Batman (Vol. 1) 280 Original Cover Art

Batman (Vol. 1) #280 Cover Original Art (DC, March 1976). Ernie Chan (also attributed as Ernie Chua, his real name) had quite the run on both Detective and Batman in the 70's, penciling and inking a number of covers and interiors. This cover is for the Batman story "The Only Crime in Town!" and riffs on events in the story where Mobster Big Jake Hackett sought to impose a curfew on crimes so that he could get the spotlight during the hours of 1 & 2 AM. I love everything about this cover: an aggressive Batman swooping in, the chaotic mob, and the large clock with the Gotham cityscape in the background. As usual, Chan's attention to detail is amazing, and this is a cover I just love to look at.

The original owner of this piece apparently asked Chan to hand color it to match the final published cover, which Chan did in watercolors. Batman, the mob, and the clock face are all amazingly close to the final image colors, though the background has a bit more of an apocalyptic feel to it with the color choices for the sky. I actually prefer the color scheme here vs the published cover. I realize purists will be frustrated that the original line art has been modified with the watercolors, but I love the art and appreciate having not only line art by hand painting by Chan.

Created in ink over graphite on standard Bristol board, with an image size of 11" X 17", and then watercolored after the fact by him. Signed three times as Ernie Chua: first above the mobster with the gun (found on published piece), again in the UPC box (which I assume was done post watercolor), and third as part of the personalization at the bottom ("To Todd - Enjoy as I did on the Swampthing 3-D!"). No idea who Todd is. :) All stats appear original.