Thursday, 3 July 2025

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS COVER?


Copyright DC COMICS

The above cover is from an issue Baggsey from Super Stuff In The Bronze Age listed in my Desert Island Comics post - in fact he considered it the best Batman tale ever written.  Well, I had to see what it was all about, so I promptly bought a copy via eBay and it arrived today.  Before I show you its interior splash pages, study the cover and see if you can spot what I consider to be a glaring error.  I'll fill you in on what it is after the following impressive images.

First, however, it's interesting to note that the words 'nigger' and 'spade' are used in the main tale, something that most likely wouldn't be allowed nowadays.  The first word is used by a black man, the second by a white, but they're used in the context of demonstrating (not condoning) the racism that existed at the time.  It probably wasn't really necessary to introduce the subject, but writer and artist Frank Robbins doubtless wanted to make a point and it isn't too laboured.

Anyway, ready for the pretty piccies?  Then let's go!  (And don't forget to spot the cover mistake.)





Did you spot the cover gaff?  The large scissors are completely unnecessary.  If they wanted to drop Batman to the ground below, all they need do is let go off him, not cut his cape!  Simple, eh?

4 comments:

Monty said...

Yay! I worked out what the mistake was! I didn't post my top 10s on your desert island posts because it was much too difficult a task for me. I like so many different things it was impossible for me to choose. Maybe I'd have a chance with records and films but thousands of comics and books have passed through my hands, I couldn't single out specific ones.

McSCOTTY said...

I used to have that comic but lost it at some point but at least I have it in a collection . I know a lot of folk don't like Robbins art but as a big fan of his I loved this issue. I suppose the scissors were used to make the cover more exciting.

Kid said...

I'll trust you not to have worked it out until after you read the answer, M. (Suspicious? Me?)

Kid said...

I'm wondering if they were drawn in as an afterthought to try for that effect, McS, though I'm not sure they achieve it. Perhaps a big knife would've looked better, but it would still have been redundant.



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