Posted By Dan Greenfield on Oct 20, 2024 | 5 comments

… and pages.

By PETER BOSCH

Back in the Sixties, Nick Cardy (born October 20, 1920) was turning out exceptional artwork for DC’s Teen Titans and Aquaman… but there was another series, one that comic book fans didn’t pay much attention to — and it may well be the best work he did during that time.

Showcase #76 (Aug. 1968): the first appearance of Bat Lash. Written by Sergio Aragonés (but also possibly by Dennis O’Neil). Layouts by Aragonés.

Cardy’s work on Showcase #76 and every one of the subsequent Bat Lash seven-issue series (Oct.-Nov. 1968 to Oct.-Nov. 1969) was both humorous and adventurous. Originally conceived by Carmine Infantino and Joe Orlando, Bat Lash was definitely more like the movie Cat Ballou (1965) than High Noon (1952). Villains were completely despicable and ugly, and all the women were drop-dead gorgeous, as if right out of a Hollywood makeup chair.

But there were more serious moments, when the romantic and quick-drawing Don Juan of the Old West would turn protector over someone (usually of the female persuasion). Cardy drew those moments with incredible sentiment.

To celebrate his birthday, here are 12 more magnificent examples of the late Nick Cardy’s wonderfully designed Bat Lash covers and pages. (Plus, check out a bonus Cardy tribute here!)

Enjoy!

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Showcase #76 (Aug. 1968)

Story pages from Showcase #76 (Aug. 1968). Written and layouts by Aragonés.

Bat Lash #1 (Oct.-Nov. 1968)

Bat Lash #2 (Dec. 1968-Jan. 1969)

Bat Lash #3 (Feb.-Mar. 1969)

Bat Lash #4 (Apr.-May 1969)

Bat Lash #5 (June-July 1969)

Bat Lash #6 (Aug.-Sept. 1969)

Bat Lash #7 (Oct.-Nov. 1969)

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MORE

— The Magnificent NICK CARDY BATMAN Cover That Could Have Been. Click here.

— Dig These 13 Great NICK CARDY 1970s Covers. Click here.

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13th Dimension contributor-at-large PETER BOSCH’s first book, American TV Comic Books: 1940s-1980s – From the Small Screen to the Printed Page, was published by TwoMorrows. A sequel, about movie comics, is coming soon. Peter has written articles and conducted celebrity interviews for various magazines and newspapers. He lives in Hollywood.