shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Nov 20, 2018 6:00:21 GMT -5
Then only appealing aspect of this too-bad-to-be-bland cover is the Cardy Batman, which I can't place (or find) for the life of me. Some reprint title? Or was he drawn specifically to save this cover? Maybe Grell drew a Batman figure that was just too awful to put there? It does kind of amaze me that no one was concerned about launching a new title with such a lackluster cover and such a ridiculous villain. More evidence that they already knew the Batgirl/Robin duo was hot and would sell regardless? |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2018 9:03:42 GMT -5
Then only appealing aspect of this too-bad-to-be-bland cover is the Cardy Batman, which I can't place (or find) for the life of me. Some reprint title? Or was he drawn specifically to save this cover? Maybe Grell drew a Batman figure that was just too awful to put there? It does kind of amaze me that no one was concerned about launching a new title with such a lackluster cover and such a ridiculous villain. More evidence that they already knew the Batgirl/Robin duo was hot and would sell regardless? Superman Family and Tarzan Family were continuations of previous titles so there were stories already in the pipeline. Batman Family used a story that was supposed to appear in First Issue Special. And Super Team Family was all reprint the first issue because they did not have a new story ready to go.
The question is why did DC "rush" to get these titles on the stands instead of waiting another few months?
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Nov 20, 2018 9:05:41 GMT -5
It does kind of amaze me that no one was concerned about launching a new title with such a lackluster cover and such a ridiculous villain. More evidence that they already knew the Batgirl/Robin duo was hot and would sell regardless? Superman Family and Tarzan Family were continuations of previous titles so there were stories already in the pipeline. Batman Family used a story that was supposed to appear in First Issue Special. And Super Team Family was all reprint the first issue because they did not have a new story ready to go.
The question is why did DC "rush" to get these titles on the stands instead of waiting another few months?
The most obvious answer would seem to be trying to play "catch-up" with Marve's Giant-Size books, which had been on shelves since 1974. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2018 9:08:17 GMT -5
Superman Family and Tarzan Family were continuations of previous titles so there were stories already in the pipeline. Batman Family used a story that was supposed to appear in First Issue Special. And Super Team Family was all reprint the first issue because they did not have a new story ready to go.
The question is why did DC "rush" to get these titles on the stands instead of waiting another few months?
The most obvious answer would seem to be trying to play "catch-up" with Marve's Giant-Size books, which had been on shelves since 1974. I agree. And IMO DC took Marvel's idea and made it even better when these titles (and a few others) morphed into the Dollar Comics format.
Counterpoint: DC had already done this with their 100 page spectaculars a few years prior to this with a new story and the rest of the issue being reprints. So in some ways they were adapting their previous format and fine tuning it for better results.
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Post by MDG on Nov 20, 2018 10:10:12 GMT -5
Superman Family and Tarzan Family were continuations of previous titles so there were stories already in the pipeline. Batman Family used a story that was supposed to appear in First Issue Special. And Super Team Family was all reprint the first issue because they did not have a new story ready to go.
The question is why did DC "rush" to get these titles on the stands instead of waiting another few months?
The most obvious answer would seem to be trying to play "catch-up" with Marve's Giant-Size books, which had been on shelves since 1974. One fact that is often overlooked in discussions about comic book schedules and deadlines is that press time was often scheduled months in advance and publishers were on the hook to pay the printer whether the book was ready or not. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Nov 20, 2018 15:14:46 GMT -5
This is something I'd love to have the complete run of. As it is, I do have four issues. I just love the idea of the Batman Family. Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Man-Bat, I love them all, and it was also a kick for me to see Batwoman and the original Bat-Girl appear in some issues, as well!
