Detective Comics: The Bat-Murderer Covers by Aparo & Giordano
The Bat-Murderer story arc ran in Detective Comics Nos. 444–448. Written by Len Wein, the arc started with Jim Aparo on his normal full art and lettering duties.
Unfortunately, it seems that Aparo’s other assignments took priority, and he didn’t draw the last two stories. He did draw four of the five covers and they’re pretty darn great.
Colour and re-created trade dress by me. No AI was used.
Detective Comics No. 444 Cover by Jim Aparo
As published.
Original art scan from Jim Aparo’s DC Classics Artist’s Edition, published by Act 4 Publishing.
Art made production ready. Trade dress removed, missing art bits drawn in.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
House ad for this issue.
Detective Comics No. 445 Cover by Jim Aparo
As published.
Original art scan from Jim Aparo’s DC Classics Artist’s Edition, published by Act 4 Publishing.
Art made production ready. Trade dress removed, missing art bits drawn in.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
Detective Comics No. 446 Cover by Jim Aparo
As published.
With no original art scan to be found, the lineart was extracted from a scan of the comic. Trade dress removed, missing art bits drawn in.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
Detective Comics No. 447 Cover by Dick Giordano
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready. Trade dress removed. I always thought this one was a bit bare. Giordano must have been rushed. I added some background bits to fill out the zoo setting from the story.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
Detective Comics No. 448 Cover by Jim Aparo
As published.
Original art scan from Jim Aparo’s DC Classics Artist’s Edition, published by Act 4 Publishing.
Art made production ready. Trade dress removed.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
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