#penguin
Batman: The Caped Crusader video game
Released by Ocean Software Ltd in 1988, Batman: The Caped Crusader was the second computer/video game to utilize the Batman license Ocean Software acquired from DC comics in 1986.
Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns (1986) revitalized the Batman franchise which suddenly turned Batman into a serious contender as a merchandising gold mine for DC comics. I don’t know if Ocean Software heard of the upcoming Batman film in the works and decided to pick up the license before it became a hot property, or if they were in the right place at the right time and the cards just fell in to place. The former would not surprise me.
As you have probably guessed from the ad, Batman’s main antagonists in this game are the Penguin and the Joker. Including the Joker was more or less a no-brainer since he is the pen-ultimate Batman villain (also: Moore’s Batman: the Killing Joke was published in 1988), but I’m kind of stumped as to why the Penguin was selected to be the second villain. I guess he was a popular character at the time?
The game itself was well-received by fans. It was pretty innovative in terms of game-play: the player had to solve the mission by finding items in-game and then make them interact with the correct in-game components - all while dodging villains and other obstacles. If you were old enough to remember owning this game, you probably also remember the interface was set up so that it looked like Batman was entering a new comic book panel every time he entered a new in-game area.
Another detail of the game that may resonate some nostalgia with old microprocessor owners is that Batman: The Caped Crusader was released on a magnetic tape for the 8-bit and 16-bit processors of the day. Side A of the magnetic tape had the game where you battled the Penguin, and side B contained the more difficult game where you had to battle the Joker.
The art for this ad came from BobWakelin.Wakelin was a UK artist who illustrated many covers for UK comic books in the 1980s. Coincidentally, Wakelin also created the famous ‘Ocean’ logo for Ocean Software Ltd (visible in this ad).
I don’t believe this ad appeared in any DC publications, just computer gaming/hobbyist magazines.
Batman: The Caped Crusader was available for Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, ZX Spectrum.
If you’d like to know more about the history of Ocean Software Ltd, check out http://www.oceanthehistory.co.uk/.
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Shadow of the Batman
Reprinting older material was nothing new for DC comics (see: DC Blue Ribbon Digests), but in the early 80s the new Baxter paper format was all the rage and several acclaimed comic runs were being selected to be reprinted with the new upgraded paper stock. You have to remember that this was before reprint TPBs became “a thing”. I’m not 100% how they selected which comic runs to reprint - some are pretty obvious (I’m sure 1986’s Roots of the Swamp Thing was reprinted because Saga of the Swamp Thing was getting a lot of attention thanks to the Alan Moore treatment), but I’m going to guess that some were based on fan request (ex: SimonsonandGoodwin’sManhunter) since I don’t think they had the commercial appeal to launch an ongoing series. Whether that was the case or not, in 1985, Batman fans were lucky enough to receive a deluxe reprint of Steve Englehart’sDetective Comics run in their local comic book shops.
Shadow of the BatmanreprintsDetective Comics #469 - #479 (1977-1979), stories from House of Mysteryissues#254and#274 (1977 and 1979), a 2-part story from Weird War Talesissues#51and#52 (1977) and a story from Mystery in Space #111 (1980). The common denominator in all of these stories is that Marshall Rogers had something to do with all of them (whether he was the colorist or illustrator), so this almost seems like a tribute to Marshall Rogers. It should also be noted that every wrap-around cover of this series was (beautifully) illustrated by Rogers.
Englehart had been writing for Marvel Comics in some shape or form since the early 1970s. By 1976, due to disagreements with new Marvel editor-in-chief Gerry Conway,Englehart quit Marvel with the intention of moving to Europe. Jenette Kahn (who had just became the new DC comics publisher) managed to get a hold of Englehart before he left. Kahn was insistent that Englehart work for DC comics to help ‘fix’ Justice League of America since all of DC’s big-name talent had recently migrated to Marvel comics.Englehart reluctantly agreed, but on the condition that he only worked with DC comics for a year and then would resume his travels to Europe. Part of the deal also includedEnglehart being able to write Batman since it was one of his favorite characters. Englehart wrote the scripts for the issues he was assigned to and then took off for Europe, never knowing who would be illustrating them or if they’d ever see print - just hoping for the best. Englehart’sDetective Comics run was such a big hit with the DC editorial staff that he was asked to add an additional issue to the originally planned 7-issue run.
I know from experience that proclaiming something to be “the DEFINITIVE Batman” is a hot-button issue amongst Batman fans, but we can’t deny the impact Englehart’s run has left on the Batman mythos:
- the re-introduction of the newly-costumed Deadshot (last seen in 1950’s Batman #59). Deadshot would go on to play a major role in John Ostrander’s 1987 Suicide Squadseries.
