geoff Johns & various (DC Comics) ISBN: 978-1-4012-4755-3 (HB\/Digital edition) Born on May 24th 1925, Carmine Michael Infantino was one of the greatest comic artists America ever produced: a multi-award-winning innovator who was there when comic books were born, reshaped … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Tales of the Batman: Carmine Infantino”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[271,92,10,75,76,91,127],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adam-strange","category-batgirl","category-batman","category-crime-comics","category-dc-superhero","category-flash","category-nostalgia"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-79G","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27508","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27508"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27508\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27511,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27508\/revisions\/27511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}