MORRISON MONDAYS Meets ROBIN WEEK!
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Welcome to ROBIN WEEK! One of the greatest heroes in comics history debuted 85 years ago, on March 6, 1940 — and we’re celebrating with a series of features saluting the Boys, Girls and Teens Wonder. For the complete index of features, click here.
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Bill usually writes this column but he’s got his hands full, so I’m stepping in for ROBIN WEEK. That said, dig this BRAND-NEW piece he did just for the occasion:
Fab!
I’ve always had a soft spot for the original Bat-Girl from the early ’60s, and I’ve long thought it funny that Robin was written as if he were still in the “Girls? Ick!” phase, as she ardently pursued him.
Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff introduced her in 1961’s Batman #139, a time when the Boy Wonder was probably 15 years old in comics age. Which, y’know, means it’s fairly unlikely that he would be so put off by a pretty girl in a short skirt who wanted to kiss him all the time.
But, hey, maybe it’s because Betty Kane wasn’t a redhead.
Anyway, this isn’t the first time Bill’s done a great riff on the classic 1963 Batman #156 cover by Moldoff and Charles Paris. Last time, it was colored and gif-ified by Walt Grogan:
Keep ’em coming, Bill!
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Want more MORRISON MONDAYS? Come back next week! Want a commission? See below!
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MORE
— The Complete ROBIN WEEK Index of Features. Click here.
— GEORGE HARRISON, THE BEATLES and the Long, Tortured Birth of the YELLOW SUBMARINE Graphic Novel. Click here.
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Eisner winner BILL MORRISON has been working in comics and publishing since 1993 when he co-founded Bongo Entertainment with Matt Groening, Cindy Vance and Steve Vance. At Bongo, and later as Executive Editor of Mad Magazine, he parodied the comics images he loved as a kid every chance he got. Not much has changed.
Bill is on Instagram (@atomicbattery) and Facebook (Bill Morrison/Atomic Battery Studios), and regularly takes commissions and sells published art through 4C Comics.
March 3, 2025
I believe in the story with Bat-Mite, Robin explains he was devoted to the Lady of Justice. I am a huge fan of this era. When Batgirl showed up in the Teen Titans I was so excited for the stories. This drawing is great in how it captures the Silver Age feel 100%! Love it.
March 3, 2025
Love this! Batman seemed a little “ooh cooties” too back during this period as well. I think it was editor Jack Schiff and the writers just assuming what the primarily young boy audience would think.
March 3, 2025
Thanks for sharing the artwork. It is a lot of fun.
Bat-Girl/Betty Kane may have been responsible for Robin discovering girls don’t have cooties. Remember the end of Prisoners of Three Worlds from Batman 153, which was reprinted in Batman : From the 30s to the 70s? Batman is trying to explain away telling Batwoman he loves her. Robin, on the other hand, sneaks off with Betty/Bat-Girl, after having kissed her earlier. Robin probably wanted a little more Bat-Sugar from Betty.
March 5, 2025
Cover mock cover, Thanks Bill Morrison.
On a somewhat related note, I recently got BATMAN ANNUAL #7 which reprints Bat-Girl’s first apperance.