Posted by Dan Greenfield on Aug 18, 2019
INSIDE LOOK: The BATMAN #232 Facsimile Edition
EXCLUSIVE: Perusing the first in DC’s new line of full-on reprints… DC this Wednesday (Aug. 21) launches its new line of Facsimile Editions — reprints that go beyond the main story and include the original ads, letter columns, back-up features and whatnot. The first one out of the gate — which we revealed to you in May — is 1971’s classic Batman #232, featuring the first appearance of Ra’s al Ghul, by Denny O’Neil, Neal Adams and Dick Giordano. Naturally, the main selling point is that the issue is only $3.99 when it would cost you, oh, hundreds of dollars for a nice copy of the original. But a lot of fans have been eager to find out how well these issues will mimic the source material — as in whether they’ll feature the popular original coloring, as opposed to the souped-up versions we’ve seen in various collected editions. Well, check out this EXCLUSIVE INSIDE LOOK: There you go, folks. The original coloring intact. Beauteous. Warms the cockles of the purist’s heart. Anyway, I’m eager to see how it all looks in print. These will not be on old-school newsprint so they’ll be slightly different from what came out in 1971 — but it’s pretty dang close, judging by this. And, hey, here’s a look at the letter column, which stretched across two pages and featured commentary by Mike W. Barr — who would go on to write Batman: Son of the Demon, one of the best known follow-ups to the original Ra’s al Ghul saga. I’ve blown them up, so you can actually read them: Oh, and if you’re in the market for, say, diamond rings (especially you “military men”), binoculars or an Action Comics #1 T-shirt — you’re in luck! Though, I have a sneaking suspicion you might be just a liiiiiiiitle late to the party: By the way, you might recall that this release was timed to the first issue of Adams’ new miniseries Batman vs. Ra’s al Ghul. That’s been put off until Sept. 4 but DC decided to keep the Batman #232 Facsimile Edition on schedule. Well, then. Man, I tell you, I don’t care that I already have an original one of these. It’ll be just too damn much fun to be able to walk into the comics shop Wednesday and...
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