Don Newton, the somewhat overlooked comic-art MASTER!

Don Newton, sometime in the early 70s. One of only a TINY handful of pics I could dig up of the man! AND---yes, that IS a (home-made!) 'Captain Marvel' costume he's wearing! 'Cap was apparently Mr. Newton's favorite comics character. More about that, down below!

It's time once again, gang--- to hop into the 'way-back' time machine, and have a peek at just what I was REALLY digging and groovin' on, circa 1984-1986 or so! That GOOF-BALL time, between graduating high school, and my enlistment into the USAF!

Among the more positive things that happened to me during that time-period (trust me, there weren't that many! Let's just say it was a pretty miserable spell for me--- trying to figure out what to DO with my life, and all that kinda stuff!--- and leave it at THAT!)-- was my re-discovery of the JOY of reading and collecting comics! 

During high school, I'd moved away from reading / following the adventures of my childhood heroes, to more of the things--- DOPEY high-school kid that I was--- that I felt were more 'adult' in nature! Things like: pursuing relationships with young ladies, dreaming of my first car, what jobs / 'careers' to look for / look into, after high school, etc...! ( In other words, BORING 'ol 'grown-up stuff'!) Man, was I in a big, hot rush to be 'all grown-up'!-----

The then-19-year-old Loydster and his FIRST ride! A '73 Mercury. (Just look at the GIANT pile of HAIR on my already OVER-SIZED noggin!) A short year-or-so before re-discovering my passion for comic books and the heroes of my little-tot days! Working for my first 'real' paychecks, as well as saving-up for that first vehicle, took a BIG priority, over following the adventures of the heroes from my childhood!

It was fairly shortly--maybe a year or two--after high school, and during my first steps into the world of 'trying to earn my own living' / trying to venture out on my own--- that I fell back into the habit of reading the exploits of the characters I'd ALWAYS loved! ---Even during that silly 'high-school-semi-adult' period! (Just didn't stay up with the comics!)

It turned out that all of that 'earning a living' stuff, was a pretty GRINDING and fairly TEDIOUS experience! Comics were the PERFECT 'antidote', or --- a temporary escape-- from at least SOME of all of that!

SO---I began to try, (as stated above, around early-1984 or thereabouts!) for really the FIRST time, to build a 'serious collection' of comics, focusing on those aforementioned 'childhood favorites'. Batman (of COURSE!) was my MAIN focus, as he'd ALWAYS Been my number ONE favorite character (well--DUH! he STILL IS!)! 

It was during that 'slow-build-up' of my 'Bat-collection', that I also discovered the absolute WONDER, that was the artwork of Mr. Don Newton! A guy who VERY quickly became one of my ALL-TIME favorite 'Bat-artists'! Oh, but it would take years--- no DECADES--- before I would learn just how much More versatile, talented, and yes-- downright PROLIFIC--- this artist REALLY was!

The apparently RARELY photographed Mr. Newton, (apologies for the CRUMMY pic-quality! Again, it's one of the very FEW images I could find of him!) and a Newton-penciled image of the guy I most associated him with, back in the late 70s / early 80s! It would take me DECADES to realize how much MORE (and just how MANY more characters!) the man had actually drawn!

Let's jump in and move forward with our trusty time-machine for a bit--- to just a couple of years ago, in fact--- when it's the current era of the-GRAY-whiskered Loydster! I stumbled across some fairly extensive coverage, in one of my FAVORITE comics-related mags 'Back Issue'-- of Mr. Newton! 

Issue number 19 of that eye-opening magazine, gave details of the artist's life, his (pre-comics) career as BOTH a high school art teacher, and nearly LIFE-LONG comics-fan & 'fan-artist'! He drew HUNDREDS of images for the covers of a number of 'fan-published' magazines, before finally breaking into comics as a pro.

