Posted by
Cory
This weeks top 5 comes from Tommy the editor of the Bat-Blog, and fellow reader George from the UK:
Tommy's Picks:
5. Batman 366
OK, I could say that the artist for this issue's cover was Walt Simonson & that would be enough. But I loved how he was completely rebellious by NOT putting the large Batman logo at the very top like he's suppose too, ha ha! The way the "Batman word" is placed within the whole design, it's like an homage to The Spirit Newspaper Comics done by Will Eisner. Plus, it's got the Joker!
4. Batman 243
This is the issue where I really started to realize who Neal Adams was & started to be a huge fan of his work. Plus, it's the beginning of Ra's Al Ghul. I really love the way that it's drawn too, almost hyper-realistic, with a lot of detail. You can sense the strain in Batman's muscles. Adams' drawing of anatomy was very accurate & that was not an important thing to most artists from that time period. He took comics to another level with his sense of realism. The very next issue after this one is a great cover too but I could add only five.
3. Batman 237
OK, this is a no-brainer, I mean, come on...this is Neal Adams art we're talking about! Plus, the story written by Dennis O'Neal is a complete classic, a great storyline. It dealt with social-political issues like Racism, Nazis, & the hatred of Jews. I mean, kinda hardcore! It was a very meaningful story that was NOT like most comics of it's day.
2. Batman 186
Graphically, this cover is great too but I picked it for more personal reasons. I really got into collecting comics as a young teen in the mid-1970's & this issue was the very 1st "old comic book" that I ever bought. It's from the 1960's & was a great find for me at that time. It really got me into looking for the "older comics" out there.
1. Batman 9
I knew that at least one cover had to be something from the Golden Age because I really love that era so much. I almost picked Detective Comics #27 (because it's the very 1st appearance) but Batman #9 is so completely iconic, it's just a really great image. I have seen this classic "characters in a spotlight" pose in a ton of parodies.
George's Picks:
5. Batman 237
Have to have a favourite Neal Adams cover in my top five - just such a striking cover, with so much movement - and probably my favourite Neal Adams story inside.
4. Detective Comics 473
Again - I grew up enjoying these covers in the 70's & 80's - Marshall Rogers did one of the best ever runs on Detective Comics. Beautiful cover - a homage to the Detective Comics 27 cover.
3. Batman 321
Easily my favourite cover of Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez - one of the first Batman comics I read as a kid. Just makes you want to read it to find out what happens in the story - great colours.
2. Detective Comics 569
Alan Davis is a personal favourite of mine from the 80's. A homage to the Batman 11 cover - simply brilliant.
1. Dark Knight Returns Book 1
One of the greatest and most iconic Batman images ever produced - a masterpiece.
Want to take part?
all you need to do is pick your top 5 Bat-related covers (anything that features anything from the Batman Family) then write a sentence or two on why you picked them and then email me the list at gothanknights@att.net
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Posted by
Cory
Kicking off this feature we have James the editor of World's Finest Online, a Andrew the forum moderator from our site:
James's Picks:
5. Batman #500 – Absolutely a favorite cover. The special edition one, done by Joe Quesada, I mean. It may not be the most original cover in the slightest, but this was the first Batman crossover I read growing up as a comic fan and this issue was the culmination of everything, both in the story and for the reader. To me, this cover perfectly encapsulates the “event comics” that are now so common place, especially when you take a closer look at this fine piece of work. Toss in that with a very well laid-out design and a striking rendition of our favorite Cape Crusader, with a great surprise reveal waiting for those who picked up the special enhanced cover, and you have a cover that’ll definitely be remembered. Not the most original, sure, but the visuals are striking and it’s place in Batman lore is undeniable.
3. Batman & Robin Adventures #25 – The animated Batman comics have had so many great covers. The Batman Strikes #15 almost made it on here, for example, as did Batman: The Brave and The Bold #1, Batman Adventures #1, Batman: Gotham Adventures #51, The Batman Adventures #16 and…well…I could go on and on about all the great Batman covers from the animated titles that DC Comics published over the years. There’s been so many, but I admire considerably for its dark simplicity. It’s just Batman, staring at the reader. That’s all. But it’s the white eyes that seem to just lunge at the reader here, making for an unforgettable cover splash. Sure, the interior work may not be up to snuff, but you can’t overlook this great iconic shot of Batman.
