COMIC BOOK COMPULSIVE — Batman #43 UK
Batman UK #43 is a British comic reprinting ,among other things) “Bride of Batman” from Batman #79. Written and drawn by Win Mortimer. I find that I’ve got a definite ‘thing’ for this 50′s Batman, the one who had no truck with aliens and monsters (the outre adventures Grant Morrison recently reclaimed and has been collected in The Black Casebook). Maybe I’m crazy but all of the twists, gimmicks and touches of soap opera in these pleasant little crime dramas make me think of a more wholesome version of Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy. And if you have a mind to, in this outing there’s a lot of unintentional camp (they could have titled this one “Batman’s Beard”; “I never thought he’d fall for a girl!”, etc.).
And, maybe it’s just me but I do so like seeing American comic book stories of this era in b&w this way.
And the older I get, I find the more I appreciate the cartooning of Henry Boltinoff.
— Steve Bennett
I too love to see these 1950s Batman stories. But even Win Mortimer drew the cover to Batman #79, the cover story is obviously drawn by Dick Sprang and inked by Charles Paris (as Sprang himself confirmed before his death). Thanks for the good reading!
Lovely to see this Steve, but I suspect, from the little “Colour Comics” logo in the top right hand corner of the cover, and the ad for “Super Adventure Comic” that this is actually a 1950s KG Murray Australian reprint. I’ve read, though, that they had a strong export market to Britain, and actually printed copies specifically for the UK market for a time, so this may fall within that category.
And yes, it looks like Dick Sprang to me, too. Sorry to be a nit-picker…. However, I agree that classic Batman looks wonderful in B&W!
Mark
The Grand Comic Book Database says this one was drawn by Win Mortimer, which is why I gave him credit instead of Dick Sprang — it looks like Dick to me too. And you’re also right about it’s country of origin; when I do the inevitable rewrite of this entry I shall address both issues.
Thanks,
Steve