As Adam West was doing the batusi, Japanese manga publication house Shōnen Gahōsha licensed the right to make Batman manga, which they did between 1966-1967.
I don't think Batman and Robin made sense to the Japanese manga makers and Kuwata-san took the basic outline of the BATMAN comics published in 1966 and ... made some changes. For example, Batman looked a little more devilish:
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| Jiro Kuwata, 1966 |
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| Manga and Western editions of the Death Man story |
When the producers of the BATMAN BRAVE AND BOLD cartoon wanted to make a Bat Manga! episode, they (of course) choose the Lord Death Man story. It's my all-time favorite episode:
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| Lord Death Man, from the BATMAN show |
When I first made the Bat Manga! statue, I had in mind a set of four statues, with a special "variant" fifth statue. Saul Ferris, the BATMANGA! co-editor, was always interested in a Lord Death Man statue and now I can finally oblige him:
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| Lord Death Man statue (2014) |
I certainly took the color palette of the show and tried to sculpt a death head that was a combination of Kuwata-san's art and the animated work.
Saul had asked for "aged" works, and so the base has been scuffed up. The skeleton was hand painted to give a sense of a "knock off" kind of job.
Saul had asked for "aged" works, and so the base has been scuffed up. The skeleton was hand painted to give a sense of a "knock off" kind of job.
I hope Saul likes it! I am looking forward to getting one with my set of five statues, as I now understand that there is to be a full collection of the Kuwata Bat Manga! stories.
Happy Hallowe'en!
Next up: Boy Wonder Manga!