I was also ignorant of  a number of his early art-assignments as a pro! One of his earliest 'pro-gigs', was as the regular penciler / cover-artist, on 'The Phantom' for Charlton comics. Amazing fact: for NO extra pay, he PAINTED the covers of every issue he penciled! For eight issues, from 1975 thru 1977, fans of 'The Ghost who walks' were treated to BEAUTIFUL covers, like THIS one!! (The FIRST issue featuring Don's art, by the way!)---

Now, SOME of the info about Mr. Newton's association with the character of Captain Marvel, I knew about. Like him being the artist on the character from around '78 - '82, for example (the SAME period of time he was also drawing all those 'Bat-tales' I was DIGGING on so much! Like I said, the guy was PROLIFIC!). What I wasn't aware of, 'til reading that 'Back Issue' article, was that he was also a LIFE-LONG 'Cap-fanatic'

Along with producing numerous pretty SNAZZY pieces of 'fan-art' of the good Captain, (see below!) Don also created his own Captain Marvel costume, wearing it proudly to comics conventions and other fan-gatherings! From what it says in the article, the gig drawing 'ol Cap, as well as the rest of the 'Marvel family' & related characters, was INDEED a dream come true for the artist!

While hunting around for those elusive actual pictures of Mr. Newton, (kinda hopeless! There's just NOT hardly ANY in existence!) I instead stumbled across a number of VERY cool pieces of art he created over his life time! Including the NIFTY Captain Marvel piece below! Also amazing, is that this is apparently a 'private piece', not done for a comics cover or anything! Cap looks like he's about to just leap right off the canvas!-----

While not having the 'photo-realism' of the paintings of Alex Ross, Don Newton's paintings still pack a powerful punch all their own! There's a sense of action that's 'about to happen' in this Captain Marvel piece!
This and the Phantom painted cover above, give you a sense that the characters are 'poised and ready for ACTION'! Even though those characters may be standing completely STILL in the moment captured in the paintings!

Once again, the 'way-back' machine zooms us back to the days of a MUCH younger Loydster-- with a LOT more (darker) hair! Back when I discovered this 'Newton guy,' who was penciling the Dark Knight's adventures when I'd dived back into actively collecting comics. Something about the artist's drawings just reached out and grabbed me back then!

His Batman seemed just a bit more dynamic, his women were ALL beautiful! Even Robin seemed to be more of a 'real' young man, under Mr. Newton's pencil. Other artists have done an excellent job of penciling the Caped Crusader, some with a LOT more flash and 'showiness' than others! But--- Don Newton? The man made my ALL-TIME favorite character just feel more 'alive' to me! Just check out this NEAT-O panel, from a Newton penciled / Dan Adkins-inked Bats story!----

It's like a 'still-frame' from a movie, RIGHT? Don Newton's Batman was graceful, sleek, and athletic! Yet he also retained a 'classic', almost 'Golden Age' look!

AND--- here's a couple of my favorite covers, from Newton's run on 'Batman' and 'Detective Comics'! Sadly, the artist did only a small handful of covers during his time penciling the slightly less than 80 or so 'Bat-stories' he produced! That's kind of a shame, 'cause it's OBVIOUS that he had a real knack for composing an 'action-packed' cover image!---

Yet again, let's look at more samples of Mr. Newton's Batman. This time within the comic's pages themselves! The full-page 'final panel' image below, is actually STILL one of my ALL-TIME favorite drawings--- by ANY artist--- of the 'Dynamic Duo'! (Inks by Alfredo Alcala, by the way!) ---

Check out these uncolored pages, with inks ---once again here, by Alfredo Alcala (who, along with Dan Adkins-- in my opinion-- was one of the BEST inkers of Don's pencils!). Just BEAUTIFUL stuff!---

I think I've pretty much proved my point! That Mr. Don Newton was INDEED a talented artist, who did an OUTSTANDING job as penciler on the tales he produced--- for all TOO brief a time--- of the Gotham Guardian! 

Sadly, shortly after I discovered this wonderful craftsman, and his equally beautiful art--- Mr. Newton passed away, at the ALL-too-YOUNG age of only 50 years old--- in August of 1984. BUT--- he left behind a good-sized body of work, that is STILL just as fun to look at and be amazed by! Even nearly 40 YEARS after his passing! I just recently re-read a good-sized chunk of his run on the Batman series, and, needless to say--- his art's just as much of a BLAST to look at now, as it was all of those DECADES ago!

