THE COMPLETE ROBIN TOUR

Batman & Robin.  These characters are bound together in the public conscience just the same as Tom & Jerry, Laurel & Hardy, or Starsky & Hutch.  They just go together. 

Robin was the very first superhero sidekick, debuting in 1940.  Robin was created with the notion that a juvenile sidekick might give the youngsters reading comic books a character they could more closely relate to.  Another benefit to having a sidekick is that it allows writers to present more dialogue and less exposition.  

Batman's original Robin was Dick Grayson, a circus aerialist whose parents were murdered.  Bruce (Batman) Wayne takes the boy in, trains him in hand-to-hand combat, and provides him with the tutelage to become a master detective.  Batman then provides him with a superhero costume and begins taking him out to fight crime in the mean streets of Gotham City.  In today's society, the notion of putting the life of a 12 or 13-year-old child in harm's way to battle evil-doers seems... well... a little nuts!  But it was a different era. 

Most casual comic book readers or television watchers are aware of Dick (Robin) Grayson.  But how many would know there have actually been over a dozen characters who have assumed the Robin mantle?  On this tour, we'll take a look at the many Robins to appear in the pages of DC Comics since Dick Grayson's debut in 1940.

THE ORIGINAL TEEN TITANS MEMBERSHIP TOUR

When I began my comic book journey at the ripe age of 9 (in 1973), I gravitated much more to group-themed titles.  The Legion of Super-Heroes was my first exposure to the medium, and from there, I quickly branched out to the Justice League of America, the Fantastic Four, and one of my all-time favorite groups... the Teen Titans.

When this group's adventures first started being chronicled the characters were very early teens.  But, by the time I was first exposed to the Teen Titans, they were hip and community-minded older teens, some in college, teaming to battle social injustice in addition to villainy.  Their group had several members who had no actual superpowers and their rank also included the first African-American character I saw represented in comic books.  As a child growing up in a very non-diverse small community in Maine, I found them all thrilling. I wanted to be one of them when I grew up!

Over the decades there have been numerous iterations of the Teen Titans or simply the Titans.  This tour will only be limited to the members, and some history, of the original version of the Teen Titans, published by DC Comics from 1964 through 1978.  

THE HIPPOLYTA LIVE-ACTION TOUR

In Greek mythology, Hippolyta (or Hippolyte) was the daughter of Ares and Otera, and she was queen of the Amazons.  She wore her father's zoster (a war belt).

When William Moulton Marston (along with H.G. Peter) created Wonder Woman in 1941, he drew upon the Greek legends and named Wonder Woman's mother Hippolyte.  She was the queen of the Amazons and a woman who had beaten Hercules in battle, thanks to her magic girdle.  The goddess Aphrodite gifted Hippolyte, and her Amazon subjects, their own island (originally called Amazonia) to grow and thrive on, away from the influence of the evil ways of men.

Over the years her name would be modified to Hippolyta, and her island would be renamed Paradise Island, and then Themyscira.  But one thing hasn't changed in over 80 years... she is the mother of Princess Diana, the young woman who becomes known outside of their island home, as... Wonder Woman.

In this tour, we will take a look at each of the actresses who have been cast to portray Hippolyta in live-action productions.  

THE FANTASTIC FOUR MEMBERSHIP TOUR

One of my earliest childhood memories is when I absconded with a copy of a Fantastic Four comic book that was included on the magazine counter in my dad's Barber Shop.  I hid it away in my room and read it over and over.  I was fascinated by the people in special uniforms who were exhibiting different superpowers!  I actually got scolded for removing it from Dad's business.  But since his Barber Shop was actually the front room of our house... it wasn't that big of a problem!

My brief exposure to the Fantastic Four spurred a desire for other visually exciting stories, so I used my first allowance to buy my own comic book!  It was a DC comic featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes.  I was hooked!  And while my young, pre-teen self gravitated more to DC, I never gave up on my Fantastic Quartet published by Marvel Comics.  I faithfully collected Fantastic Four and Marvel's Greatest Adventures (a title that reprinted older Fantastic Four tales) from the early 1970s through the mid-2000s.  

One of the unique things about the Fantastic Four was that its membership shifted and changed over time (one of the things I also loved about the Legion).  In this tour, we will take a look at all the (many more than four) heroes who have been members of the Fantastic Four. 

THE DC CHARACTERS WHO ORIGINATED IN OTHER MEDIA TOUR

In this tour, we will be looking at characters (and concepts) that appear in the pages of DC Comics, yet originated in media outside of comic books.  Radio, television, movie theaters, and other mediums have all helped shape the mythos of the DC universe.

Grab a snack, settle in, and let's get things started!  As with most tours, the entries are presented in no specific order.

FLASH OF TWO WORLDS - COVER HOMAGE TOUR

Shall we start a new tour? I say let's do it. All aboard! This will be a quick look at covers that have paid homage to the iconic cover of The Flash (vol. 1) #123, featuring "The Flash of Two Worlds". In case you might be unfamiliar with this particular issue, it is the first time the Silver Age Flash meets the Golden Age Flash. The story establishes the notion of the multiverse, a concept that's now universally utilized in all forms of comic books and science fiction. This issue is one of the most iconic comic books of all time. It ushered in a resurgence of the Justice Society of America, and provided a concept the DC could utilize when introducing many of the characters they would later acquire from Fawcett Comics, Quality Comics, and Charlton Comics into the DC universe.

The Flash #123, cover art by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson

The covers that pay homage to this classic tale will be presented in no particular order.  Enjoy!

THE CATWOMAN LIVE-ACTION TOUR

Batman has had many female villains over his 85 years being published.  Should you ask any comic book reader, or non-comic book reader, to name Batman's primary female villain, odds are quite high that their answer will be... Catwoman.  She's been around almost as long as the Caped Crusader himself.  As of 2024, there have been 11 actors who have portrayed Catwoman on television or in film.  On this tour, we will present each of these actors and look at the projects that they appeared in.

Grab your ticket, and jump on board!  Let the Catwoman tour commence!