Including substantial material from 13th Dimension!
I have been waiting years to write this: TwoMorrows Publishing in 2025 will be publishing Marshall Rogers: Brightest Days & Darkest Knights, the first definitive biography of a Bronze Age great who helped to delineate the modern Batman but whose legacy appears to fade with every passing year.
If there’s anyone who deserves the TwoMorrows illustrated bio treatment, it’s Rogers, who died in 2007 at the age of 57. His distinct style, often refined by inker Terry Austin, gave him the kind of range to be able to illustrate the urban and the cosmic with equal verve. But his output compared to many of his contemporaries was relatively small, even if it was potent enough to give readers, with writer Steve Englehart, one of the most influential Batman runs ever (in Detective Comics in 1977).
Inks by Terry Austin
The book is written by TwoMorrows stalwarts Jeff Messer and Dewey Cassell, but I’m proud to have contributed a significant part of it — a lengthy interview with Englehart in which we broke down each issue of that Batman story — sometimes panel by panel — including the covers. It ran at 13th Dimension in 2020 as a 10-part series called INSIDE THE BATMAN — and the whole thing will be included in the book.
Dig the official solicitation:
MARSHALL ROGERS: BRIGHTEST DAYS & DARKEST KNIGHTS
From underdog to icon, Marshall Rogers helped redefine Batman for generations, inspiring readers and up-and-coming artists alike. Initially savaged by editors at DC Comics, his style was uniquely complex with vast and angular architectural design anchoring his storytelling, and it immediately caught on with fans for his depictions of the Darknight Detective, Hugo Strange, The Joker, Silver St. Cloud, Dr. Strange, Cap’n Quick and a Foozle, and more. And though his output was relatively small in comparison to many of his contemporaries, his impact outlived the artist himself, and inspired a loyal following and affection.
Now, Rogers’ story is told by friends, collaborators, and family members, delving deep into a complicated and conflicted man and his art, as we feature inker Terry Austin, friend and fellow artist Michael Netzer, Dan Greenfield’s extensive interview with writer Steve Englehart (conducted for 13th Dimension), and others recounting their time and camaraderie with Rogers, alongside an in-depth interview with Marshall himself, and a wealth of art both familiar and rarely seen. Written by Jeff Messer and Dewey Cassell (authors of the Eisner Award-nominated Mike Grell: Life Is Drawing Without An Eraser), this book shines a light on the fan-favorite artist’s brightest moments and darkest days. Featuring a new cover collaboration by Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin!
(144-page FULL-COLOR HARDCOVER) $34.95 • (Digital Edition) $13.99 • ISBN: 978-1-60549-130-1
SHIPS JUNE 2025!
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A few thoughts:
— The book will be available in comics shops but you can already pre-order it directly from TwoMorrows. Click here.
— When I said years, I meant it. I first reported on the book just shy of four years ago, but as you know not everything goes as planned in terms of timing. But I could not be happier that it’s finally here. Other than Neal Adams — and maybe Carmine Infantino (maybe) — there’s not an artist who’s ever made such an impact on me. He drew not only the great Bat-characters, he drew the perfect Gotham City, the one that lives in my imagination. (Actually, it’s not hard to imagine at all: It’s basically New York City — as it should be.)
— But the book will be much more than Batman, of course. Rogers had fan-favorite runs on Mister Miracle and Doctor Strange, plus many other features, including independent work, and it will all be covered in the 144-page hardcover.
— Mostly, I’m happy that fans and readers will be reminded of just how great Rogers was. Because of his somewhat abbreviated body of work, he’s become more of a cult-favorite than a central figure in comics history. Worse, DC appears to be allergic to keeping Englehart and Rogers’ Batman work in print with any regularity. Which is a crying shame because those two were among the very best who did it.
— By the way, keep coming back to 13th Dimension this week because we’ve got a ton of TwoMorrows announcements that you will most certainly dig — including one about one of our own regulars. Right on.
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MORE
— MARSHALL ROGERS Illustrated Biography In the Works. Click here.
— INSIDE THE BATMAN: The STEVE ENGLEHART INTERVIEWS. Click here.