I'm also planning on--- in the hopefully fairly NEAR future, tracking down more of the other comics featuring his craftsmanship-- in particular, his runs on the Phantom & Captain Marvel! I wonder what  he would think, of comics fans enjoying his art nearly 4 decades after he left us? I'd like to think--- since he was such a BIG fan of comics himself--- Mr. Don Newton would be proud of THAT kind of legacy!

One MORE image of this man's AWESOME artistic skill! One that's MOST appropriate to finish-off this post, considering how much I closely associate Mr. Newton with that guy in the 'Bat-suit'! Another 'private piece', done before he broke into 'the pros'. This one featuring a 'Golden Age' version of the character! Here's hoping it inspires even MORE comic-art fans to hunt down the work, of this kind-of-UNDER-appreciated artist! He was INDEED a TRUE comic-art MASTER!---- 

This post is dedicated to the memory of Don Newton (1934-1984). May his art CONTINUE to be enjoyed and cherished for GENERATIONS to come! 

Loyd's BONUS video-clip!! --- # 48!! --- 'Huey ROCKIN' it, with 'The World's Most Dangerous Band'!!

 

The old 'ROLLER-COASTER' of life just KEEPS herky-jerking me along folks! Yet ANOTHER vehicle accident (not to worry, I managed to come out of it uninjured!--- Sadly, I can't say the same for the vehicle! It was left pretty much a TOTAL loss!), and OTHER things--- are keeping my life.... well, let's just say... 'interesting'! SO-- another 'shorter-than-usual post', once again!

Anyway--- while life can SURE beat us up, kick us around, and just generally leave us feeling like we're being picked on by a mean old school-yard BULLY--- we can STILL find PLENTY of bright-spots along life's way! One of the BRIGHTEST spots for me? Why, MUSIC--- of COURSE!

Fortunately, I found JUST the RIGHT kind of toe-tappin', and head-boppin' CURE I needed for at least SOME of my blues! While doing one of my regular cruises around YouTube, I came across a CLASSIC little piece of  'Rock 'n Roll history'! Huey Lewis, along with PART of the guys in his band, The News--- joining up with 'The World's Most Dangerous Band'-- on the old NBC David Letterman show!

This was in 1984--- Huey and The News were at the TOP of the charts, with the album: 'Sports'--- STILL one of my ALL-TIME favorite albums, by the way! One day, at SOME point in the (hopefully-not-TOO-distant!) future, I'll put up a post about this somewhat over-looked and under-appreciated band (who I saw LIVE in 1987, by the way! They, of course ROCKED!)! Anyhoo-dooky-roo, here's Huey and some of his guys, along with Paul Shaffer & company--- BURNIN'-up 'The Heart of Rock and Roll'!!---

ATTACK of the RETURN of the SON of the GHOST of 'Dr. Franken-Loyd'!!

 

As I've stated MANY-a-time before, here on the 'ol bloggy-wog-a-wing-ding---- I have a SERIOUS love for, and SHAMELESS nerdiness about the Batmobile! Starting back in the fall of 2020, I returned to doing my own, custom-versions of the Bat-ride. (Something that, if you want to scroll back and look through my old posts for proof-- I've done a LOT of, over the years! Go ahead, and give a look-see if  you'd like!-- I'll wait!---) The 'Bat-customs' this time around though, are in 1/64th scale. I call them my 'Bat-Hot-Wheels'.

Why do these things in such a TEENY-TINY scale, you ask?  A couple of reasons, actually! Number one and probably most important--- especially in the just over 2 years that we've lived at our current address--- is that 1/64th scale vehicles DO NOT take up very much space! Either when you're tinkering on them / thrashing-away at the customizing--- OR-- looking for a way to display them--- OR--- stashing them into storage. When They need to be stored, they can be quickly and easily rolled up into a little tissue-paper, put into a fairly small box-- and safely tucked-away for display later!

Secondly--- and just about as important as the above reason--- besides scribbling-away in my various 'Superhero-related' coloring books--- they're something to keep the 'ol Loydster's mind and hands busy. In other words, it's a creative activity that helps me stay SANE, yet doesn't take up hardly ANY space! (Again, a PRICELESS thing at our current digs!)

