Reader Fred Grandinetti has a charming story… By FRED GRANDINETTI Back in the 1970s I purchased the book Batman From the ’30s to the ’70s, published by Crown. It was here I fell in love with Kathy Kane, the original Batwoman — whose 70th anniversary was earlier in 2026. As a kid, I read her last Silver Age story in Detective Comics, where she saved Batman and Robin from being burned to death. This was the only memory I had of her. However, she was seen in six adventures in this volume. I began writing about her career and my articles have been published in Back Issue, The Comics Buyer’s Guide, Filmfax and even The Italian Tribune. Articles have also been featured on both the Remind and Boomer Magazine websites. I discovered she was designed by Sheldon “Shelly” Moldoff, one of Bob Kane’s ghost artists. Mr. Moldoff was, like me, a fan of Popeye the Sailor. I wrote him a letter explaining my affection for Batwoman and added some Popeye items. Several weeks later, I received a thank you from Mr. Moldoff, along with a colorful drawing of me riding with Batwoman on her cycle. I didn’t ask for it! What a generous gift! It remains one of my prized pieces of comics art memorabilia. — MORE — BATWOMAN AT 70: An Anniversary Celebration of 1956’s DETECTIVE COMICS #233 — and Beyond. Click here. — EAT YOUR SPINACH! POPEYE Debuted on Television 70 Years Ago. Click...
Scott and Dan hit up the comics racks from 70 years ago… This week for RETRO HOT PICKS, Scott and I are selecting comics that came out the week of Oct. 7, 1956. Last time for RETRO HOT PICKS, it was the week of Sept. 30, 1949. Click here to check it out. (Keep in mind that comics came out on multiple days, so these are the issues that went on sale between Oct. 4 and Oct. 10) So, let’s set the scene: There was only a month left in the 1956 presidential race and incumbent Dwight Eisenhower was in the driver’s seat. The Republican enjoyed bipartisan support across the nation, and despite weakened health, was able to campaign by using television as his proxy. It was actually the first national race where TV played a significant part, with ads able to target specific segments of the electorate. Ike, for example, defeated Democratic opponent Adlai Stevenson in 1952 in part by winning the women’s vote. Eisenhower and Stevenson were in a rematch and commercials designed to appeal to homemakers were a central part of the president’s strategy. TV’s development also allowed Eisenhower to stay at home in the White House and let the tube carry his message, while Vice President Nixon did the scut work of retail campaigning against the Democrat’s aggressive challenge. But when it came down to it, Stevenson didn’t really stand a chance. October 8 gave us one of the greatest moments in sports history: Yankees righthander Don Larsen pitched a perfect game at Yankee Stadium against a heavy-hitting Brooklyn Dodgers lineup in Game 5 of the World Series: 27 batters faced, 27 outs. It’s been 70 years and there has never been another one. New York would win the Series two days later, swamping Brooklyn, 9-0, in Game 7 at Ebbets Field with Yanks catcher Yogi Berra swatting two home runs. It was the Bronx Bombers’ seventh title in 10 years. The team’s biggest star was center fielder Mickey Mantle, who’d just had the best season of his career, winning the Triple Crown by leading the majors in batting average, homers and runs batted in. I have actually been to two no-hitters and two perfect games in my life — all four pitched by Yankees and all four at Yankee Stadium. For the non-baseball fans among you,...
FIRST LOOK: Dick Grayson as Batman, Red Hood… and MORE!
FIRST LOOK: Manchester Black’s debut — and four Batman titles…
Scott and Dan hit up the comics racks from 54 years ago…
