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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2016 17:48:24 GMT -5
Over the next several weeks I am going to review one of my favorite runs on Batman. The classic 1977-78 run was written by Steve Englehart (& Len Wein). It had awesome art by Marshall Rogers (& Walt Simonson). It brought back Hugo Strange, introduced Silver St Cloud as Bruce's love interest, featured classic Batman villains & had one of the best portrayals of the Bruce/college aged Dick relationship EVER!!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2016 18:04:11 GMT -5
 First issue written by Steve Englehart. Cover art by Jim Aparo. Interior art by Walt Simonson & Al Milgrom. "...By Death's Eerie Light"
At this time Batman was living in the penthouse at the top of the Wayne Foundation building in Gotham City instead of Wayne Manor. He arrives home to have Alfred collapse in front of him. He rushes Alfred to a hospital only to discover Gotham City is having an epidemic. Gordon shows Batman a note from a Dr Phosphorus saying Gotham has earned his wrath. Batman returns to a sub basement in the Wayne Building that recreates part of Wayne Manor. He figures out that the water is how Phosphorus is poisoning Gotham & calls Gordon. In the middle of the call Gordon succumbs to the illness.
Batman then goes to Gotham Reservoir & finds Dr Phosphorus. He is poisoning the water by soaking in it. Batman & him fight & Phosphorus gets away.
In that same issue is a back up story "The Origin of Dr Phosphorus" that reveals that he was Dr Sartorius. He was part of Gotham's wealthy elite. We are introduced to City Council Boss Rupert Thorne who persuades Sartorius to invest in the new power plant. While touring the plant the reactor core explodes & Sartorius dives behind sand bags to protect himself. Slivers of radioactive sand were driven into his body & in typical comic book science silicon (element 15) became phosphorus (element 16). He has vowed revenge on the City Council for their part in how he has become phosphorus. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2016 19:09:59 GMT -5
When I first read this issue I was in high school. I remember feeling a little disappointed. I had loved Steve's run on Capt America & the Falcon & did not feel this first issue was as good as his Cap. I am glad I stayed with the book because within a few months it would become my favorite Batman run ever. Walt's art was good but when Marshall Rogers came on the book it was the perfect marriage of words & pictures. I also liked it when Dick Grayson came back to help Batman...I can't say enough about how perfect Steve wrote the relationship between Bruce & Dick.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,873
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Post by shaxper on Jul 18, 2016 21:04:00 GMT -5
This is that run I really should have gotten to by now and just haven't. Looking forward to this.
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Post by Nowhere Man on Jul 18, 2016 21:32:35 GMT -5
I have the Strange Apparitions trade of this run. One of the best Batman runs ever. To me it's a lot like the Byrne/Stern Cap run--all too brief but hugely influential.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2016 21:33:50 GMT -5
I came to the issues as part of the Strange Apparitions trade paperback, but they have become essential yearly reading for me.
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Post by Action Ace on Jul 18, 2016 22:21:06 GMT -5
I was fortunate enough to get most of these off the stands as they came out. It is still my favorite run on Batman to this day.
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Post by adamwarlock2099 on Jul 18, 2016 23:27:42 GMT -5
This is that run I really should have gotten to by now and just haven't. Looking forward to this. Im in the same boat myself. And I have no excuses with Marshal Rogers art. Edit: Now that I think about it, I know why I wanted to read these, so I can follow you one at least one or two issues. One of the story arcs in this run was reprinted in my Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told TPB. I'll have to check which one it is when I get home. I know it has, well obviously Joker, but also Ms Saint Cloud. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2016 9:17:42 GMT -5
"The Master Plan of Dr Phosphorus" Cover art by Jim Aparo. Written by Steve Englehart. Interior art by Walt Simonson & Al Milgrom.
Batman is apprehending a criminal & when the police pull up they hand Batman a subpoena. Batman does not react to this news. Instead he goes to visit Gordon in the hospital. Alfred just happens to be his room mate (a bit of a stretch IMO). In Englehart's defense stories then were only 17 pages so some shortcuts had to be taken to tell the story. Gordon knows nothing about the subpoena. A Dr Bell comes into the room & confronts Batman. Batman is told the City Council is trying to get rid of Batman.
The scene shifts to Gotham's Sprang Memorial Arena where Phosphorus poisons the air at a rock concert. Then Batman returns to his new Batcave under the Wayne Foundation building. Englehart establishes it as an uncompleted subway project from 1938. Chief O'Hara (from the Batman TV show) calls Batman to tell him about Phosphorus' attack at the Sprang Arena. Batman discovers the burns he acquired during his fight with Phosphorus last issue are radioactive.
Batman then takes the Batboat! out to the nuclear power plant & finds it guarded. Batman retreats & throws a party aboard a yacht as Bruce Wayne. Most of the City Council is invited including Dr Bell & Council Boss Rupert Thorne. We also meet Silver St Cloud for the first time on the yacht. Bruce slips away from the party & minutes later dives into the water as Batman. He swims to the power plant sneaking past the guards.
In the center of the plant he finds Phosphorus. Batman & Phosphorus fight again but this time Batman is prepared with a radiation resistant costume (I love comic book science!). During the fight Phosphorus falls to his death into the reactor. Batman goes back to the yacht & changes back to Bruce. As he announces dinner is ready police boats race past them towards the power plant. Bruce & Silver flirt & in the last panel she notes his hair is damp. Next: Marshall Rogers & Hugo Strange... |
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Post by Nowhere Man on Jul 19, 2016 9:53:23 GMT -5
The only thing I don't like about those Simonson/Milgrom issues are the Milgrom inks. Stylistically, he didn't mesh will with Walt's pencils.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2016 10:10:55 GMT -5
When I first read this issue I felt it was a good standard tale. Dr Phosphorus was a throwaway villain. Walt's art was good but not inspired. At the time I was more interested in the last panel where it promised "the RETURN of Hugo Strange." Who? This was in 1977. No internet or google searches. I would have to wait 2 months to find out! Detective was only published 8 times a year at that time. It would become every other month (6X/year when it merged with Batman Family in 1979).
Hugo Strange predated the Joker by several months. He appeared in Detective #36, #46 & Batman #1 & did not appear again until Detective #471.
Marshall Rogers (1950-2007) would also become the artist on the next issue & his training was in architecture. His detailed drawings of buildings helped set the mood of Batman moving thru Gotham City. Marshall had acclaimed runs on Batman, Mr Miracle, Dr Strange, Silver Surfer, Detectives Inc & fill in work on many series at DC & Marvel.
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Post by adamwarlock2099 on Jul 19, 2016 10:23:27 GMT -5
Phosphorus was a villain in The Batman animated show I just recently finished watching. However on the show it was the radiated version of Firefly (Garfield Lynns). Your synopsis seems that Phosphorus was his own unique character.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2016 10:26:06 GMT -5
To prepare those of you who have never seen Marshall Rogers' art here is a cover he did for a reprint edition. Look at that detail. I apologize in advance for how much I will rave about his art. IMO he was one of the best artists during the Bronze Age. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2016 10:32:43 GMT -5
Phosphorus was a villain in The Batman animated show I just recently finished watching. However on the show it was the radiated version of Firefly (Garfield Lynns). Your synopsis seems that Phosphorus was his own unique character. You are right about the TV show. However in the comics he was his own unique character. And of course he didn't die in the reactor. He has reappeared several more times. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2016 10:33:41 GMT -5
The only thing I don't like about those Simonson/Milgrom issues are the Milgrom inks. Stylistically, he didn't mesh will with Walt's pencils. Totally agree. |
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