- the first appearance of Dr. Phosphorus. Yes, Englehart created Dr. Phosphorus.
- the re-introduction of Hugo Strange (last seen in 1940’s Detective Comics #46). You know that famous story where Hugo Strange discovers Batman’s secret identity? Yes, it’s in here - Englehart wrote it.
- the first appearance of Rupert Thorne (created byEnglehartandWalt Simonson). Rupert Thorne would be a major recurring character in 1992’s Batman: The Animated Series.
- the Joker “Laughing Fish” story. An infamous Joker story that has been reprinted/re-adapted more times than I can list. It set the stage for the homicidal maniac Joker that we all know and love.
The problem here is that DC’s ad campaign didn’t do this reprint series any justice - this house ad only took up a third of a page and seemed like it was included as an afterthought. I guess readers were supposed to see Englehart’s name and recognize that it was good? The art in this ad doesn’t even begin to hint at the true artistic beauty of this series. It contained forty pages with no ads, featured higher quality paper stock/coloring, and was illustrated by Walt Simonson,Al Milgrom,Marshall RogersandTerry Austin (not all at once). From the point of view of a Batman fan, this is a very entertaining reprint series: Bruce Wayne/Batman was now operating out of a swingin’ downtown penthouse in Gotham City (as opposed to Wayne Manor), Dick Grayson Robin makes a few appearances, Silver St Cloud (a fan-favorite love interest for Batman) is introduced, and a terrific assortment of Batman rogues are featured (ex: Joker, Deadshot, Hugo Strange, Dr Phosphorus, Penguin and Clayface III).
Englehart has stated in the past that his aforementioned work on Detective Comics (which he has nicknamed 'the Dark Detective’ run) was pivotal in the development of Tim Burton’s 1989 Batmanfilm.Englehart has always remained officially uncredited for his contribution to the 1989 Batmanfilm.Englehart’s run has also been collected in 1999’s Batman: Strange ApparitionsTPB.
On an interesting side note, I wanted to comment on DC’s decision to reprint the two stories from Weird War Tales #51 - #52 in this series. Upon first inspection, the stories have much ado about nothing - it’s a story about animorphic dogs living in a post-apocalyptic London, England. Upon further research I discovered that they’re a part of a Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth prequel storyline called Tales of the Great Disaster.Kamandi was an ongoing series (created by Jack Kirby) that was published by DC comics from 1972 to 1978. Crisis On Infinite Earths pretty much retconned this storyline out of existence, and Kamandi would end up becoming Tommy Tomorrow.
*Note:Detective Comics #478 - 479 were written by Len Wein.
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Who doesn’t want an adorable penguin to celebrate the holidays with!! (I also have an option minus the Santa hat for people who don’t celebrate Christmas but still want a cute penguin buddy!!)
https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/Emperor-Penguin-Baby-with-Santa-Hat-by-Squiddllr/60596483.7H7A9
I am nearly eighteen years old and my life ambition as a child was to tip the ice berg on club penguin.
Today, I achieved that goal.
Chinstrap Penguin – Animal On Planet
The Chinstrap penguins are perhaps one of the most abundant penguins in theAntarctica region, that inhabits various islands and beaches in the Southern Pacific and the Antarctic Oceans.
deep
Flying birds are cool but wanna know what’s flightless and classy?birds in tuxedo.. AKA penguins
I think Gray-gray did a good job at cosplaying, don’t you think? Although he did struggle with his ears
Today is the World Penguin Day! Here’s how penguins can dive miles beneath the ocean surface …on a single breath.
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Moscow Zoo
The Eric Gill Series part two: Penguin Books. | Londondesignz.com
One of the exhibits at Monotype’s Eric Gill Series exhibition was this small selection from the lovely range of 20th Century Penguin Books, many of which would use the typeface Gill Sans on their iconic covers during this period.
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Framing some work for Thursday! Anyone planning on coming from my IG family?
#emmalinebailey #penguin #cuteanimal #pencildrawing #illustration #nzartist #babypenguin #exhibition #2ndapril #mteden #mtedenvillage #framing #artistsoninstagram #auckland
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Finished brooches
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#wildanimals #nature #art #oxford #etsyartist #estyart #wildlifeart #wildlife #jenmuir #platypusradio #brooch #jewellery #fimo #myFIMO #polymerclay #cat #dog #dachshund #strawberry #elephant #penguin #bird #hedgehog #owl #rhino #sloth #animals (at Oxford, Oxfordshire)
https://www.instagram.com/platypusradio/p/BveiRrJFsqk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=18f3lq1rlltbu
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