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Matthew Hansel
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 18 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 3468
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| Posted: 27 November 2012 at 11:17am | IP Logged | 1
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I have a book called "THE ART OF DICK SPRANG" of which only 250 (or was it 500?) copies were produced (via agreement with DC Comics). It contains ALL of Dick's commission (to that point...include JB's!) and early art and a biography and whot not. It has really high production values and the reproduction is outstanding. It's cost me almost as much as a house payment, but it was worth it. Dick remains one of my favorite Batman artists. His work is so amazing. There is an alternate universe where he starts drawing Dick Tracy upon Chester Gould's forced retirement... MPH
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Stephen Robinson
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 5833
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| Posted: 27 November 2012 at 12:11pm | IP Logged | 2
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I've fallen more in love with Dick Sprang's Batman over the years. The stories he drew in the 1950s are among my favorites: Batman and Robin fighting thugs who were almost Dick Tracy villain grotesque. Most of the adventures took place at night but were still upbeat. I'd love to see that character on film.
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Sam Karns
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 December 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 7624
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| Posted: 28 November 2012 at 10:54pm | IP Logged | 3
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What are Sprang's popular tales of Batman and Robin?
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Brian Hague
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 14 November 2006
Posts: 8514
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| Posted: 29 November 2012 at 10:03pm | IP Logged | 4
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Sprang did a number of popular Batman and Robin tales, some of which have been reprinted in the Greatest Batman Stories tpb's and Batman Annuals over the years. The first Batman Annual was reprinted within the past ten years. "Strange Costumes of the Batman" was Sprang's, I believe, as was the debut of the Riddler. He is credited with "The Joker's Utiliy Belt" and "Two-Face Strikes Again," as well as "The Jungle Cat-Queen." Sprang also illustrated Superman stories from 1955 to 61, most of which appeared in the title World's Finest. Mark Evanier credits him with illustrating the three-parter in Superman #123, one chapter of which introduced an early, magically-created (and eliminated) Supergirl. It was supposedly the popularity of this issue which put plans for a "real" Supergirl into play. 
Sprang was invited to return to do a few covers in the 1990's. He drew a "modern" Batman in a parody of the style of the times for Detective Comics 622-624 and the 1940's-era "flip-covers" for the 2-part mini-series "Two-Face Strikes Twice!" The 40's-style interior stories were drawn by Joe Staton. 
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Brian Hague
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 14 November 2006
Posts: 8514
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| Posted: 29 November 2012 at 10:14pm | IP Logged | 5
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One of the blogsites I came across mentions that The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told tpb reprints six Sprang-illustrated Joker stories, one after another. I may need to pull that one off of its dusty old bookshelf and give it a look-see... :-)
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Sam Karns
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 December 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 7624
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| Posted: 30 November 2012 at 3:37pm | IP Logged | 6
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I've been fascinated by the T-Rex set in the Batcave. I've tried to research the history of this monument and failed. Was there a crime tale about this and did Sprang help that story happen?
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Dave Aikins
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 31 July 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 2110
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| Posted: 30 November 2012 at 3:59pm | IP Logged | 7
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Batman #35- 'Dinosaur Island". written by Bill Finger, art by Kane & Burnley.
There is a nice "Secrets of the Batcave" tpb out there. It has a big ol' batch of classic stories in it, even though it has a very modern, serious cover...
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Sam Karns
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 December 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 7624
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| Posted: 30 November 2012 at 4:25pm | IP Logged | 8
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I've written the issue, the title, and included the authors of the issue as well on google, but I still can't find any pg. panels or a synopsis on it. Can anyone scan some of the pages and post it if they have the issue?
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Brian Hague
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 14 November 2006
Posts: 8514
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| Posted: 30 November 2012 at 7:51pm | IP Logged | 9
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"Dinosaur Island" first appeared in Batman #35 (June 1946). The story has been reprinted on at least two occasions, once in Batman #256, a giant-sized issue reprinting stories of Batman's trophies, and again in the 2007 Secrets of the Batcave tpb Dave mentions above. (That tpb also reprints "Interlude on Earth-2" by Alan Brennert and Jim Aparo, a story that I love through and through.) The animated Batman: Brave and the Bold tv series did their own version of the idea early in their first season, using the island as Gorilla Grodd's base of operations. I do not have a working scanner at the moment, but I was able to find this image of the splash page online: 
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Sam Karns
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 December 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 7624
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| Posted: 30 November 2012 at 9:42pm | IP Logged | 10
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Thank you, Brian.
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Brad Brickley
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 29 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 8293
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| Posted: 30 November 2012 at 9:49pm | IP Logged | 11
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That is a nice page!
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Brian Hague
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 14 November 2006
Posts: 8514
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| Posted: 30 November 2012 at 10:56pm | IP Logged | 12
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You're welcome, Sam. Old-style comic pages like that just make me feel good.
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