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Apr16

BATMAN VS. THOR: DC Has a Laugh With 1959 BATMAN #127 FACSIMILE EDITION Release

Posted by Dan Greenfield on Apr 16, 2026

BATMAN VS. THOR: DC Has a Laugh With 1959 BATMAN #127 FACSIMILE EDITION Release

EXCLUSIVE! Amid Crossovermania, the publisher reminds us they beat Marvel by almost three years… I gotta tell you, I really dig that DC this year has been having a lot of fun with its Facsimile Edition line. Usually, FEs are reserved for landmark issues or anniversaries (like others coming in July), as well as marketing tie-ins for new comics series or TV shows or movies. Well, this particular issue – one of three DC is publishing in July – is more in line with the publisher’s wacky April lineup of memeworthy reprints: 1959’s Batman #127, featuring the Caped Crusader squaring off against the Mighty Thor — nearly three years before Stan Lee and Jack Kirby introduced their Thunder God in 1962’s Journey Into Mystery #83. Dig the solicitation info, which will be officially released by DC later Friday: BATMAN #127 FACSIMILE EDITION Written by JERRY COLEMAN and BILL FINGER Art by DICK SPRANG and SHELDON MOLDOFF Cover by CURT SWAN Foil variant cover by CURT SWAN ($6.99 US) Blank sketch cover ($4.99 US) $3.99 US | 36 pages ON SALE 7/1/26 Have Batman and Robin found themselves battling the mythical Thor? It sure looks that way, and when this God of Thunder tries to put the hammer down on the Dynamic Duo, he may prove more than a match for the mighty masked marvels! Not enough excitement for you? How about a look at how Bruce Wayne’s life might have been in a world where crime didn’t claim the lives of his parents—and the astounding adventure of Batman and Robin’s newest super-powered ally, Alfred Pennyworth, the Eagle! — Buncha thoughts: — DC’s also having a good ol’ time with another July Batman Facsimile Edition release: 1963’s Batman #156, which features Robin teaming up with… Ant-Man?! The ish, however, is much better known for its cover story — Robin Dies at Dawn! Click here for more on that FE. — If DC wants to tweak Marvel again, they should also trot out 1964’s Batman #167 (above) — in which the Dynamic Duo battle an international criminal cabal called… Hydra. That was less than a year before Stan and Jack introduced the House of Ideas’ version. (Read a lot more about Batman #167 here.) — There are four other DC Comics Facsimile Editions coming in July, not including the already known Avengers/JLA...

Apr14

SHELDON MOLDOFF Gave More to BATMAN Than You Think

Posted by Dan Greenfield on Apr 14, 2026

SHELDON MOLDOFF Gave More to BATMAN Than You Think

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: 13 bits of Bat-trivia that will open your eyes… — UPDATED 4/14/26: The late Sheldon Moldoff was born 106 years ago, on April 14, 1920. Perfect time to reprint this piece from his birthdate in 2023. Dig it! — Dan — By PETER BOSCH The late Sheldon “Shelly” Moldoff had an amazing career in comics — drawing Hawkman in the Golden Age, as well the first Kid Eternity story, Moon Girl for EC, and much more. But he is best known now for being Bob Kane’s ghost artist on Batman stories for many years. For his birthday (he was born April 14, 1920), here is a Bat-tery of 13 trivia details about Moldoff’s time in Gotham — which was far more impactful than he’s usually given credit for. (All of the below were pencilled and inked by Moldoff, unless noted.) — 1. He drew the Batman family pin-up for the back cover of Batman Annual #2 (Winter, 1961): — 2. Moldoff did backgrounds and lettering for Kane while he was still a teenager, including these two famous pages from Detective Comics #33 (Nov. 1939): — 3. He did hundreds of covers for Batman, including this classic — Detective Comics #235 (Sept. 1956): — 4. Moldoff co-created (with writer Dave Wood) the villainous Mr. Zero, later known as Mr. Freeze, in Batman #121 (Feb. 1959). Charles Paris did the inks: — 5. He designed the look of Batwoman, Bat-Mite, and Ace, the Bat-Hound (gathered here on the cover of Batman #133, August 1960): — 6. Bat-Girl, introduced here in Batman #139 (Apr. 1961), was also designed by Moldoff: — 7. Batman #156 (June 1963) may well be the most memorable Bat-cover of the entire Silver Age. Charles Paris inks: — 8. In Detective Comics #328 (June 1964), Moldoff drew the “death of Alfred” story, with Joe Giella inking. Bill Finger, script: — 9. Batman #171 (May 1965) had Moldoff drawing the first Silver Age appearance of the Riddler. Joe Giella inks and Gardner Fox script: — 10. Batman #181 (June 1966) featured Moldoff drawing the debut of Poison Ivy. Joe Giella inks, and Robert Kanigher script: — 11. Moldoff was the first artist on the Batman With Robin the Boy Wonder daily and Sunday newspaper strip that started in 1966: — 12. Moldoff took several Mr. District Attorney...

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