Sunny side up!

Egghead is in da house!

Eggs-actly! Eggs-ellent! My favourite "Batman" villain has always been Egghead. He was original to the 1960s television series, played by the irrepressible Vincent Price.

When I started reading the "Batman" comics, though, I was disappointed to realise that neither Egghead nor King Tut (Victor Buono) - both "arch villains" (alongside the Riddler, the Joker, Catwoman and the Penguin) in the TV series - had never appeared in the comics. There was a teasing mention of both, once, in "When is a Door: The Secret Origin of the Riddler...?", in a "Secret Origins Special" (#1, DC Comics, 1989), but nothing else:


Secret Origins Special #1

Recently, while trawling eBay for interesting stuff I didn't yet own, I happened upon a reference to comic appearances by Egghead and King Tut. I think I'd heard about the Tut trilogy of issues before (in "Batman Confidential" #16-18), but it was essentially a reinterpretation of the character. It had recently been collected in graphic novel omnibus form, "King Tut's Tomb" (2010). But...


Egghead features in Batman: The Brave and the Bold #16

... how come I'd managed to overlook a story called "Egg Hunt!, or, The Evil of Egg-Head!" in "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" #16 (2010), in which Batman and Wonder Woman team up to face off against the punning Egghead (above) and the bizarre, Humpty Dumpty-like, Y'ggphu Soggoth, Last Spawn of the Elder Gods.

I shall now Eggs-it, stage right, to read my new mail order purchase from Mile High Comics. It just arrived this morning!

Holy extra word power, Batman!: novels and novelizations

Extending my post of mass market paperbacks (MMPBs) based on DC and Marvel superheroes (2000-2008), here are all the Batman-related novels and novelizations:

"Batman vs. Three Villains of Doom" by Winston Lyon (Signet, Apr 1966)

"Batman vs. The Fearsome Foursome", novelization of "Batman" movie, by Winston Lyon (Signet, Aug 1966)

"Batman and Robin in The Cheetah Caper" (Big Little Book) by George S Elrick (Whitman, 1969)

"Justice League of America" (Super Powers Which Way series) by Robert Loren Fleming (Pocket/Archway, 1984; Transworld/Carousel, 1985)

"Batman: The Doomsday Prophecy" (Super Powers Which Way series) by Richard Wenk (Pocket/Archway, Aug 1986)

"Batman" movie novelization by Craig Shaw Gardner (Warner, Jun 1989)

"The Further Adventures of Batman" edited by Martin H Greenberg (Bantam, Jul 1989)

"The Further Adventures of the Joker" edited by Martin H Greenberg (Bantam, Feb 1990)

"The Batman Murders" by Craig Shaw Gardner (Warner, Oct 1990)

"Batman: To Stalk a Specter" by Simon Hawkes (Warner, Feb 1991)

"Batman: Captured by the Engines" by Joe R Lonsdale (Warner, Jul 1991)

"Batman Returns" movie novelization by Craig Shaw Gardner (Warner, Jul 1992)

"Batman Returns" junior movie novelization by Andrew Helfer (Little, Brown and Company, 1992)

"Batman in The Black Egg of Atlantis" junior novel by Neal Barrett Jr (Little, Brown and Company/Penguin Fantail, 1992)

"Batman in The Six Deadly Demons" junior novel by John Albano (Little, Brown and Company/Penguin Fantail, 1992)

"Batman in Terror on the High Skies" junior novel by Joe R Lonsdale (Little, Brown and Company, 1992/Penguin Fantail, 1993)

"The Further Adventures of Batman 2: featuring the Penguin" edited by Martin H Greenberg (Bantam Spectra, Jul 1992)

"Catwoman: Tiger Hunt" by Lynn Abbey & Robert Asprin (Warner, Sep 92)

"The Further Adventures of Batman 3: featuring Catwoman" edited by Martin H Greenberg (Bantam Spectra, Mar 1993)

"Batman: The Animated Series: Shadows of the Past" novelization by Geary Gravel (Bantam, Nov 1993)

"Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" animated movie novelization by Geary Gravel (Bantam, Jan 1994)

"Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" junior animated movie novelization by Andrew Helfer (Bantam Skylark, Jan 1994)

"Batman: The Animated Series: Dual to the Death" novelization by Geary Gravel (Bantam, Feb 1994)

"Batman: The Animated Series: The Dragon and the Bat" novelization by Geary Gravel (Bantam, Jun 1994)

"Batman: Knightfall" comics novelization by Dennis O'Neil (Bantam Spectra, Aug 1994)

"Batman: Knightfall & Beyond" junior comics novelization by Alan Grant (Bantam Skylark, Aug 1994)

"Batman Forever" movie novelization by Peter David (Warner, Jun 1995)

"Batman Forever" junior movie novelization by Alan Grant (Little, Brown and Company, 1995)

"Batman: The Ultimate Evil" by Andrew Vachss (Warner/Aspect, Nov 1995)

"Batman & Robin" movie novelization by Michael Jan Friedman (Warner/Aspect, Jun 1997)

"Batman & Robin" junior movie novelization by Alan Grant (Little, Brown and Company, 1997)

"Robin: Facing the Enemy" by Alan Grant (Little, Brown and Company, 1997)
- junior novel tie-in to "Batman & Robin" movie

"Batgirl: To Dare the Darkness" by Doug Moench (Little, Brown and Company, 1997)
- junior novel tie-in to "Batman & Robin" movie

"Legends of the Batman" edited by Martin H Greenberg (MJF, 1997)
- previous volumes, "Tales of the Batman" and "Adventures of the Batman" were hardcover reprint collections from "Further Adventures of..." MMPBs

"Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero" junior animated movie novelization by James Raven (Little, Brown and Company, 1997)

"Kingdom Come" (Elseworlds series) comic novelization by Elliot S Maggin (Warner/Aspect, Mar 1998)
- Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and others

"Batman: No Man's Land" comic novelization by Greg Rucka (Pocket, Jan 2000)

"Batman: No Man's Land" junior comic novelization by Alan Grant (Pocket/Minstrel, Jan 2000)

"Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker" junior animated movie novelization by Michael Teitelbaum (Scholastic, Nov 2000)

"Batman: The Stone King" (Justice League of America series) by Alan Grant (Pocket, Mar 2002)

"Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman" junior animated movie novelization by Louise Simonson (Bantam, Oct 2003)

"Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu" game novelization by Devin Kalile Grayson & Flint Dille (Warner/Aspect, Nov 2003)

"The Forensic Files of Batman, the World's Greatest Detective" by Doug Moench (ibooks, Jun 2004)

"Catwoman" movie novelization by Elizabeth Hand (Ballantine/Del Rey, Jun 2004)

"Catwoman: The Junior Novel" movie novelization by Jasmine Jones (HarperEntertainment, 2004)

"JLA: The Exterminators" (Justice League of America series) by Christopher Golden (Pocket, Jul 2004)
- Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern

"Crisis on Infinite Earths" comic novelization by Marv Wolfman (ibooks, Apr 2005)

"Batman Begins" movie novelization by Dennis O'Neil (Ballantine/Del Rey, 2005)

"Batman Begins: The Junior Novel" movie novelization by Peter Lerangis (Scholastic, Jun 2005)

"DC Universe: Inheritance" by Devin Grayson (Warner, Jun 2006)
- Batman, Green Arrow, Aquaman, Nightwing, Arsenal, Tempest

"Infinite Crisis" comic novelization by Greg Cox (Ace, Berkley/Penguin, Oct 2006)

"DC Universe: Helltown" by Dennis O'Neil (Warner, Nov 2006)
- The Question, Lady Shiva, Richard Dragon, Batman

"Batman: Dead White" by John Shirley (Ballantine/Del Rey, 2006)

"Batman: Inferno" by Alex Irvine (Ballantine/Del Rey, 2006)

"Batman: Fear Itself" by Michael Reaves (Ballantine/Del Rey, 2007)

"52" comic novelization by Greg Cox (Ace, Berkley/Penguin, Jul 2007)
- focus on Booster Gold, Supernova, The Question, Batwoman

"Batman: Gotham Knight" animated movie novelization by Louise Simonson (Ace, Berkley/Penguin, Jun 2008)

"The Dark Knight" movie novelization by Dennis O'Neil (Berkley Boulevard/Penguin, Jul 2008)
- sequel to "Batman Begins"

"The Dark Knight: The Junior Novel" movie novelization by Stacia Deutsch & Rhody Cohon (HarperCollins, 2008).