Like my wifey has said before though, my little geeky tinkering can sometimes turn into a bit of an obsession! 8 of the 'little-bitty-Bat-hot-rods' featured below, were actually done in the last 4 months or so! But-- hey, like I said-- it's 'do something creative or go all-out-BONKERS!' SO--- to hold on to what little is left of my 'sound mind'.... guess I'll just keep breaking out the E-6000 glue, clear plastic sheets, and spray paint--- and continue doing these little 'Bat-conversions'!

First off, let's look at the 'micro-Bat-ride' collection as a 'group'. Just about ALL of them are tucked-away into the above-mentioned tissue-paper and little boxes!--- They're safe and sound until I can once again put them on display at a (HOPEFULLY near-future) later time and place!--- Where there will be at least adequate space (again-- HOPEFULLY!) to show them off!-----

If you've been following along with me for very long, here at the Blog-a-wog-a-wig-wag--- You'll remember that I've covered the customizing of the first 3 of the 'Bat-Hot-Wheels' in earlier posts. You can scroll back and refresh your memory, if you'd like! Like I said above, I'll wait while you do that!-----

Now that you're back... Let's take a look at each of the remaining 9 'rinky-dinky-Bat-customs'. Along with the usual 'Loydster-chatter' / comments-- about the tinkering I did on each one! Oh, and-- I'll share the original names of the 'source cars' down below, after the 'car show'!------

1.  This little number is one of the few in this growing collection, that isn't based on an actual Hot Wheels car. The 'base car' comes from the 'Metal Machines' line of toys. I saw it in a 'Big Lots' store toy-section--- for a buck-- and immediately started seeing it 'converted' into 'ol Batsy's ride in my twisted little mind! The usual clear plastic-sheet in the right spots, some shiny black paint (with blue trim / pin-stripes, of course!)-- and that's the results above!

2.  This one's the 2nd vehicle I've customized (oddly enough!) ---from the 'Marvel characters' line of Hot Wheels! This one based on the 'Scarlet Witch' character. I think it turned out pretty nifty!

3. The 'Bat-ride', based on more of a 'muscle car' groove--number ONE. It's long, low roof-line and 'pinched'-looking front-end, are what made me visualize a classic big-block-powered 'pony-car'-based Batmobile!

4. The Batmobile based on a pretty exotic 'concept car'! Yep, sure enough--- I know it's been done before! The Lincoln Futura is the BEST example of that sort of thing (not to mention the MOST copied / riffed-on body-style of the Batmobile--ever!). The shape and profile of this thing just SCREAMS: 'Hey, drive me REALLY FAST!!'

5. Another kind-of 'concept car'-based vehicle! This one was also the first time I tried making TINY little photo-copies of 'Bat-symbols' for the wheel-centers. These were from the '66 Batmobile. It's over-sized wheels, and THICK, almost coffin-shaped body, make it look a little BRUTAL! The results turned out fairly NEAT-O, I think!

6. 'Bat-ride' as muscle-car, number TWO! The 2nd one in this group based on a 'Metal Machines' car. It looks SO much like a classic Mustang, I just HAD to see what it would it look like all 'Bat-TRICKED-out'! Also, my 2nd try at putting teeny-weeny little photo-copied 'Bat-symbols' into the wheel-centers.

7. This one's a little more on the 'cartoony'-looking side! AND--- with GOOD reason, being that it's based on the Hot Wheels 'Lightning McQueen' vehicle, from the 'Cars' flicks! I'd been looking at the body lines on various versions of this little number, and thought--- 'well, it's kind of exaggerated in it's proportions--- BUT-- with a little tweaking here and there (including lowering the roof-line quite a bit!) it would STILL be a VERY cool version of the Batmobile'! Another set of photo-copied 'Bat-wheel-covers' for this one too!

8. 'Bat-ride, with a muscle-car-GROOVE', number THREE! Also number 3 in the collection (so far, anyway!), that's based not on a Hot Wheel, but a 'Metal Machines' car. This one had a little Dodge Challenger---along with a little Chevy Camaro--- body-lines kinda 'mashed-up' into it! It also had a HUGE, out-of-proportion blower sticking WAY-up out of the hood! 

