Jim Aparo's last "new" page for DC

[MWGallaher]

For those not keeping up with current comics, I wanted to note that today DC released a BATMAN ANNUAL with a previously unused page pencilled by Jim Aparo: the alternate "Robin Lives" page from A Death In the Family. Yeah, it's been seen before, but here it is in a page in an actual story, and the cover is an Aparo homage.
Unless DC ever publishes the occasionally-requested Cancelled Comics Cavalcade (with unseen Deadman pages intended for SHOWCASE and a Phantom Stranger/Batman/Manhunter cover for the never published DYNAMIC CLASSICS #2), this is probably the last "new" Aparo page we'll have the chance to read.

[The Wayner]

Bought it, read it, meh... liked the story.

But, it's nice to have the art in the issue.

[shaxper]

I didn't realize that was Aparo's alternate panel. It looked awfully campy. Has the rest of the alternate #428 ever been published anywhere?

[MWGallaher]

That's all there was of the "alternate" version--just one page. And yeah, it's kind of "campy", I guess you might say. I really disliked Jim Starlin's Batman stories of this era, but Jim Aparo drew what he was given, dopey though it might be...

[shaxper]

According to the preface of the Death in the Family tpb, there were two completed versions of #428 ready to go.

[Brian Cronin]

Two versions, yes. One had that page, the other had the other page. :)

-Brian

[eltini]

For those not keeping up with current comics, I wanted to note that today DC released a BATMAN ANNUAL with a previously unused page pencilled by Jim Aparo: the alternate "Robin Lives" page from A Death In the Family. Yeah, it's been seen before, but here it is in a page in an actual story, and the cover is an Aparo homage.
Unless DC ever publishes the occasionally-requested Cancelled Comics Cavalcade (with unseen Deadman pages intended for SHOWCASE and a Phantom Stranger/Batman/Manhunter cover for the never published DYNAMIC CLASSICS #2), this is probably the last "new" Aparo page we'll have the chance to read.

The cover clearly says 'after Aparo' but I'm not sure if the interior credits mention him or not. Anyone knows ?

[MWGallaher]

Yes, eltini, Aparo (and inker Mike DeCarlo and plotter Jim Starlin) are credited for that single page in the interior credits box.

And I remembered a few other Aparo jobs that DC didn't print:
Jim drew a really beautiful cover for Detective Comics 481 that was scrapped when the book was merged with Batman Family and turned into a Dollar Comic. He also drew a fill-in issue of Detective Comics featuring a flashback with the "real" Batman and Robin during the period when Azrael was subbing for Batman. I don't believe that issue ever got inked, though.
This would be nice stuff to include if DC ever published an Aparo spotlight collection, wouldn't it?

[shaxper]

This would be nice stuff to include if DC ever published an Aparo spotlight collection, wouldn't it?


I'd be first in line to buy that collection!