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2. Batman #348 – This lands so high because it is the first Batman comic I can remember reading. It may not have been the first actual comic I read, but it is the first I remember reading, bought from a used book store ages ago. Dipping inside, the scene where Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne have a little trouble with the iconic giant penny is a moment that stands out in my mind, providing a nice light moment in the usually bleak world of the Dark Knight. The subsequent showdown with Man-Bat also provided some great action, sprucing up the simple tale of Batman and Robin moving back into the proper Bat-Cave. All that is housed under a great little cover with our two heroes front and center while a foe peers on from the shadows. Again, not the most original cover, but when I think back to early Batman stories of my youth, this cover is what I picture.
Andrew's Pick:
5. Batman: Death in a Family TPB: Jason Todd bites the dust. Interesting yet tragic at the same time.
4. Batman # 497: Bane puts Batman on a wheelchair. This is insane!
3. Batman #612: Superman vs. Batman. What else can a comic fan ask for?!
2. Batman #686: The cover art by Alex Ross tells all. The "death" of Bruce Wayne Batman
1. Batman and Robin #6: I don't normally like pink but Frank Quitely made this cover look absolutely yummy!
Here is week one, want to take part? Go here find out what this is all about and email us your picks!
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Posted by
Cory
Over the past couple of weeks Bob, Gary and I have posted some classic covers from the Batman Universe and now we want to hear from you:
I am pleased to announce a new feature at Gotham Knights Online called Top Five Covers! The idea is to have people from all over the comic world to fans, writers, artists, editors, etc to pick their top five Batman related covers and write a sentence or two on why they picked the cover. The idea to have a new way for Batman fans to interact, and maybe find a new comic or two. The covers can be anything that is related to Batman or the Batman Universe in some way, it doesn’t have to be a direct Batman family book but it must have someone from the bat-family on it (ex: a JLA with Batman on it, or GL #9, Identity Crisis #5 which has Robin on the cover).
This feature is open to everyone who loves Batman and wants to share their favorite covers with fellow Bat-fans.
I will be posting two picks every week (if possible) on the main page of the site. So start looking through your boxes of Batman comics and come up with your top five and sentence or two (or more) on why you picked each cover and e-mail them to me at Gothamknights@att.net
Thanks and I can’t wait to see your choices!
-Cory
5. Batman #656 by Andy Kubert - I'm a huge Kubert fan and this cover really defines Batman, and Morrison's run on the title. Its Bruce against something over-the-top, and grand at the same time. Its all that, and its Batman winning the fight. Freakish man-bat assassins and he's still on top. Perfect for the character.
4. Batman #683 by Alex Ross. - While the cover is a bit busy, it does embrace everything I love about Batman. His relationship with Dick Grayson, the craziness of the Joker, the darkness that was the death of Jason Todd, and even Oracle's tragedy. Its all there and its all so subtle. I wish Bruce didn't have as many wrinkles but nothings perfect. 
3. Batman #514 by Josef Rubenstein - Simply put, this cover screams "Batman is here." No text bubbles or Robin necessary to tell us, its all in the look. Josef did an outstanding job. Coming right off of 'Prodigal', this cover readies you for more of what you really want, Bruce Wayne as Batman.
2. Detective Comics #858 by JH Williams 3 - Not much was known about Kate Kane's history before this issue, even with her initial 4 issue start, but the creepiness of this cover can not be denied. Even looking at this, you had no idea what to expect. Yes the issue was fantastic, but the covers assumption makes the read so much more.
1. Detective Comics #766 by John McCrea - This cover does indeed ask the question whether Bruce is a murder, but to actually see it is something unbelievable. Before opening the issue, you assume that it gets to this point. And now I'm thinking of what Bruce is thinking, all the people that will be affected, the cities well being without Batman, Bruce in jail..All the those possibilities cross my mind when looking at this cover, and I love it when Batman covers make me think before I read. 
4. The Killing Joke
3. Detective Comics #27
2. Detective Comics #854
1. Green Lantern #9
4. The Killing Joke
