Icon UK's collection :: Robin, The Boy Wonder - Published pages 1

Don Newton - Batman 370 - Robin in solo combat!

Artists: Don Newton (Penciller) , Alfredo Alcala (Inker)

6 Comments - 3,879 Views - 1 Like

Don Newton - Batman 370 - Robin in solo combat! Comic Art

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Artwork Details

Title:	Don Newton - Batman 370 - Robin in solo combat!
Artist:	Don Newton (Penciller)
Artist:	Alfredo Alcala (Inker)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	3,879
Likes on CAF:	1 2
Favorited on CAF:	1
Comments:	6
Added to Site:	10/30/2008
Comic Art Archive:	Batman Issue: 370 Page: 6 View

Description

All Batman fans have their favourite artists, often one they grew up with, or one who made a mark.

Near the very top of my list was, and always will be, the late great, left-us-far-too-soon, Don Newton.

Though perhaps better known now for his work with the Marvel Family (His first love), Newton, along with his perfect inker in form of Alfredo Alcala, had a run on Batman which was truly awesome.

It was he, along with Gene Colan and others, who told for the first time, the retirment of Dick Grayson as Robin, and the assumption of the role by young Jason Todd.

To jaded young'uns nowadays that plot point may not pack the punch it did then, but never underestimate what an astonishing decision that was, and how exciting for the readers; They took one of their most instantly recognised characters who had had the role for over 40 years, movie serials, and the massively popular 1960's TV series, and gave his identity to someone else.

Sadly, because so many of the stories he told were undone by the revamp of Jason Todd from circus orphan to street punk, his Batman work isn't as well known as it SHOULD be because so much of it remains uncollected. And his death in 1984, at the age of 49 deprived the whole comics industry of what should have been many years of top class artwork.

His style was simple and sleek, conveyed motion and emotion effortlessly and all but glowed on the page.

Like many of my favourite artists, he also had an uncanny knack for making costumes look "real", capes could swirl, but they could also crumple up. A suit is tough to draw, but a pinstripe suit is harder, as all the stripes need to work relative to the position of the character. And so on.

I've been wanting a good Don Newton page to add to my Robin collection for many, many years, but they are incredibly hard to find.

So imagine my delight when this page showed up on e-Bay. From Batman 370, we have Robin (Jason Todd Personality Mk1) in solo combat, and on all six panels, tangling with a gangster trying to put the squeeze on an amusement arcade owner. (Considering what happened to his second "incarnation", I won't comment on the irony of Jason fencing with crowbars!)

Note also the video games, "Shazam!" (A nice little nod to his favourite hero), and the world will have to wonder what sort of game "Feeties" and "Another Rainbow" were about.

And as with any good art, I now want to go and re-read the comic it came from!

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About the Owner

	Icon UK
Joined:	May 2005
Last Login:	August 2025
Country:	UNITED KINGDOM
On CAF:	Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Timothy Finney
Member Since 2006

Posted on 10/30/2008

Hey, I love your write-up. I first remember seeing Mr. Newton's work when I picked up the bicentennial issue of Charlton's The Phantom and I was ever so pleased when DC put him on Batman. I preferred Dan Adkins' inks to Alcala's as I thought they were truer to Newton's intent, but who could complain either way? And any page that can evoke such memories is a great one.

Will K
Member Since 2006

Posted on 10/30/2008

Love the 2 comments (so far) and this art. Newton was a great artist. I doubt his moody style would fit these days, but you couldn't go wrong with Newton drawing Batman comics into the 21st century. Dan Adkins and Alfredo Alcala did justice to Newton's pencils. I'd also add Bob Smith who inked Newton sometimes.

A. Sim
Member Since 2006

Posted on 10/30/2008

Good job scoring this!

Larry Wilson
Member Since 2012
Forum Moderator

Posted on 2/27/2012

Amazing piece. The flow of action is exciting and at the same time, streamlined. I can't believe it took me this long to find this art in your gallery! Thanks for your comment on my Newton Batman. I've got another one comming!

Dietmar Krueger
Member Since 2010

Posted on 3/2/2012

One of the best robin pages I've ever seen.

Nicolaj Borch
Member Since 2012

Posted on 12/29/2013

A Fantastic page. Robin has never been better!

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