Posted By Dan Greenfield on Feb 14, 2020 | 2 comments

EXCLUSIVE: Well, this is kind of a neat surprise…

Hey, so this is fun and unexpected: DC in May will be publishing the Man-Bat #1 Facsimile Edition.

Why? Read on. But first check out the solicitation info, which will be released officially later Friday:

MAN-BAT #1 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by GERRY CONWAY
Art by STEVE DITKO and AL MILGROM
Cover by JIM APARO
In this tale from 1975, Kirk Langstrom’s wife, Francine, is kidnapped by the evil Baron Tyme—and it’s up to Man-Bat to rescue her!
ON SALE 05.06.20
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES

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A few thoughts:

— People dig Man-Bat now, but he was really popular in the ’70s. So much so that DC gave him his own title. Then again, it only lasted two issues — but at least this one was pencilled by Steve Ditko!

— Again, why is DC reprinting this? Well, the answer will come later today, so check back for an update to this post. (UPDATED: It’s because DC in May will kick off a five-issue Man-Bat miniseries by Dave Wielgosz and Sumit Kumar. Dig the two #1 covers below.)

Left: Main cover by Kyle Hotz. Right: Variant by Kevin Nowlan.

— Requisite Price Comparison: An unslabbed, NM original recently sold on eBay for $12. So this isn’t a case of where you’re looking a getting a $1,000 book for $3.99. But what you are getting is a really convenient window into an off-beat moment in Bat-history.

— DC has two other Facsimile Editions coming in May. Wanna know what they are? Of course you do. Click here and here.

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MORE

— 13 MAN-BAT COVERS to Make You Go SKREEEE! Click here.

— The Mystique of MICHAEL GOLDEN’s MAN-BAT. Click here.