Out came the trusty cutting tool, (actually my son's 'Dremel' tool! Mine died on me several years back!) utilized to CHOP out that ugly blower, and smooth-out the body-lines of this now-SLEEK-looking 'Bat-hot-rod'! (the hole left behind was covered by a little piece of the ALWAYS handy sheet plastic!) The big, beefy-looking headers-thru-the fenders and side-pipes make it look like the real BEAST that a Batmobile should be!

9. 'Bat-ride-based-on-a-concept-car', yet AGAIN! Even though it would be TOTALLY impractical in 'real life' (would ANY of these cars REALLY be 'practical', IF they were indeed 'REAL' cars???)!  The way the 'Bat-fins' 'sweep' all the way from near the front fenders, to the rear of the body--tall enough to COMPLETELY cover the side window-glass (Batman would be unable to SEE anything on either side!)--- just looks VERY 'zoomy-zoopy', and --- yes--- COOL! who CARES about 'practical'? with the Batmobile, the STYLE is EVERYTHING!

I based this one on a pretty beat-up Hot Wheel, by-the-way--that I found at a yard sale for a quarter! Not a bad investment, I'd say!

Last, but certainly NOT least--- here's what the original little 1/64th scale rides looked like--- before I started in with all the sheet plastic, glue and black or blue paint!-----

The original names for the 'mini-Bat-customs': 1. 'Toxic' ('Metal Machines' car) 2. 'The Scarlet Witch'  3. 'Count Muscula'  4. 'Velocita'  5. '16 Angels'  6. 'White Fang' ('Metal Machines' car)  7. 'Lightning McQueen'  8. 'Poison Ivy' ('Metal Machines' car) 9. 'Ballistik'

 

So, who says something FUN has to be anything in big sizes or packages! If you're somebody like the 'ol Loydster-- meaning a regular old 'working stiff' who pretty much lives from one payday to the next--- you don't have the 'disposable income' / big bucks for big, king-size geeky stuff anyway!! We 'average-working-nerds' manage to figure out how to 'get our geek on', in our own little affordable / 'budget-friendly' ways.

Besides, like I've also said before here--- these kind of things, after they're all up on a shelf (or WILL be, in the hopefully NEAR future--- in another 'man-cave' I'll one day be hanging out in!), ALWAYS bring a big-GOOFY-GEEKY-grin to my face--- every time I look at them! And THAT, my friends--- is the BEST reason to keep doing the slightly crazy, 'mad-scientist'-type stuff  that I do!

Loyd's BONUS video-clip!! --- # 47!! --- ANOTHER 'Bat-fanatic' builds ANOTHER cool 'big BLACK car'!!

 

  

Life just keeps on being a BUSY / HECTIC / INSANE whirl-wind for the 'ol Loydster folks! Hence, once again--- I've gotta put up a bit of a 'shorty post'! I've actually been chipping away at what will EVENTUALLY be a COUPLE of REALLY neat-o / FUN posts, but... things being the way they are--- it'll be NEXT month (at LEAST!) before I can get EITHER of them FULLY put-together and 'ready for prime-time'!

MEANWHILE!----The on-going TREASURE-TROVE of ULTRA-GEEK-TASTIC and just out-right FUN stuff to be discovered on YouTube, continues to be the 'gift that KEEPS ON giving'! Especially if, like me, you're looking for something that fits EXACTLY into JUST what a bloggy-woggy-wang-a-dang-thang like mine is ALL ABOUT! (AND--- you don't have the time to put together a FULL post!)

So--- feast your eyes upon this completely INSANE, custom built, FULLY-FUNCTIONING replica of the '66 Bat-ride! A guy in Ohio, with an OBVIOUS love for the CLASSIC vehicle, (and REALLY deep pockets / UNLIMITED 'disposable income'!) put this baby together! I also DIG that he has '66 Batman' doing the driving and demonstrating all the gadgets! VERY COOL!-----

Loyd's BONUS video-clip(s)!!--- # 46!!--- 'Classic-Cougar-Commercials'!

 

Ah the WONDERS and TREASURES to be found on YouTube! While (virtually) cruising around there recently, I stumbled across a couple of NIFTY old ads for one of my 'top-5-or-so' FAVORITE vintage rides!--- The Mercury Cougar!

