Detective Comics No. 443 Alternate Cover by Walt Simonson

I was just a few years too young to get comics regularly when Manhunter was the back-up feature in Detective Comics Nos. 437–443. Written by Archie Goodwin and drawn by Walt Simonson, it combined pulp high-adventure themes with espionage and thriller elements. With Goodwin’s tight, evocative prose and Simonson’s groundbreaking storytelling techniques, Manhunter always punched way above its weight as an eight-page back-up in the Batman comic that consistently sold the least copies.

So much so that when I began collecting seriously at the end of the 70s, Manhunter was still on people’s tongues. DC reprinted the story in a baxter volume during this period, and again in a deluxe edition a few years later with a story Goodwin had plotted but never dialogued before his passing. Suitably, Simonson illustrated it and the story carried no dialogue or captions.

I came across this post’s illustration on Twitter, posted by Simonson. Said Simonson:

“Manhunter’s Last Stand. With Batman and Dan Kingdom. Pen and ink. 14×17. 2009.

“This was my idea of what I might have done for a cover in the old days for the last issue of Detective Comics in which Manhunter appeared.”

Sounded like a great idea to me. Colour and packaging by myself.

The published cover by Jim Aparo.

Walt Simonson’s art from 2009.

Art extended at the top to fit the cover format.

Colour.

100-page version with re-created trade dress added.

Regular-sized comic version with re-created trade dress added.

YOUR BOTTOM OF THE PAGE BONUS

Wonder Comic Monthly No. 125 published by Planet Comics in Australia.