"Enemies & Allies" by Kevin J Anderson (HarperCollins, 2009)
- Batman, Superman

"Countdown" comic novelization by Greg Cox (Ace, Berkley/Penguin, Jul 2009)
- focus on Jimmy Olsen, Mary Marvel, Troia/Wonder Girl, Robin II, Catwoman

"The Dark Knight Legend: The Junior Novel" by Stacia Deutsch (HarperFestival, June 2012)
- young adult movie novelization of "The Dark Knight Rises"

"The Dark Knight Rises" movie novelization by Greg Cox (Titan, Jul 2012)
- sequel to "The Dark Knight"

"Arkham Night: The Riddler's Gambit" video game prequel novel by Alex Irvine (Titan, Jun 2015)

"Arkham Night" video game novelization by Marv Wolfman (Titan, Jul 2015)

"Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice: Cross Fire" young adult companion novel by Michael Kogge (Scholastic, 2016)

"The Lego Batman Movie: Junior Novel" movie novelization by Jeanette Lane (Scholastic, 2017)

"Batman: Nightwalker" by Marie Lu (Penguin Random House, 2018)

"Catwoman: Soulstealer" by Sarah J Maas (Penguin Random House, 2018)

"Batman: The Killing Joke, A Batman Novel" by Christa Faust and Gary Phillips (Titan, Sept 2018)
- comic novelization

"Harley Quinn: Mad Love, A Batman Novel" by Paul Dini and Pat Cadigan (Titan, Nov 2018)
- comic novelization

"Batman: The Court of Owls, A Batman Novel" by Greg Cox (Titan, Feb 2019)
- comic novelization

"Batman: Resurrection" by John Jackson Miller (Penguin Random House, 2024)
- novel sequel to the 1989 movie novelization

"Batgirl: Possession" by Jade Adia (Penguin Random House, 2024)

Captain's log: Supplemental (Updated: 14th February, 2025)

Iron Man and the Dark Knight

I'm hearing nothing but positive reviews for "Iron Man", the latest superhero movie based on the Marvel comic. Robert Downey Jr has been Down Under last week promoting the movie, and he's been on his best behaviour and very charming - and so passionate about the film.

Everyone is saying "Make sure you stay through the credits at the end". I always do, but it's great when you know there's a bonus for the ones who do stay! Can't wait. It opened here last Thursday. I've never really followed "Iron Man" in the comics, but I recall the animated series of the 70s(?) very well, and my younger brother's stunning yellow and red Mego action figure.

Tonight, the TV news shows have been running an intriguing new trailer for "Batman: The Dark Knight", featuring the late Heath Ledger as the Joker. This too looks amazing! A bit longer to wait for this one, though. They are predicting a posthumous Academy Award for Ledger. The media is also suggesting that the regimen (and solitary confinement) the actor voluntarily put himself through, as preparation to get into the Joker's head, is partly to blame for his ongoing problems sleeping, and his dependence on the cocktail of drugs which claimed his life. Sad.

Stamp of approval: superheroes have crime licked!!!

A work colleague recently received a real letter, in a real envelope, with real stamps on it, from overseas - email has replaced so much of it these days - and when she saw the US postage stamps her friend had chosen/been sold, she immediately thought of me!

Meet Xanthi

Xanthi was my favourite character in the "Who is Donna Troy?" mini-series in the "New Titans" comics from DC (#51; US winter of 1988). Wonder Girl (soon to be known as Troia), plus Xanthi and ten other aliens were brought to New Chronus in order to be trained along as replacements for the waning Titans of Myth.

Some friends of mine were deeply entrenched making teddy bears at the time. I happened to mention how much one, unfinished, ear-less, bear resembled Xanthi - and... they made the above stuffed Xanthi as a surprise gift.