The 'Classic Cats', (especially the '67 through '70 models!) in my mind anyway-- are EVERY bit as COOL as their cousins-- the Ford Mustangs. Virtually the SAME vehicles 'under the skin', Cougars sometimes don't get the respect and appreciation (not to mention mass-media hype and attention!) I think they deserve! Maybe if good 'ol Steve McQueen had driven a dark metallic green 'Cat, instead of that 390 GT 'Stang in the movie 'Bullitt'--- things might've turned out quite a bit different! (There have been LOTS of  other movies & TV shows with 'Stangs prominently featured--- but you get the idea!)

Not that I'm moaning & groaning about classic 'Stangs getting attention! They ARE pretty much my ALL-time favorite 'vintage rides' after all! I just feel that the Cougars need to be treated maybe a little less like the 'unwanted step-children', and more like the COOL and SLICK-looking close-cousins that they REALLY were!

Anyhoo-doody-roo, here's a pair of 'classic ads', for a pair of  VERY CLASSY cars! The '68 and '69 model Cougars! The picture and sound quality isn't that great, but our TVs back in those days weren't that great either! Just pretend it's 1968 or '69---your 'outdoor antenna' isn't picking up the local station all that good (maybe a storm-system's causing interference!)--- and enjoy!---

'Digitally-tinkering' on stuff! (OR--- what to do when you REALLY don't have SPACE for your main hobbies!)

The state of 'ol Loydster's mind, MOST of the time! Brain-storms (especially of the creative kind!) are pretty regular happenings!

You know, if you would've told me--- even as little as 9 or 10 years ago, that I would be able to do the kind of  'digital-tinkering' I'm able to do on a fairly basic, not-a-lot-of-bells-and-whistles lap-top--- with the ALSO fairly basic 'Windows Paint' program... I would have said that was CRAZY!

But-- here I am, 'tinkering' away! Yes, I know that the 'Photo-Shop' program, on Apple computers-- is the 'state of the art' way to do the kind of stuff I DIG on doing! Alas, I'm just a poor old 'working-class-stiff', with the above-mentioned 'basic' lap-top, so it's also a case of 'working-with-what-ya-got'! (Heck,  the current lap-top I have, was a GIFT from my son a couple of years back!---which replaced a USED one I'd had.... since around 2014!)

Besides--- it's kind of a creative challenge, to try doing some of the stuff I've been doing, with such a 'basic' program like '...Paint'!

There's also the factor of having NO space (for close to TWO years now) for the usual kind of stuff  'ol Loydster get's a kick out of!--- Building / customizing / displaying the occasional model or toy, putting up cool / unique images in frames, etc! So, what better way to scratch that 'ol 'creative itch', than in the 'virtual lap-top-world'!

This latest round of  'digital scribbling', all started with an idea I had for doing some 're-mastering' of an old image, that I created a number of years back! Of COURSE, it involves my two FAVORITE characters! (Take a wild GUESS who the number ONE favorite of the two is!)----

Like it says above, a cool image (drawn for some of my nephews, as I was saying above-- a few years back) that--- for the MOST part, I've always liked! BUT--- a couple of things in it have ALWAYS bugged me a little! Namely: Batman's chest-symbol and some of the line-work on his cowl!

Some of the 'source-lighting' on both the Supes and Bats figures is a bit 'off' too! So--- off into the 'Paint' program it went!----

I'm now MUCH happier with the image, even though all the changes are pretty subtle! Bats now sports his 'classic' oval-shaped symbol, (which was drawn by hand, then scanned into my 'puter & 'pasted' onto the figure!) and the high-lights and line-work on his cowl are a BIG improvement over the earlier effort! I also worked on his eyes, to make them a bit more symmetrical. 

I improved the 'source-lighting' here and there on BOTH figures, and added in 'gold'-colored highlights to the yellow areas on their costumes. A copy of this one just MIGHT go up in the next 'Bat-cave'!

The next series of images I tinkered around with, involve The original '66 Batman himself, Mr. Adam West! (Or, at least the costume he wore anyway!) I stumbled across a whole crop of VERY nifty images of the '66 cowl (actually on an Adam West 'display head'!), put up by the VERY cool business known as 'Williams Studio2'!

