Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Bring on the Back-Ups: "The Last Duty!" by O'Neil and Craig

One of the best things about DC's Dollar Comics format was that it allowed the editors of those extra-sized comic mags to try a variety of content. One of the things editor Paul Levitz used for back-ups in Detective Comics was Tales of Gotham City. Gotham was as much a character in Batman's universe as any side-kick or villain, so these Batman-less slice of life stories were always a treat. Today's example, "The Last Duty!" written by Denny O'Neil and illustrated by EC Comics luminary Johnny Craig from Detective Comics #488 (November 1979) is absolutely one of the best of this sometimes back-up series. See what ya think, Groove-ophiles!








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8 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 27, 2013 at 8:06 AM

    JOHNNY CRAIG?1 Don't how I missed this issue back in the day, but I'm glad that you brought it to my attention, Groove. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousAugust 27, 2013 at 8:22 AM

    Thank you,Mr Groove,for sharing.
    I've never seen this one.
    Good story and art.
    /Mr Anonymous

    ReplyDelete
  3. FaffAugust 27, 2013 at 9:14 AM

    Superb story and probably one of the fairest treatments of cops in comics ever.

    ReplyDelete
  4. M W GallaherAugust 27, 2013 at 9:19 AM

    To my discerning eye, it appears that Dan Spiegle ghost-pencilled this job for Johnny Craig. Spiegle would later do a few more "Tales of Gotham City" under his own name.

    ReplyDelete
  5. hobbyfanAugust 27, 2013 at 10:45 AM

    I remember reading this way back in the day. Brilliant story. I wish they'd collect "Tales of Gotham" into a TPB.

    ReplyDelete
  6. wmeiselAugust 27, 2013 at 9:28 PM

    Great story that I have never read. Thanks for posting, Groove.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousAugust 27, 2013 at 11:51 PM

    Uh, why didn't the cops search and disarm that guy? I've been frisked for less than that.
    The cops in Gotham seem either corrupt or incompetent. No wonder Batman's always pissed.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Percy ByssheAugust 28, 2013 at 4:25 PM

    Wow! Craig - don't see him every day -late in the groovy period and he still has it...I guess that's why the groovy age was groovy - Johnny Craig can just show up anywhere...

    ReplyDelete

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Special thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics and Grand Comics Database for being such fantastic resources for covers, dates, creator info, etc. Thou art treasures true!


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