Neal Adams' checklist lists this as being a reprint from Detective Comics #402 (story by Frank Robbins, art by Neal and Dick Giordano), but I had always thought the DC/Power Record stories were all original.
Not having a copy of 'Tec #402, I can't check, but from what I've been able to look up, the story in that issue is listed at fifteen pages, but the story here is twenty pages long. Anybody out there have an answer?
Love that back cover!
8 comments:
I had this and "Invasion of the Dragonmen" as a kid, and never lost the records. They were both produced by 'Arthur Korb.' I've always thought these sounded as convincing as the old radio dramas the local public radio station plays on Sunday nights.
In the last couple weeks, since I've gotten my hands on more Power Records, the Davidson/Saunders productions sound like crap -- weak sound effects, single-note keyboard (credited to Univox) soundtrack, although I think the acting is excellent.
As I said, I had "Robin Meets Man-Bat," and I was always intrigued by the thumbnail on the inside cover of the other Batman record, the one with the Joker. Wait'll you hear that (I don't know who produced it); the acting and sound fx are terrible (Batman sounds like a stroke victim, although the Joker is good), but it does have a good modern jazz-inspired soundtrack.
Thanks again for putting these up, and posting as much information as you can about them.
I think "Robin Meets Man-Bat" used clips of real Neal Adams art, and the rest of the book is a 'framing story' illustrated by Neal Adams' studio -- I just think the 'present tense' part of the story is less impressive to look at than the 'flashbacks.' I thought that when I was a small boy, and I stand by my opinion.
I have to wonder if Neal Adams' studio didn't do "Invasion of the Dragonmen," because it isn't an adaptation of a regular story, and it looks more 'Neal Adams' than 'Early '70's Marvel.'
Hate to pester you with nerdliness, but a wise man told me some time back, "There's a nerd for everything." Well, you found what I'm a nerd for.
Keep up the great work; I enjoy your Family of Blogs.
Rockie Bee
rockie-
glad you're enjoying them!
who is arthur korb? is there a place online that has credits for these things?
I typed in 'Arthur Korb' at allmusicguide.com -- all I got was a songwriting credit for a couple of songs recorded by Patti Page, Faron Young, Louis Armstrong, and Nat King Cole (not a bad bunch, I'd say).
Arthur Korb's also credited on my remaining Star Trek Power Records -- he at least had the good taste to get a guy who could do credible if restrained impressions of William Shatner and DeForest Kelley (it's the same guy -- he's no Kevin Pollack).
The music that shows up in the 'flashback' parts of 'Robin Meets Man-Bat' -- the diminished guitar chords when Batman tells Robin about Kirk Langstrom's experiment with 'bat-gland extract' (as though he were there) and the mournful muted horns as Francine Langstrom recalls getting a load on in Kirk's lab, and confusing 'bat-gland extract' for her highball are used again in the ST:TMP-styled stories such as 'Dinosaur Planet.'
Since there's such a paucity of online info about Arthur Korb, my conjecture is that he was a guy, probably in New Jersey but Manhattan-adjacent, with a studio that would do anything for hire -- I'm surprised, given the circumstances, that anybody put that much care into kid's records, esp. when you compare the 'Arthur Korb' stuff to the 'Herb Davidson/Charlotte Saunders' productions. By accident, all I ever heard was 'Arthur Korb' stuff, with the exception of the Fantastic Four record -- to give 'Davidson/Saunders' credit, their Ben Grimm has always been the definitive version to me ('Wet-nosed walkin' weenie roast!') -- but he also sounds indistinct from the Abomination and the Rhino.
I put 'Herb Davidson' thru allmusicguide and got a handful of credits similar to 'Arthur Korb's' -- jazzy pop from the late 40's to the early '60's. That's why I figured they owned studios outside of New York, no doubt making the musical equivalent of 'clip art' available for tv and radio stations, making jingles, and producing commercials.
Rockie Bee
I have all the early Tec Man-Bat appearances, and this is no straight reprint. Most of the panels from Man-Bat's origin are reprinted from Tec #400, Man-Bat's first appearance. The rest of the story is all new, and appears to be by Adams and/or his studio.
This is the first time I ever saw the comic for this story. I still have the Batman album that this story headline, and always did want to read the book.
Thanks Rob! Man-Bats don't fly!!!
Chris
Arthur Korb is also responsible for the great Justice League album with stories of Flash, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Plastic Man, and Metamorpho. He's credited with the Justice League intro song and the other songs as well. "Call the roll... call the roll... call the roll... of the Justice League!"
I've busted out my hardcover volumes of the complete Neal Adams Batman and have a couple of things to mention. The classic Man-Bat segments with his origin are from Detective #400, as Earth 2 Chris mentions. Also, there are some 'lifts' of Francine's involvement from Detective #407. The panel with Francine and Kirk changing back is directly inspired from that issue. Both are reprinted in Neal Adams Complete Batman volume 2.
Another interesting note... the Power Records story itself is reprinted in the Complete Neal Adams Batman Volume 3 as is the "Stacked Cards" Power Records story with Batman and Joker.
Thanks,
D.C. Dill
As I perused the entire site looking at each and every cover. I have come to a conclusion.
All of the covers exept of course the borrowed reprint covers on Spidey, Cap and the HULK. Were done by a combination of men.
Everyone knows the relation of these men in the 70's. They are the " Crusty Bunkers "
This crew consisted of Neal Adams and Dick Giordano as well as Klaus Janson and Howard Chaykin. Alan Lee Weiss took a turn as did Jose luis Garcia Lopez. Several other famous greats also enjoyed being CRUSTY. But from looking at the combination of styles comprising each drawing I see a bit of everyone having done something.
Later on of course Neal started his own studio.
-----Mikey D.
Batman has become a hero, I really enjoyed when I read his comics.
Hi! Love your website would totally love to exchange high resolution scans for my CBR Batman library... Where do you post high res scans? or would you like to trade scans? Holly
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