Interesting that he doesn't even touch on Jack's Fourth World stories at DC (my favorite, and certainly a huge impact on DC continuity, since in Darkseid Superman finally got another villain worthy of him).

I was wondering about that, too, because I also thought the Fourth World was Kirby's best stuff. The issue where he finally showed the origins of Orion and Scott Free was amazing.

The comics Karl and I actually relished in 1976 and 1977, if we were honest (and Karl was more honest than me), were The Defenders, Omega the Unknown and Howard the Duck, all written by a mad genius called Steve Gerber, and Captain Marvel and Warlock, both written and drawn by another auteur briefly in fashion, Jim Starlin.

And in this, Lethem is me, because they were my two favorite Marvel writers. (Starlin did the Moth story in the first issue of The Escapist.)

And in this, Lethem is me, because they were my two favorite Marvel writers.

You also had titles like Killraven, Conan, Master of Kung Fu and Tomb of Dracula all having very long runs with cool writing and art in that period.

The Defenders was bitchin' though.

The Defenders was bitchin' though.

It was very strange, because I never cared for Dr. Strange, Namor, or the HUlk, but I liked that book a lot.

So is Batman: No Man's Land only a novel -- or was there also a series of comics by the same name?

Yes, the other two things came in -- of three things I ordered from Amazon marketplace: one was exactly what I thought I ordered (Batman: Year One), one turned out to be only a piece of what I thought I ordered (Robin: Year One book 1) and one was something COMPLETELY different.

Oh well.

So is Batman: No Man's Land only a novel -- or was there also a series of comics by the same name?

I was a story that ran in all the Bat comics (and spilled over into Justice League, Young Justice and others.) The bulk of it is collected in 5 graphic novels. It's surprisingly compelling.

What Victor said. I think I saw a novelization of it recently at B&N, but the real deal is well worth reading.

Randomly, I share a birthday with the late Julie Schwartz. I feel strangely unworthy.

Okay, what are the 5 or 6 tpbs that I should be looking for then?

Okay, what are the 5 or 6 tpbs that I should be looking for then?

Batman: No Man's Land, Parts 1-5.

Batman: No Man's Land Vols 1-5.

Dreamland's EBay store generally has them in stock, and with TPB orders over $30, shipping is free.

(Why, yes, I order from them often... why do you ask?)

Hey I found the comic book talk.

After reading Batman Year One I want to know more about Catwoman.

I'm not sure what book I'm going to get next---probably what ever is in the store when I make an impulse purchase. Although I am working off the list I've made from everyone's suggestions.