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Nov 21, 2018 9:46:01 GMT -5
Batman Family #2 (December 1975)  As @md62 pointed out, there was a rushed feeling to issue #1, presumably because DC was desperately trying to reclaim shelf space being conquered by Marvel's expanding line of Giant-Size comics. But how, two months later, do we get a follow-up issue of all reprints? Certainly, DC had time to catch its breath by this point, assign a permanent creative team, and get ahead on deadlines? Anyone buying this comic last issue will see absolutely none of what was promised there in this campy Silver Age outing from eight years earlier ("Batgirl Breaks Up the Dynamic Duo!", from Detective #369). Oh, it's still fun to a Batman fan, but not to the college-aged crowd DC was presumably trying to court with this feature. Even that cover -- couldn't they have at least had an artist draw a new cover for an old story? Of course, we do know the lead story for last issue was originally slated to appear in 1st Issue Special. Maybe it was being treated as an inventory story to fill pages at this point, and not a launching off point for a lead feature. In terms of backup features, while a text page gives background on Commissioner Gordon, he no longer receives a feature in this issue. That same text page discusses Alfred, Vicki Vale, and Ace the Bathound, as well as the original Batwoman and Batgirl. There's clearly still indecision as to what the Batman Family is and who is a member. Last time around, we seemed to be looking at characters still present in the DCU in 1975, whereas this issue is far more retro in its scope:  Perhaps Schwartz was considering going all reprint at this point, explaining the change in focus. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Nov 21, 2018 12:44:52 GMT -5
Batman Family #3 (February 1976)  The fan mail has arrived, and if we can take the letters page at its word, there was an unprecedented amount of positive reaction to the first Batgirl and Robin story, so much that they felt the need to expand the letter column to two pages here. Perhaps that explains the return of new Elliot S! Maggin Batgirl and Robin content to the book, or maybe last issue's reprint was just a hiccup/placeholder until this one could get finished. Of course, the majority of the reactions on that letter page are in response to the big kiss in the first issue, and Bob Rozakis (who the GCD credits for answering the letters here) is quick to douse that fire, explaining that it was just a stunt by Batgirl to silence Robin, and further pointing out that Babs is at least 25 at this point, while Robin is still a teen.  Well, that may be how Rozakis is seeing it, but Maggin and José Luis García-López go on to provide a story where the synergy between the two while fighting monsters is unmistakable, as well as little moments like this one:  There's no doubt in my mind that this book is selling us on a romance, regardless of what the letters page says. "Isle of a Thousand Thrills!" Script: Elliot S! Maggin Pencils: José Luis García-López [as J. L. Garcia Lopez] Inks: Vince Colletta Colors: ? Letters: ? grade: B- Like the first Maggin Batgirl and Robin adventure, this isn't a particularly good story (Batgirl and Robin fight a variety of dinosaurs and secret police before learning they were all illusions), and yet what this story does for the Batgirl/Robin relationship makes it worthwhile, all the same. The fight scenes showcase immense instinctive coordination between the two, hinting at a potential blossoming romance, all while the two work hard to keep their secrets from one another:  But, as with the first team-up, Maggin gives us that shocking final moment in the story that makes our mouths drop once again. This time, it isn't a kiss:  ...and the "will they, won't they" component of this series heats up further. Incidentally, Maggins opts to be mysterious about how the two figured out each other's identities, but seriously...Babs, Dick, Batgirl, and Robin, all appearing in (first) Gotham, (then) Washington, and (now) Provincetown...it's really not hard to connect the dots, especially for two trained detectives. Worthwhile plot? No. But worthwhile story in general, yes. Absolutely. Important Details:- Batgirl and Robin learn each other's secret identities. - Dick is no longer working for Babs in Washington:  - Dick is still an active Teen Titan, even if we have no idea what that team has been up to since their title was cancelled more than a year ago:  Minor Details:- Let's forego the speculating about how a movie producer invented convincing illusions that can physically interact with real objects and wonder, instead, why this technology and the fantasy island he creates with it never get mentioned again:  Maybe he'll go on to build the X-Men's Danger Room... - Apparently, Elliot S! Maggin likes his Monty Python:  Backup reprint features for this issue include the following: "The Challenge of Batwoman" from Batman #105 "Crimes of the Kite-Man" Batman #133 "The Year 3000!" from Batman #26 |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Nov 21, 2018 14:01:33 GMT -5
