A MORRISON MONDAYS (belated) birthday tribute to JOHN ROMITA… By BILL MORRISON I think I would get very little pushback in asserting that John Romita Sr. is one of the greatest superhero artists the comics-loving world has ever known. But I contend that he is also at the very top of the heap when it comes to romance artists. The fantastic work he did for mushy DC titles such as Young Romance, Falling in Love, Girls’ Love Stories, and Heart Throbs, and his later covers for heart-breaking Marvel books like My Love and Our Love Story, hold a top spot among the things I love and collect. So, in celebration of Mr. Romita’s birthdate (it was Saturday), I present this image I drew a decade or so ago for a project titled “Chip Kidd Presents Batman Black and White: The Sketch Covers” which benefited the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. This drawing was inspired by Romita’s cover of Young Romance #134 from 1965. Romita romance may not be your thing, but just remember that it was John’s ability to draw stunningly beautiful women and ruggedly handsome men for DC’s love books that made Stan Lee sit up and take notice. Lee offered Romita Daredevil, and then Amazing Spider-Man, knowing that John’s appealing, romantic touch was just what was needed to round out the look of Marvel’s bombastic superhero books. And if the concept of a love triangle between Batman, Batgirl, and Catwoman looks familiar, you got me! I used the same idea for my homage to the cover of Young Romance #150 by Jay Scott Pike, covered here at 13th Dimension back in May of 2024. — Want more MORRISON MONDAYS? Come back next week! Want a commission? See below! — MORE — HOLY GENDER-BENDING! That Time ROBIN Was a Pin-Up Girl. Click here. — The Greatest Gallery of BATMAN ’66 Art You Will Ever See. Click here. — Eisner winner BILL MORRISON has been working in comics and publishing since 1993 when he co-founded Bongo Entertainment with Matt Groening, Cindy Vance and Steve Vance. At Bongo, and later as Executive Editor of Mad Magazine, he parodied the comics images he loved as a kid every chance he got. Not much has changed. Bill is on Instagram (@atomicbattery) and Facebook (Bill Morrison/Atomic Battery Studios), and regularly takes commissions and sells published art through 4C...
We finally have a list of contents! Of all the 2026 DC Finest collections revealed last year, only one remained whose contents were a mystery: The Origin of Robin. DC finally released the list of issues in its latest solicitations this week — and it’s a nest of Silver and Bronze Age treasures. Dig the official info: DC FINEST: ROBIN — THE ORIGIN OF ROBIN Written by MIKE FRIEDRICH, ELLIOT S! MAGGIN, and others Art by GIL KANE, IRV NOVICK, and others Cover by CARMINE INFANTINO and JOE GIELLA This volume covers Robin’s major solo appearances in Batman #184, #192, #202, #213, #227, #229-231, #234-236, #239-242, #244-245, #248-250, #252, #254, and #259; Detective Comics #342, #386, #390-391, #394-395, #398-403, #445, #447, and #450-451; World’s Finest Comics #141, #147, #195, and #200; and Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #111 and #130. $39.99 US | 424 pages | 6 5/8” x 10 3/16” | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-829-8 ON SALE 6/16/26 — DC also solicited a previously (officially) unannounced Supergirl volume: DC FINEST: SUPERGIRL: DIE AND LET LIVE Written by PETER DAVID Art by LEONARD KIRK, ROBIN RIGGS, and others Cover by LEONARD KIRK and ROBIN RIGGS Featuring stories filled with action, heart, and humor as only Peter David could deliver, DC Finest: Supergirl: Die and Let Live collects Supergirl #19-35 and #1,000,000, Resurrection Man #16-17, Team Superman Secret Files and Origins #1, Team Superman #1, Supergirl/Prysm Double-Shot #1, and a story from Adventure Comics 80-Page Giant #1. $39.99 US | 576 pages | 6 5/8” x 10 3/16” | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79951-360-5 ON SALE 5/26/26 — A few thoughts: — Robin: The Origin of Robin is not dissimilar to the Showcase Presents: Robin volume that came out in 2008. It’s shorter but it’s in color. The edition takes its name from 1969’s Batman #213, which featured a retelling of the Boy Wonder’s beginnings, by E. Nelson Bridwell, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. — I’m pretty sure I have all the Robin stories in one format or another, but the ease of access makes me mull this one over. — Supergirl: Die and Let Live recently surfaced on retail websites. — MORE — DC to Publish SIX Facsimile Editions in April — With an Emphasis on the Wacky. Click here. — BATMAN: DC Sets Dates for April DARK KNIGHT and YEAR...
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