Bat Lash
Bat Lash | |
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ISBN 1-4012-2295-1 |
Bartholomew "Bat" Aloysius Lash is a fictional Western superhero character in the DC Universe. A self-professed pacifist, ladies' man, and gambler, Bat Lash's adventures have been published by DC Comics since 1968.
Character origin
In 1968, Carmine Infantino, newly installed editorial director of DC Comics, and his editor, Joe Orlando, came up with the name and basic premise of the loner whose family had been wiped out by murderous thugs, and then brought in Sheldon Mayer (former DC editor and creator of Sugar and Spike) and Sergio Aragonés (an artist best known for his comedic illustrations for Mad magazine) to further flesh out the concept.[1]
Mayer wrote the first appearance (Showcase #76, August 1968).
Publication history
Bat Lash first appeared in 1968, in a house ad running in Superman DC Comics. It featured a gangly figure, in silhouette, stalking toward the reader, with the tagline: "Bat Lash. Will he save the West, or ruin it?".
The character's first published story appeared in
Bat Lash's own series only lasted seven issues. Even though editorial director
Bat Lash made several other appearances after his cancellation in issues of Weird Western Tales and other titles. He had a story in DC Special Series #16 and a brief backup series in Jonah Hex #49 & 51–52 in 1981. In the 1989/90 miniseries Time Masters Bat Lash makes a brief appearance along with Jonah Hex. He appears in an alternate time-line in Justice League Europe Annual #2, written in 1991. An older Crimson Fox, through a time travel accident, appears in the middle of a card game, allowing Bat Lash the opportunity to save himself (and her) from Bat's own cheating. During the chase, Bat encounters one "Miss Sally", who is sad that she has not seen Bat in months.
A 1998 miniseries, "Guns of the Dragon" set in 1927 China, teams an elderly Bat Lash with Biff Bradley and Enemy Ace on an adventure that sends them to Dinosaur Island.
In 2006, writers
In 2008, Bat Lash appeared in a self-titled, six issue miniseries from DC, written by Aragones, with dialog by acclaimed western novelist Peter Brandvold, art by John Severin and covers by Walt Simonson. It was reprinted in trade paperback as Bat Lash: Guns and Roses in 2008.
In the Weird Western Tales #71 tie-in to the Blackest Night crossover, Bat Lash was reanimated as a member of the Black Lantern along with Black Lantern Jonah Hex and Scalphunter.
Bat Lash is one of six DC heroes featured in Walt Simonson's 2012 graphic novel, The Judas Coin.
During the "Dark Nights: Death Metal" storyline, Bat Lash is among the superheroes revived by Batman using a Black Lantern ring.[8]
In other media
Television
Bat Lash appears in the Justice League Unlimited episode "The Once and Future Thing Part One: Weird Western Tales", voiced by Ben Browder. This version is easy-going and good-mannered, though he possesses a mischievous streak and is prone to quoting his father.
Film
An illusionary Bat Lash appears in Justice League: Warworld, voiced by Brett Dalton.[9]
Miscellaneous
- Bat Lash's popularity was discussed on Conan during an interview between Conan O'Brien and Peter Girardi, creative director of Warner Bros. Animation, in regards to DC characters that "sucked".[10]
- Bat Lash's alien abduction in Crisis on Infinite Earths #3 is adapted into "Westerner", a 2012 song by electro-rock band Judge Rock.
References
- ISBN 978-1605490557.
- ^ Markstein, Don. "Bat Lash". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1
- ^ Fictioneer Books. pp. 22–37.
- ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ^ Hanerfield, Mark. "1968 Alley Awards". Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on April 29, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ Hanerfield, Mark. "1969 Alley Awards". Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on April 29, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ Dark Nights: Death Metal #5. DC Comics.
- ^ "Violent DC Animated Movie Justice League: Warworld Gets Rated R". May 4, 2023.
- ^ "Conan Gets Animated Part 1".
Further reading
- Interview: Sergio Aragonés, Comic Book Artist #1
- Carmine Infantino, Amazing World of Carmine Infantino
External links
- Bat Lash at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on August 27, 2015.