Batman Family #4 (April 1976)  Probably the most interesting aspects of this issue happen on the letters page, where Bob Rozakis offers the explanation about the first issue's lead story originally being intended for 1st Issue Special, as well as why Batman Family #2 contained a reprint as its lead feature:  But, perhaps more importantly, Rozakis goes on to make it clear that I'm not wrong about the title's focus being totally uncertain at this point. They're still trying to figure out what readers want from this volume and aren't shy about asking:  Thus, our backup features explore yet another interpretation of what it means to be a member of the "Batman Family" this issue (seriously? Elongated Man??), and a new experiment is tried with our lead feature(s) as well: "Cage Me or Kill Me!" Script: Elliot S! Maggin Pencils: Pablo Marcos Inks: Vince Colletta Colors: ? Letters: ? grade: C- There appears to be no doubt that Batgirl and Robin are the primary selling points of this book but (perhaps due to negative reactions to the kiss in issue #1, or perhaps due to the age difference Rozakis himself pointed out last issue) the question is now whether they sell the book better together or separately. And thus, this lead feature is a team-up between Batgirl and...her dad. It's adequate. Very very adequate.  The charm of Maggins' first two scripts came from the chemistry between Batgirl and Robin. He proves far less adequate trying to sell us on the father/daughter dynamic. And so this is a pretty straightforward plot about protecting a guy from a gang that wants to kill him, with a little bit of shooting, a little bit of talking, and truly no real charm. Robin's White (Very) Christmas! Script: Bob Rozakis Pencils: José Delbo Inks: Vince Colletta Colors: ? Letters: ? grade: C- Forgiving that title mistake (they clearly meant "Very White Christmas!"), this marks Bob Rozakis' first time writing Robin. He will go on to resurrect the Teen Titans title at the end of this year. But rather than feeling like something new, this is a throwback to Robin's solo backup stories that ran in Batman and Detective from 1969 thru 1973. It picks up with the old cast of characters as if three years hadn't passed:  Strange then that Elliot S! Maggin isn't writing this story since he was the final writer on that run. Perhaps he gave Rozakis an outline to work from? Anyway, I seldom cared for these stories and (to be completely honest) barely paid attention for this one. Looking forward to the return of the Batgirl/Robin team-ups next issue. Minor Details:How many times did this letters page give space to fans who had designed new costumes for Robin? Norm Breyfogle won't be contributing until issue #13, but I do like the first and eighth designs here:  Backup reprint features for this issue include the following: "Batman Meets Fatman" (from Batman #113) The Secret War of the Phantom General (w/ Elongated Man, from Detective Comics #343) |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2018 14:14:02 GMT -5
Batman Family #3 (February 1976) -- I do remember seeing this book and I only read it once back then and that's pretty much sums up that book and sadly that's was the only time; and the only one story that made an impact was "Isle of a Thousand Thrills!" and seeing that cool Robin Cycle was totally awesome. That's my only memory of that story ... |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2018 15:06:23 GMT -5
my favorites from these issues...the reprint of the Batman Family circa 1961, the Robin fan costumes, and the moment Robin and Batgirl acknowledge each other's true identities. Bronze Age gold!
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Post by EdoBosnar on Nov 21, 2018 15:13:34 GMT -5
How many times did this letters page give space to fans who had designed new costumes for Robin? Norm Breyfogle won't be contributing until issue #13, but I do like the first and eighth designs here: What?! No love for the American Gladiator look in the lower left-hand corner? Also, I remember the mid- and late 1970s; the fourth outfit in the top row wouldn't have looked out of place in any JC Penney or Sears catalog of the time. Meanwhile, I wonder what Jim Starlin thought of Jamie Hightower's entry?
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Post by codystarbuck on Nov 21, 2018 15:24:57 GMT -5
Batman Family #3 (February 1976)  She may not be revealing his identity, so much as describing his personality.....................................
"Fetch..........................THE COMFY CHAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" |
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Post by codystarbuck on Nov 21, 2018 15:28:30 GMT -5
Batman Family #4 (April 1976)  How many times did this letters page give space to fans who had designed new costumes for Robin? Norm Breyfogle won't be contributing until issue #13, but I do like the first and eighth designs here: I vote for the bell bottoms, if Batgirl gets hip-huggers and a bright print blouse (polyester, of course). Bonus points if Batman get a grey and blue leisure suit. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2018 15:56:11 GMT -5
Batman Family #4 (April 1976) But, perhaps more importantly, Rozakis goes on to make it clear that I'm not wrong about the title's focus being totally uncertain at this point. They're still trying to figure out what readers want from this volume and aren't shy about asking: Absolutely Batman Family stumbled out of the gate. Superman Family did not have this problem as it folded 3 existing titles (Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Supergirl) into one title. Other than solo back ups in Detective Comics Batgirl and Robin didn't have their own title at that time. I think DC was trying to "copy" Superman Family and seeing what 3rd feature would be good for the title. |
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