Holy word power, Batman!: recent superhero novels

I've made a point, over the years, of collecting novels and novelizations based on superheroes, particularly DC Comics' "Batman" and "Superman", and extending that interest to other DC heroes, plus Marvel's "The Fantastic Four".

One day, I'll put together my pre-2000 list, but first...

Pocket Books:
"Batman: No Man's Land" comic novelization by Greg Rucka (Jan 00)

Justice League of America original novel mass market paperback (MMPB) series:
"Batman: The Stone King" by Alan Grant (Mar 02)
"Wonder Woman: Mythos" by Carol Lay (Jan 03)
"Flash: Stop Motion" by Mark Schultz (Mar 04)
"Superman: The Never-Ending Battle" by Roger Stern ([Jun] 04)
"JLA: The Exterminators" by Christopher Golden (Jul 04)
"Green Lantern: Hero's Quest" by Dennis O'Neil (Mar 05).

After Pocket fulfilled their contract with DC, the licence passed back to ibooks for five hardcovers, then Chronicle and HarperCollins, Del Rey for "Batman" MMPBs, Warners for "Smallville" TV tie-ins and the "DC Universe" MMPBs, and Ace for two comic maxi-series novelizations.

From ibooks:
"The Forensic Files of Batman, the World's Greatest Detective" by Doug Moench (Jun 04)
"Crisis on Infinite Earths" comic novelization by Marv Wolfman (Apr 05)
Green Lantern trilogy (2004-2005):
"Sleepers, Book 1" by Christopher J Priest & Mike Baron
"Sleepers, Book 2" by Christopher J Priest & Michael Ahn
"Sleepers, Book 3" by Christopher J Priest [& Mike Baron].

From Chronicle:
"It's Superman!" by Tom De Haven (2005).

From HarperCollins:
"The Last Days of Krypton" by Kevin J Anderson (2007)
"Enemies & Allies" by Kevin J Anderson (2009) - Batman, Superman.

The Batman MMPB titles from Ballantine/Del Rey:
"Catwoman" movie novelization by Elizabeth Hand (Jun 04)
"Batman Begins" movie novelization by Dennis O'Neil (2005)
"Dead White" by John Shirley (2006)
"Inferno" by Alex Irvine (2006)
"Fear Itself" by Michael Reaves (2007).

From Warner/Aspect in MMPB:
Smallville original novels:
"Strange Visitors" by Roger Stern (Oct 02)
"Dragon" by Alan Grant (Nov 02)
"Hauntings" by Nancy Holder (Jan 03)
"Whodunnit" by Dean Wesley Smith (Mar 03)
"Shadows" by Diana G Gallagher (Sep 03)
"Silence" by Nancy Holder (Nov 03)
"Curse" by Alan Grant (Jan 04)
"City" by Devin Grayson (Mar 04).

"Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu" game novelization by Devin Kalile Grayson & Flint Dille (Nov 03).

Smallville Young Adult MMPBs from Little, Brown & Co:
"Arrival" episode novelization by Michael Teitelbaum (2002)
"See No Evil" by Cherie Bennett & Jeff Gottesfeld (2002)
"Flight" by Cherie Bennett & Jeff Gottesfeld (2002)
"Animal Rage" by David Cody Weiss & Bobbi JG Weiss (2003)
"Speed" by Cherie Bennett & Jeff Gottesfeld (2003)
"Buried Secrets" by Suzan Colón (2003)
"Runaway" by Suzan Colón (2003)
"Greed" by Cherie Bennett & Jeff Gottesfeld (2003)
"Temptation" by Suzan Colón (2004)
"Sparks" by Cherie Bennett & Jeff Gottesfeld (2004).

The DC Universe MMPB titles, also from Warner:
"Last Sons" by Alan Grant (Feb 06) - Superman, Martian Manhunter, Lobo
"Inheritance" by Devin Grayson (Jun 06) - Batman, Green Arrow, Aquaman, Nightwing, Arsenal, Tempest
"Helltown" by Dennis O'Neil (Nov 06) - The Question, Lady Shiva, Richard Dragon, Batman
"Trail of Time" by Jeff Mariotte (Mar 07) - Superman, Phantom Stranger, Demon, Jonah Hex.

