The Best Drawn Batman Comic? Michael Golden's Batman Special!

[@JohnBeatty]

Golden did the pencils and inks for some of the pages. Layouts for the whole book. Mike DeCarlo did inks on the job after Golden had to meet a deadline and give up inking the whole job. If you have a good eye for Golden, you'll be able to tell what Golden inked!!

[@russworks2882]

The DeCarlo finishes are good, but definitely harsher than the Golden-inked pages, which happen early on. Still a nice comic, but it could've been perfect.

[@toddblackwood129]

@ John Beatty Art betcha a hundred bucks that’s an uncredited Gary Martin inking backgrounds as well, the ‘Martin’s Moving Service’ on the double page spread gives him away! :)

[@JohnBeatty]

@@russworks2882 Golden actually did ink some choice panels and almost another full page near the back of the book.

[@russworks2882]

@@JohnBeatty I'll have to dig it out and have a look.

[@nigelcox-hagan6820]

Ed and Jim : you’ve asked what we like to see and what unfinished comic series we’d like to see completed. I think a perfect pick would be the 1980s DC series Thriller by Robert Loren Fleming and Trevor Von Eeden. The story is unique, the art is exceptional and no one seems to remember this comic at all.

[@toddblackwood129]

I remember! And didn’t Lynn Varley color it as well?

[@djobiwan47]

I asked for this recently on IG. Loved Thriller.

[@ne47]

Golden did a DAMN good job ! He did some pencils ✏ in "Batman Family" back in the 1970s . Now, for me however, Neal Adams' work on the caped crusader is the "GOAT!" . . .

[@russworks2882]

He did an interesting run on Batman Family when Milgrom was editor. I really like the Demon and Man-Bat back-ups that came just before they gave him the lead Batman strip, some of which were inked by P.Craig Russell.

[@carstenmaat4653]

I was 12 years old when reading this and I knew that I was in for a special treat right after the first pages. (And I love the DC hardcover of his collected BATMAN tales. )

[@theswan1852]

I started this vid half way through and recognized DeCarlo. I loved this comic when I was young, but I remember DeCarlo was the first guy to ink Aparo. He stiffened things up and took the grace out, I thought. Again, so weird to be having 16 year old thoughts reoccur 34 years later.

[@bobhoskins-kl6ue]

9:29 left hand page bottom right panel, that is a straight up Todd Mcfarlane face, and her figure in the top panel reminds me of Art Adams

[@ahmedt2146]

For the best drawn Batman comics you need to look at Norm Breyfogles work- hands down the best monthly Batman artist there ever was- his work in the 90s was breathtaking.

[@davidcosdesign6785]

Thank you for spotlighting this comic! I have always considered "Player on the Other Side" an unheralded classic! Great to hear your analysis of it!

[@kyleandroschuk1453]

Great book! One of my favourites since I bought it off the rack as kid. One note of correction, however - Adrienne Roy, one of the major colorists for DC, was a woman, not a guy. She was married to another major colorist for DC in the early 70s, Anthony Tollin. Keep up the great vids!

[@MisterMech]

True draftsmanship on display! Every panel is a heavy hitter of visual communication and just a real treat for the eye. That rare book whose mere existence is inspirational for a budding artist. This is why we make time to study, learn and stay in touch with the fundamentals of our craft. The level of quality from the compositions, the colors and the line work is what we should all aspire to achieve.

[@JamesHaney]

I remember getting this in 84, being amazed at the Golden/DeCarlo/Roy work. Still pick it up to wonder at this classic BATMAN tale! Thanks for the overview! 🖖♾

[@raydillon]

I really really really want a printed edition of your pen drawing book, Jim. I think that every single time I see it. Love the notebook style format and the drawings look insanely good.

[@trex19681]

Masterpiece story and art. Michael Golden is sadly forgotten in "best ever" lists, but he really is one of the greats.

[@PaulAllanBallard]

Was not expecting Pander Brothers and Arnold Drake references.

[@kuku873]

i still have my copy Michael Golden's Art is Great in this comic keep up the Good Work.

[@jpboursaw4469]

I was fortunate enought to meet Mr. Golden in 2018 and had him sign this very issue! At the time I didn't know he didn't prefer doing Super Hero material, but rather stuff like the 'Nam. Could've fooled me, with the amount of thought that went into this story! The shadow and angle work evoked modern (and not so modern) film noir. Anyway, I foolishly asked him if he'd seen the sequel story that's now reprinted with this one, and he said no. Should've been my first clue. As for the cover, the colored cityscape, or the magenta figures in the dual splash pages, those are single color overlays. That's essentially a piece of artwork on a plastic sheet laid over an existing page, and integrated in the color sepperation for the printing process. Frank Miller used this trick just as effectively for a Daredevil cover (# 181? I don't recall exactly). DD's head shot in red in the background, with Elektra's full figure heavily inked in foreground. This kind of approach has been lost in the digital age. I thought the young Wrath resembled Stallone, too. And while I see the resembleance of Grayle to Grendel's Christine Sparr, I think the were going for more of a Vargas painting look. This really was an 80's style. Like big ratted out hair. Weird times.... To my mind, this story is on of the all time best, and I think it made it into one of the volumes of Greatest Batman Stories. It even inspired an episode of the annimated "The Batman" from the early 2000's! Should've been a full length feature, but, these days you take what you can get...

[@toddblackwood129]

@JP Boursaw with all due respect, digital is your friend, my friend! Regarding DD 181: that process is called duo shade or duo tone, I know which process you’re thinking of but I thiiink that was called an overlay? And that stuff hasn’t been lost, I would argue that today’s artists don’t understand the incredible range they have at their fingertips with digital drawing. Case in point, i recreated that cover and if you want you can check it out on Instagram at @inkdrinkthink and judge for yourself! ;)

[@richardb6260]

I don't know story. But there was some sort of problem that prevented Golden from providing finished pencils.

[@richardb6260]

Michael Golden's masterpiece is Avengers Annual #10...or maybe Dr. Strange #55...no! It's G.I.Joe Annual #2... wait!...

[@toddblackwood129]

As soon as I saw that Ed McMahon drawing I knew there was no way you two would be able to ignore it... :p.

[@bobhoskins-kl6ue]

if you want to see some well drawn hands :) I'll throw my vote down again for Detective Comics #526

[@dwayneskubon3812]

The special was reprinted in the Batman in the 80's trade paperback

[@darwinblinks]

Capullo is my #1 Batman artist all time

[@donaldstarkey4646]

I use love, drawing super heroes, growing up!

[@Rob.S-]

BATMAN!

[@KingndQueens]

When do we get Red Room in HC? 😁

[@shermanium7834]

Dakota North haircut

[@mrvic9395]

What I like about this issue was the art, not the story. Young me: how can he be like Batman he ain't no billion, hasn't been trained in every fighting technique, and never went to college to study criminology. Yeah, I was that nerd =D

[@b.l.fisher8230]

Congratulations on the Bleeding Cool article!

[@oluhamilton2121]

Nash, l didn't like Mike DeCarlo inks......not for Golden

[@RichardPace]

That cover is sooooooooo bland though. . . .

[@toddblackwood129]

Buddy, that cover’s amazing! Whatchou talkin’ bout, Willis?!?