Batman Family Giant #13 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

In 1974, DC Comics unveiled a new anthology series called Superman Family. Though Superman was featured on the very first issue, the series centered on the adventures of friends and family of the Man of Steel. Superman Family served a financial purpose for DC as they cancelled the titles devoted to Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane and Supergirl individually and merged them into a giant sized publication for the affordable cover price of 60 cents. Numbering of the series picked upon that  issue #164 of Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen.

A huge success, DC followed up with the anthology formula with Batman Family the following year. Unlike Superman Family, the numbering for the new series began with #1. A few issues later, it was rebranded as Batman Family Giant. The exploits of Vicki Vale, Alfred Pennyworth and the Huntress were regular subjects along with reprints. The first main feature was a monthly team-up of Batgirl and the Dick Grayson Robin. Their first pairing was supposed to be featured in an issue if 1st Issue Special. However, once it was decided to create the Batman sister anthology, editors decided that the Boy Wonder and Batgirl combo would be an excellent selling point with readers. 

Beginning at issue #11, Man-Bat was also made a main feature of the title. An attempt had been made to feature the Jekyll and Hyde type character into a superhero in his own title. However, the idea proved unpopular and the series was cancelled after issue #2. However, as there were still several Man-Bat stories on tap that had yet to be published, the idea was to burn those stories in the pages of Batman Family.

Eventually, Robin and Batgirl, billed as the Dynamite Duo were fated to team with Man-Bat. 

In this issue, both Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon are gifted a new motorcycle. There's no note or indication who sent it. But it intrigues both sleuths, who don their costumes and decide to take their new choppers for a spin. This turns out to be a massive mistake as once they mount their new rides, their arms are essentially handcuffed to the handlebars. Then the motorcycles go into automatic pilot mode, and once in New York City, the two heroes meet, Travelling at speeds well exceeding the speed limit Robin and Batgirl about to play a most deadly game of chicken.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kirk Langstrom is trying to settle into his new role as superhero. Making a new start in the Big Apple, Langstrom has perfected his genetic serum, allowing his body to change into the Man-Bat while keeping his level headed Langstrom personality.

Staying sane as the Man-Bat hasn't been easy. In his most recent experience, a gang armed with a special type of flashlight was able to transform the Man-Bat into a savage jaguar creature. On his latest patrol of the city, Man-Bat runs afoul of the gang with the specialized light source. Knowing that he'll never be free until he can destroy that lantern, the new found hero goes in for the attack. Disarming the the gang, Man-Bat makes a leap for the device. Only another player has taken control of it: the Outsider! 

A classic foe from the 1960s, the Outsider was originally the resurrected Alfred Pennyworth, devoted butler to Bruce Wayne. The process that revived Alfred changed his psyche to wanting to kill Batman and anyone associated with him. It also changed his appearance with his skin becoming chalk white and covered in boils. Able to telekinetically control matter, it's very likely that the Outsider is behind the attack on Robin and Batgirl. Only it doesn't add up. Alfred Pennyworth hasn't reverted to the Outsider persona in years. Has Pennyworth gone mad again? Or has a new player found the key to becoming one of Batman's most deadliest of does?

Published roughly 8 times a year, Batman Family Giant survived until late 1978. Ultimately cancelled with issue #20, the series originally was to survive the infamous DC implosion. Batman Family Giant was actually outselling Detective Comics at the time. Execs actually planned to cancel Detective Comics. Artists and writers protested the loss of such an iconic title and thus Batman Family Giant got the axe. In a sort of compromise, Robin, Batgirl and Man-Bat's adventures were continued in Detective Comics, now given the 'Giant' moniker as the page count was upped to 68 with a $1.00 price tag. After 15 issues, the series lost the extra word and pages 'effectively cancelling Batman Family for good'.

'The Man Who Melted Manhattan' was written by the Answer Man, Bob Rozakis. Artwork was attributed to Don Newton, Marshall Rogers and Bob Wiacek. This issue is notable as being the first professionally published work by eventual Batman Norm Breyfogle, who submitted a redesigned Robin uniform in a portfolio display titled 'Robin's New Look?' in the back of the book. 

Completing this review completes Task #12 (Batman Comic from the 1970s) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Flashpoint: The Outsider #3

  The Outsider vs. a very not-so-nice J'onn J'onzz. The Martian has an axe to grind. Hey,  decades of experimentation and abuse at the hands of the Soviets will do that to a person. 
    Really was disappointed in the ending. The Outsider: I really hate that guy. He's worse than Lex Luthor and that's saying volumes. 
    This issue is concluded in Flashpoint #5, but I really can't figure out what good the Outsider is gonna be able to do considering how poorly things are looking out for Barry Allen, Cyborg, and their dwindling band of allies.

    Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: The Outsider #2

 

  After the assault on his supposedly ultra-secure compound (see issue #1), the Outsider tortures some poor schmo to death. As a result, the mysterious villain looks back on his rise to power and attempts to narrow down the list as to who really wants him dead the most. Needless to say, this list is quite long, but the deeper look into this incredibly unique (to the Flashpoint) character was very interesting and compelling. 
    Great artwork by Javi Fernandez (Magneto) with a killer cover by Kevin Nowlan (Metamorpho: Year One.) 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: The Outsider #1

   In 1960, a city in India was mysteriously wiped off the face of the earth. There was only one survivor- a chalk-white newborn with armor plating skin. This babe grew up to be known as Michael Desai in the orphanages of Calcutta. Now he's the Outsider, the richest and most powerful man in India and a major power player on the global stage.
    But just who is the Outsider, really?
    From the cover and his appearance in issue #1 of Flashpoint, I thought that maybe he's Metamorpho. For one, the Element Man was a founding member of the Outsiders so I thought maybe that was the connotation.  Secondly, they both have a ghostly white face. But the man who was Rex Mason received his powers from a mystical orb while on an archaeological expedition in Egypt. The Outsider is born with his powers and his parents weren't effected by the orb. So, no, despite some similarities, the Outsider is not the Flashpoint equivalent of Metamorpho.
     Without giving away a major plot twist, to understand the pre-Flashpoint origins of the Outsider, you have to go back to the Batman comics of the mid-1960s. Go ahead, Google search him and after reading this issue, things will make perfect sense. But this guy is in no way your dad's Outsider!
      This issue is a shining example of why I love the multiverse stories of DC. They don't always follow the same archetype. Certain characters might have the same name but they often either have different origin stories or they're different characters altogether. (There are a few exceptions to this, of course!) I wish Marvel could see this way instead of thinking the best way to present their characters as new or different is either by making them a different sex or race. 
    The intentions are all well and good but the stories told are often the same with very little originality. Here, the Outsider is completely different from anything I've read in DC history and that makes this character a total mystery to me. A mystery that I want to come back to again and again. That's why I say 'Make Mine DC!"

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.