It's a 'man-and-wife' / 'mom & Pop'- ran business, that specializes in making AMAZING replicas of the '66 Cowl! They also make the replicas in LEATHER! Check out some of their handiwork! Then, click on the link to their site below, to see even MORE wicked-COOL '66 Batman stuff!---

                                                                                Williams Sudio2 COOL Bat-items!

This series of images was just for my own GOOFY-GEEK-A-ZOID amusement, as well as to satisfy my 'Bat-fanatic'- curiosity! Just HOW 'comics-accurate' are those 'classic TV show' cowls, anyway??? (Not to mention the VERY neat-o leather cowls!---Check out the one in blue-&-black below!) well, see for yourselves!----

A few careful strokes with the mouse on my lap-top, utilizing the colors gray and light gray--- gave me the answer! Those '66 TV-Cowls were VERY much faithful to the 'source material'! (The leather cowls--even MORE so!) 'Comics-accurate' INDEED! Though Mr. West would've probably had a TOUGH time actually SEEING in a cowl with 'eye-slits' like these!

After the '66 Bats stuff, I turned my attention to another image I've had here on the lap-top for a good chunk of time! It's actually a pic of a statue based on an Alex Ross painting. 

While I'd NEVER be so just outright SILLY, to even TRY to tinker / mess-around with an actual Alex Ross painting (that would be like drawing a MUSTACHE on the MONA LISA!) The 'ol 'Bat-fanatic'-curiosity made me wonder--- just WHAT would a 'Ross-Bats' look like, with 'comics-accurate' white / gray 'eye-slits', and shorter ears on the cowl! See the results below!

1. The original image, complete with EXTRA-long ears (hey, somebody like Alex Ross can get away with that in a painting! On a statue.... well, it looks a little odd-ball!)! Not to mention, 'ol Batsy's eyes look a bit 'crossed'!
 2. The results of my 'digital scribbles'! It just shows how VERY close Mr. Ross followed the 'Golden Age' design of the Bat-suit! Even Batman's head & Jaw-line, have a bit of a 'Dick Sprang look' and feel to them! (If you don't know who Dick Sprang is---- you just haven't been paying attention to THIS blog!)

Next--- again, for bit of  'giggle-inspiring-goofiness'--- I did some 'scribbling' on an image of an old 'Mego' Batman action figure! (JUST like the one I had as a kid!) This one has also been in my 'puter for a while!----

1. The original figure, how it looked 'fresh-out-of-the-package'! 2. My 're-touched' image! Another time a Bat-cowl can look a LOT more 'comics-accurate'--- with a bit of help from the 'ol 'Paint' program!

After doing the above projects--- which were just, as I was saying before-- mostly for 'grins & giggles'-- I decided to get more intense, and a little more ambitious in my efforts! At least a couple of the following images are DEFINITELY gonna wind-up framed & hanging up in the NEXT (hopefully NEAR-future) 'Bat-Cave'!

Once AGAIN, they ALL feature a certain 'Caped Crusader'!--- 

1. Another older image, that's actually migrated across a couple of other 'puters---- before winding up in my current lap-top! While the NIFTY '40s 'Bat-Logo' and figures of Bats & Robin are positioned well, the image itself is a grainy, pixelated MESS!
2. After making a copy on my handy-dandy printer, I re-traced over the logo and figures in nice, DARK ink---using a heavy line, so it would all have the look of an actual (Golden Age) comic-panel or cover!

3. The start of my work on 'colorizing' the whole thing! The 'Batman' letters in the logo, Bats' uniform and Robin's cape were all colored by hand, then scanned back into the lap-top--- so I could attack the rest of the image in the 'Paint' program! I also ended up re-coloring the 'Bat-suit' digitally.(It just looked better & more 'solid' in 'digital gray'!) I then took a deep breath, and dove into the rest of what I knew was probably gonna be a LENGTHY effort!----

4. After nearly a week, and around 10-12 hours total, of CAREFULLY moving my trusty mouse around (I slowly thrashed-away on this image, in my spare time here and there!)---- The Dynamic Duo of the Golden Age (AND-- that STILL awesome '40s 'Bat-Logo'!) are sporting BRIGHT, primary colors! A LOT of time, a LOT of effort! BUT--- by golly, I think it was WORTH IT!

