Tags
Andy Kubert, Batman, Batman Day, Batman Day Week, DC Superhero Girls, Grant Morrison, Harley Quinn, Harley Quinn Day, Jim Lee, John Romita Jr., Kelley Jones, masks
If you missed this week’s previous entries here they are:
My haul from this year’s Batman Day.
An in-depth look at the comic books from this year.
An interview with my friend about his awesome Harley Quinn art.
Or, you know, you could just keep scrolling.
Today I am looking at another promotional item given away as part of this year’s Batman Day Harley Quinn Day celebration. These are some of my favorite items DC has done recently, the masks.
I think that these are a great, old-school idea and one that ties in well to the theme of superheroes. Growing up, Halloween was the only time I had access to masks. If masks like these had been available to me, I would have been thrilled. Even cardboard masks like these as opposed to the plastic costume masks that would eventually crack.
This was a sentiment that I saw from a few kids this Batman Day at my local comic shop, Campus Comics. They were running around, wearing their Batman masks, and were PUMPED. It’s always nice to see younger kids excited about comic books. For one thing it’s nice to see that there is a future to the audience, and another is that usually these kids are WAY more enthusiastic about comics than I have been for a long time.
After I thought about it, the closest Batman mask I could come up with to these was this one from the ’60s.
On one side is Batman, and then flip it over for a Robin mask. It’s two masks in one! Why Batman has his insignia on his forehead like a crime-fighting Charlie Manson, I don’t know. Keep in mind this is also probably from the era where superhero costumes had the character’s name on the chest.
I own this mask and have wanted to frame it for a while, but I really want another one to go alongside it so I can display both sides. Someday…
The first Batman mask is based on the art of Jim Lee. Lee was the artist on the Hush storyline and also the maligned All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder series. But you know what? He’s a bigwig at DC, so he’s getting a mask. Actually, I’m surprised that Lee’s wasn’t one in the first round from the first Batman Day a couple years ago. I would imagine that he just barely didn’t make the cut. He is a high-profile modern era Batman artist so his inclusion here was sort of inevitable. However, I am surprised by how high profile of a “Batman” artist he is considered with his relatively short run on Batman books.
Speaking of Batman artists with smaller runs under their utility belts, Andy Kubert also fits that bill. I was surprised when I heard that Kubert’s Batman would be included in this year’s mask offering. Honestly, there are times when I forget about his short-lived run on Batman with Grant Morrison. I would imagine that he is included here for his contribution to the recent Dark Knight III: The Master Race with Frank Miller.
While I have no problems with Jim Lee or Andy Kubert’s Batman work, it would have been nice to see some of the older artists’ work represented here. After all, we are going to be coming up on Batman’s 80th anniversary in a couple of years. A Neal Adams or Carmine Infantino mask would be appreciated. I’m always going to hold out hope for a Dick Sprang or Kelley Jones mask. Now that I think about it though, the ears on a Jones mask might be cost prohibitive.
Finally, in keeping with the theme of this year’s Batman Day, Harley Quinn, there was also a Harley mask.
Here Harley is sporting her DC Super Hero Girls look. Since one of the free comics offered was a DC Super Hero Girls book with Harley, this ties in nicely. A “classic” jester Harley could’ve been nice too, but this one fits in well with the more modern look of the character. During the Batman Day festivities at my local comic shop the other day, I did hear a kid ask “Which Harley is that?” when looking at a bust of her in her original costume. I guess it’s inevitable that someday I will hear “That’s not my Harley!”
Until then I will have fun with my Batman masks and not worry too much about entitled nerds who don’t appreciate how good we have it now. Be sure to check back for more Batman Day Harley Quinn Day fun this week.
P.S.- I know DC also released a John Romita Jr. style Batman mask, but my comic shop didn’t get any in so I don’t have one. Maybe next time.