January 1, 2025
I’m currently designing this book and I also designed the cover (how cool is that unpublished Rogers/Austin cover art?). I became a huge Marshall Rogers fan when I first laid eyes on his work in DETECTIVE COMICS, I was 13 years old. I then followed his career and any work he did. Marshall and I became friends when he was living in Maryland in 1990. I have a great sketch of Batman and The Joker that he did for me. I co-wrote and designed THE BATCAVE COMPANION, and Marshall tragically died days before I was scheduled to interview him for the book. I have to say that it’s been a thrill designing this book along with finding and choosing the artwork to use. Jeff and Dewey have done a magnificent job writing and researching the book and I’ve learned so much more about Marshall. I think Marshall’s fans and all comic book fans alike will love the book.
January 1, 2025
Can’t wait. Thrilled that this is on the schedule. I remember first seeing Rogers’ art in 1977 when my mother bought a bagged three pack at the airport to keep me engaged on our trip back home to Texas. Detective Comics 468 with the Calculator made a huge impression on my young mind. 2025 is starting just right for me!
January 1, 2025
I can’t wait for this, as Rogers is one of my favorite artists to read and collect. I’ve managed to acquire a good number of his Mister Miracle original pages throughout the year, and they are even more impressive in person than on the printed page. He was a master of his craft and deserves all the attention and respect this book will no doubt bring him.
January 1, 2025
Dan, Thanks so much for letting us know about this and for contributing to the book. Marshall is indeed an important part of the artistic excellence of the comic book medium and he deserves the treatment this biography has lined up for him. He is also a pivotal artist in my own collecting world, having hooked me first on to Silver Surfer and only after that on Batman.
January 1, 2025
Coming up on the 50th anniversary of the pivotal run. So glad to find out about this book. His work became a cornerstone in a lifetime love of comics. This collection will remind the world of his contribution.
January 1, 2025
Looking forward to this!
And is there a run more deserving of the Absolute (or IDW Artist’s Edition) than the Englehart/Simonson/Rogers “Strange Apparitions”? Maybe throw in the Roy Thomas/Marshall Rogers golden age Batman story from Secret Origins #6 too, just to have the origin represented.
January 2, 2025
We so need a Strange Apparitions absolute! You can also add the Dark Detective II. Maybe include the concept art and story for their third collaboration.
January 1, 2025
This is so bought, it’s ridiculous. For my money, Rogers is actually THE greatest Batman artist, specifically at drawing Batman himself. No one ever drew his cape more dramatically, without going into sheer ridiculous, impossible lengths. His definition of the way Batman’s cowl is constructed is my favorite as well. And his Gotham City! His architectural training really shone through. He was also very nice to me as a fan-struck teenager at a small local convention, so needless to say, I’m a fan! Can’t wait! Glad to see your great work is featured, Dan!
January 1, 2025
I can’t wait for this release. Much overdue for sure. Just shows the editors of the day had zero clue what the fans wanted. Now if we could only get a full run of his newspaper strips too! (I only have a handful in my collection.)
January 1, 2025
Been waiting for this for years. But just a note, Marshall considered Gotham as Baltimore, not New York. Because of the waterfront docks he told me a long time ago.
January 1, 2025
Looking forward to this
January 1, 2025
This news is so welcome! Thank you, Dan! Now, if we can only get DC to publish a “Complete Batman by Marshall Rogers” book (or series of books).
January 1, 2025
“Legends of the Dark Knight: Marshall Rogers – collection is well worth the money
January 2, 2025
I have this digitally. Is the physical book an oversized format?
January 1, 2025
Hands down…my all time fave artist. eom
January 2, 2025
Oh his work was excellent! These illustrations here bring it all back from the days when I wasn’t paying attention to who wrote what!
January 2, 2025
Hopefully, this book touches on his criminally underrated work on Silver Surfer. Jaw dropping visuals.
January 3, 2025
Seems like all that’s really needed now is a complete collection of the Batman comic strip on which Marshall Rogers worked. I thought for sure that IDW/Library of American Comics would eventually get around to that when they held a license from DC, but it seems it was not to be. While it’s a little outside TwoMorrows’ usual line, maybe they could finally make that happen.