This next project also started out with the image of an otherwise VERY cool statue, that I've had here in the lap-top for a while! (Hmmm.... notice a 'pattern' here yet???) One featuring the Dark Knight of the late 40s & 50s!---

1. The original image, featuring a VERY 'Dick Sprang / Shelly Moldoff'-looking version of the Gotham Guardian! While fairly nifty--- the FACE of the figure just looked a little TOO 'cartoony', and also a little too 'waxy' or 'doll-like'!
2. After digging around on-line, I stumbled across this 'head-only' pic of 'ol Bats! It's one of the 'alternate heads' that come with the 'Golden Age Batman' figure, from Mezco. (Check out their site of WICKED-COOL figures! If you're a 'Bat-freak-a-zoid'--- you WILL drool!!) The face was MUCH more 'life-like', while still retaining that 'Sprang / Moldoff'-feel to it! Still, it needed a little 'scribbling', to make it feel right!
3. The 'head-only' shot, after the required 'scribbling'! I was now ready to----
4. GRAFT the two images together! Some folks may be critical of the kinda '2-D' look to the upper-face area and neck--- BUT--- I think it makes it look almost as if it's been done by the animators at Pixar or something! --'weirdly-neat-o'! I get a kick out of it, each time I look at it!

The final project I'm showing off here--- is one that will DEFINITELY have to find it's way into a frame, in my 'Bat-Cave-to-come'! As most of you--- who've been following along with me on this here little bloggy-woggy-thingy-thang--- know,  I've LONG been a MAJOR-fan of the original '40s 'Bat-Logo'! It's easily my ALL-TIME favorite comic book logo!----

1. The original image, which--- like SO many of the images I've stashed into my lap-top-- I found on the web. As I've said before, one of the GREAT graphic designs / symbols / icons of the 20th century! BUT--- I found myself having one of those 'brain-storms' again!
'What if,'  I thought, '... that CLASSIC design were put on comics' covers today'? What would it look like? Then I started doing some further 'brain-storming'--- AND scouring the web for the proper 'raw' material to put what I had in mind together!
2.Yet ANOTHER 'head only' shot of the 'Golden Age' Bats. Also from one of the Mezco figures (this time with an 'all-black' cowl!) I would combine this image, with that of the logo--- making it (hopefully!) have a '3-D' appearance!
3. My first crack at the more '3-D' version of the 'classic logo'. I 'digitally squeezed' the head somewhat, and kept the background red, just like in the original image. 'NOT too shabby', I thought to myself! '....BUT....'---

4. What I at first thought would be the 'final draft' of the '3-D / 'classic logo'! LOTS of careful working-of-the-mouse, to make the background ALL yellow (I just decided the color had a more 'Golden-Age-cover-feel' to it!) The head still looked just a bit... 'off' though! When I enlarged it to fit into the logo, it had become a little too pixelated. So--- back into '...paint' it went!

5. Just like it says above--- 'WHAM'! More 'web-scouring' had produced an even MORE 'comics-accurate' image of the 'Bats-head-shot'!---AND-- it was a LARGER, less-pixelated image! I'm VERY proud of how it turned out! There WILL be a spot found for it to hang in my future 'crime-fighting-hobby-and-tinkering-hide-out'!

Now you know, folks! Just what an EXTREMELY geek-a-zoid individual like the 'ol Loydster--- who, at the moment-- is EXTREMELY limited in the space he has for displaying any sort of 'nerd-tastic' material--- has been able to do as an alternative!

I should also say, (just in case any 'legal-eagles' from DC / Warner Brothers are checking up on little 'ol me!) that ALL of the above projects were done JUST for the FUN of it, and I plan to make NO sort of profit from ANY of it, of ANY kind! That goes for just about EVERYTHING else posted up on this here blog, for that matter! (Especially when it involves 'copyrighted / trademarked' characters, owned by MEGA-corporations, though!)

it's ALL for the FUN of it, and if an item or two has made even a LITTLE goofy-grin break out on your face (in THIS post... or ANY post, in fact!)---- then, hey.... my mission here is accomplished!

                                                                        --- See you NEXT time, gang! ---