Bram Stoker’s Dracula, #3, December 1992 (& A Topps Gallery, 1992-1995)
Better late than never — Topps Comics actually launched its first title, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, in October, not November of 1992. By mid 1993, we had film adaptions, SF anthologies, Kirby superheroes and dozens more under our belt.
It was a wild ride.
In early 2023, we will have a more extensive look back with some new art, photos, memorabilia, etc. In the meantime, here’s a gallery of previously posted art. (Each piece links to the original post.)
Recreation/ reimagination, undated, both approximately 2008
The late, great Darwyn Cooke would have turned 60 last week. Not sure what I can say that hasn’t already been said here —or more likely elsewhere — but he was arguably the greatest talent of his generation, and the work and the man are missed.
Legend has it that Darwyn and I got into some pretty heated debates during the course of our business relationship, and I confirm that is a fact. But I always knew that those arguments came from his deep passion for the craft, and, as they say, I never took it personally. The last time we saw each other was at the 2015 Comic-Con and we had a fun — but all too brief — chat about Parker, DC superheroes, and a few other odds and ends before we both needed to move on.
Like I said pal, you are missed. Catch you on the other side.
I just discovered that Sandy Jarrell @sandy_jarrell has taken all the great Darwyn recreations he can find and colored them. Love it!
Kevin Conroy THE voice of Batman for millions of bat fans, has passed at at age 66. From Comic Art Fans:
“The Bat-signal will shine a little dimmer over Gotham City tonight as word has come down that Kevin Conroy, iconic voice of Batman for generations in the Bruce Timm-verse of cartoons, has passed at age 66. Just this past he added the credit of comics writer to his resume with a short story in the DC Pride 2022 anthology about how he related his secret life as a gay man in the 80s to the Dark Knight.
“Kevin was a brilliant actor,” co-star Mark Hamill said in a statement. “For several generations, he has been the definitive Batman. It was one of those perfect scenarios where they got the exact right guy for the exact right part, and the world was better for it. His rhythms and subtleties, tones and delivery — that all also helped inform my performance. He was the ideal partner – it was such a complementary, creative experience. I couldn’t have done it without him. He will always be my Batman.”
Our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and fans around the world.”
Posting this great Batman Animated page by the great Mike Parobeck, who also passed much too soon, to remind us that, fortunately, the work will always live on.
The World Around Us #30 — Undersea Adventures, February 1961
A salute to all veterans, past and present. Thank you. Happy Veterans Day.
(This cool page is from a a multi-issue story on D-Day that ran in this Classics Illustrated sister title. Which is how you end up with a a back-up story on paratroopers in a book titled “Undersea Adventures.” Lovely pencils and inks by the talented Evans.)
Big thanks and congrats to all the folks who made this past weekend’s Baltimore Comic Con just as perfect an event could be.
It’s easily one of my favorite conventions — an absolute delight to attend. I exhausted myself catching up with old friends and colleagues, making some new acquaintance, and trying (ultimately not quite succeeding) to see all the great comics-related material in the room.
I miss all of you already.
Keith WilliamsBill MorrisonBill Cox with Scott DunbierGarth Ennis with a delighted fanMike McKoneJon B Cooke and Mike GoldCraig RosseauScott HannaJamal IgleDean HaspielJohn BeattyDavid Armstrong, Mitch Hallock, Howard Chaykin
Marking the 10th anniversary of the Death and Return of Superman, Dan Jurgens and Bill Sienkiewicz tackled a four-issue retrospective mini-series titled, appropriately, Day of Doom.
Bill’s unmistakable inks make the situation even more horrific this second time around. (This is one of the best pages in the series, as it features all four Superman characters who “returned.”)
Happy Halloween indeed — and welcome to the 30th anniversary of the Death of Superman.
Batman / Judge Dredd: Vendetta in Gotham, January 1994
Earlier this week, we posted a beautiful page from one of two Batman / Punisher crossovers. Today we have a terrific Cam Kennedy action page from the second of four Batman / Judge Dredd prestige format comics by writers Alan Grant and John Wagner.
The complete list as follows, thanks to our friends at the Grand Comic Database — GCD. (This blog would be lost without them.)
Batman / Judge Dredd: Judgment on Gotham (DC, 1991 series); Batman / Judge Dredd: Vendetta in Gotham (DC, 1993 series); Batman / Judge Dredd: The Ultimate Riddle (DC, 1995 series); Batman / Judge Dredd: Die Laughing 1,2 (DC, 1998 series).
Now all we need is Punisher / Judge Dredd crossover and we’d be all set. Unfortunately, Marvel doesn’t do crossovers anymore. Sigh.
