BHOC: BATMAN FAMILY #3

I was a regular reader of BATMAN FAMILY, despite not being a huge Batman fan and having a limited budget to buy new comics. What the book really had going for it was that it was oversized–that big format was always a draw for young me. And I often enjoyed the reprints as much or … Continue reading BHOC: BATMAN FAMILY #3

BHOC: BATMAN FAMILY #2

BATMAN FAMILY was another new reprint series that DC tried in this period. The first issue contained a new Batgirl and Robin team-up story originally commissioned for the cancelled First Issue Special title. This second issue, by contrast, was 100% reprints, albeit a nice little selection of them. The opening tale was a solid piece … Continue reading BHOC: BATMAN FAMILY #2

BHOC: LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-39

Another big Treasury Edition was the next book I brought home, from my favorite 7-11 outlet. This SECRET ORIGINS SUPER VILLAINS (no of) contained five stories starring a number of favorite characters of mine, including the oldest Silver Age Flash story I had read up until this time. The first story up was â€œThe Man Behind … Continue reading BHOC: LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-39

BHOC: DETECTIVE COMICS #451

That’s a really pretty Dick Giordano cover. Still, I have no recollection of buying this issue of DETECTIVE COMICS, which makes me suspect that it may have been purchased by/for my brother, and eventually wound up with me. this wasn’t all that rare back in these days. I was much more of a comic book … Continue reading BHOC: DETECTIVE COMICS #451

BHOC: WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #231

WORLD’S FINEST wasn’t anything like a regular buy for me, the earliest issues of the title that I had read were somewhat odd and discordant to me–the stylistic difference between my preferred editor Julie Schwartz, and the approach favored by WF editor Murray Boltinoff. But the appearance of the Flash on this cover was enough … Continue reading BHOC: WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #231

BHOC: BATMAN #262

This issue of BATMAN marked the end of an era, and the beginning of another, shorter one. It was the first DC GIANT issue that I purchased, the smaller replacement for the 100-PAGE SPECTACULARS that I loved. Time and inflation had made that format untenable for DC, so they retrenched and reduced, coming up with … Continue reading BHOC: BATMAN #262

BHOC: LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-34

Another Treasury Edition brought home by my father, and proof positive that we were in the closing months of 1974. I would have been reading comics for a year and a half at this point. These Christmas Specials used to be a regular thing, attractive even to more casual purchasers as something that could be … Continue reading BHOC: LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-34

BHOC: FAMOUS 1st EDITION #F-5

My Dad brought this one home for me one night. He could always be counted on to pick up a new Treasury Edition if he happened to spot one during his frequent cigarette runs. I wasn’t the hugest Batman fan in the world, but just look at that cover–it is absolutely iconic. I can’t be … Continue reading BHOC: FAMOUS 1st EDITION #F-5

BHOC: BATMAN #259

A very strange cover on this issue of BATMAN, though not strange enough to keep me from purchasing it. The main image doesn’t depict Batman at all, only his special guest-star, the Shadow. I wasn’t very familiar with the Shadow at the time this book came out, but I understood that he was a precursor … Continue reading BHOC: BATMAN #259