John Espinoza :: DC Portfolio

Batman #372 p. 1 (1984) - Full Title Splash

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

8 Comments - 1,041 Views - 2 Likes

Batman #372 p. 1 (1984) - Full Title Splash Comic Art

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Additional Images:

my original comic

Next Item:
Superman #420 p. 24 (1986) - Coal into Diamond

Artwork Details

Title:	Batman #372 p. 1 (1984) - Full Title Splash
Artist:	Don Newton (Penciller)
Artist:	Alfredo Alcala (Inker)
Artist:	Alfredo Alcala (Letterer)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Title Page
For Sale Status:	NOT FOR SALE
Views:	1,041
Likes on CAF:	2 3
Comments:	8
Added to Site:	1/13/2019
Comic Art Archive:	Batman Issue: 372 Page: 1 View

Description

This page is both a grail and a metaphor. It's a personal grail because this is the first page of the first comic I ever owned. Those years as a kid I didn't acquire comics very often, so I read this book, and whichever others I received, time and time again. Though I skipped all the boring parts, and there were many for a 6-year old in Batman #372, I always started with page one, ingraining this title page in my memory. This page is a metaphor because when a personal grail like this finally pops up, as I predicted it would, and having followed the Don Newton market for a year and having lost a few pages from this issue at auction, I had to ask myself, What price, the prize?

Dough Moench, Don Newton, and Alfredo Alcala weave an archetypical noir tale in Batman #372. It's about boxing, fixed fights, racism and the men and institutions who uphold it, and of course, murder. Batman and Robin don't appear very much, just barely enough to call it a Batman story. The story mostly follows Tommy Dunfey, the #10 ranked contender, and the title holder Michael Greene, setting aside the differences in their skin color to stage a long-shot title fight. Meanwhile, George Straite, an unhinged racist who plots to assassinate the referee, Jake DaMaskey--who happens to be a great white, former champ--to spare DeMaskey the humiliation of having to count out a white boxer. Straite makes a cryptic threat against the Jake DeMaskey's life and this is what Batman is investigating. Meanwhile, Bats is clueless to Doctor Fang's machinations behind the scenes. Doctor Fang is fixing the prize fight. That's Doctor Fang on this page hitting the heavy bag as he conceives this plot with his spotter Woad, the Igor-like companion, accomplice, and servant.

This piece arrived with the indicia stats in pieces and hanging by a thread. I decided to remove it completely to at least get a scan of the "virgin" art with the blue pencil notes that would have otherwise lay hidden underneath. I may have the glue residue removed and the stats reattached at a later date.

11"x 16"
Ink over pencil.
Completely hand-lettered by Alfredo Alcala

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About the Owner

	John Espinoza ( 9 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	October 2014
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	John's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Davide G.
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 1/13/2019

Congrats on grabbing your personal grail, a great looking title page masterfully inked by Alcala!

RS 88
Member Since 2018

1 - Posted on 1/13/2019

Love stories of childhood memories being recaptured - it’s a major motivator for me in the hobby too! Great splash page too, classic! Congrats!!

Nick - Barry - Matt - Hal - Namor
Member Since 2015

1 - Posted on 1/13/2019

What an awesome page John! I agree on Doug Moench and Don Newton. Didn't matter who inked Newton, I love it all! And Gerry Conway was fantastic as well.

John C
Member Since 2014

1 - Posted on 1/13/2019

Beauty. Really happy you found your grail. More to collecting art than money.

frank x townsondecker
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 1/14/2019

Nice!

S Riz
Member Since 2014

1 - Posted on 1/17/2019

Congrats on this one John! Its a real gem.

Dietmar Krueger
Member Since 2010

1 - Posted on 2/9/2019

Excellent page!!!

Bill J
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 7/2/2019

Beautiful splash! Really, really nice!

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