"Superman Returns" movie novelization by Marv Wolfman (Jun 06).

From Ace, Berkley/Penguin:
"Infinite Crisis" comic novelization by Greg Cox (Oct 06) - focus on Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman
"52" comic novelization by Greg Cox (Jul 07) - focus on Booster Gold, Supernova, The Question, Batwoman
"Batman: Gotham Knight" animated movie novelization by Louise Simonson (Jun 08)
"The Dark Knight" movie novelization by Dennis O'Neil (Jul 08) - sequel to "Batman Begins"
"Countdown" comic novelization by Greg Cox (Jul 09) - focus on Jimmy Olsen, Mary Marvel, Troia/Wonder Girl, Robin II, Catwoman
"Final Crisis" comic novelization by Greg Cox (Jul 10) - focus on Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Darkseid, and remnants of the Justice League of America.

From Pocket Star:
"Wonder Woman" animated movie novelization by SD Perry & Britta Dennison (Jan 09).

Although I've resisted getting a lot of the Marvel superheroes when they've appeared in novels, the reputation of Pocket Books, and its stable of "Star Trek" writers contributing to them, made me weaken...

Pocket Star's Marvel MMPB original novel titles:

Fantastic Four:
"War Zone" by Greg Cox (Aug 05)
"The Baxter Effect" by Dave Stern (Jan 07)
"What Lies Between" by Peter David (Jul 07)
"Doomgate" by Jeffrey Lang (Dec 08).

Spider-man:
"Down These Mean Streets" by Keith RA DeCandido (Sep 05)
"The Darkest Hours" by Jim Butcher (Jul 06)
"Drowned in Thunder" by Christopher L Bennett (Jan 08)
"Requiem" by Jeff Marriott (Nov 08).

The Ultimates:
"Tomorrow Men" by Michael Jan Friedman (Sep 06)
"Against All Enemies" by Alex Irvine (Sep 07).

Wolverine:
"Weapon X" by Marc Cesari (Nov 05)
"Road of Bones" by David Alan Mack (Nov 06)
"Lifeblood" by Hugh Matthews (Mar 07)
"Violent Tendencies" by Marc Cesari (Nov 07)
"Nature of the Beast" by Dave Stern (May 08)
"Election Day" by Peter David (Sept 08)

X-Men:
"Dark Mirror" by Marjorie M Liu (Jan 06)
"Watchers on the Walls" by Christopher L Bennett (May 06)
"The Return" by Chris Roberson (May 07).

Pocket Star's crop of Marvel adaptations include:
"Elektra" movie novelization by Yvonne Navarro (Jan 05)
"Fantastic Four" movie novelization by Peter David (May 05)
"Ghost Rider" movie novelization by Greg Cox (Feb 07)
"Spider-man 3" movie novelization by Peter David (Apr 07)
"Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" movie novelization by Daniel Josephs (Jun 07).

Marvel adaptations in MMPB from Ballantine/Del Rey:
"X-men" movie novelization by Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Dean Wesley Smith (Jun 00)
"Spider-man" movie novelization by Peter David (Mar 02)
"X-men 2" movie novelization by Chris Claremont (Mar 03)
"Hulk" movie novelization by Peter David (May 03)
"Spider-man 2" movie novelization by Peter David (May 04)
"X-men 3: The Last Stand" movie novelization by Chris Claremont (2006)
"Iron Man" movie novelization by Peter David (Apr 08)
"The Incredible Hulk" movie novelization by Peter David (2008)
"Iron Man: Femmes Fatales" by Robert Greenberger (2009).

Onyx:
"Daredevil" movie novelization by Greg Cox (2003).

HarperEntertainment:
"Iron Man" movie teen novelization by Dan Jolley (2008).

Grand Central:
"Iron Man 2" movie novelization by Alexander Irvine (April 2010).

Keith RA DeCandido's Marvel list predates 2000.

Captain's log: Supplemental (Updated: 21st October, 2011)