The Colony of the Black Bat

The Black Bat, like most of the characters in Five Star Comics, is a Golden Age character in the public domain. The difference is that The Black Bat is not from the Golden Age of comic books but from the pulp magazines of the 1930s through the 1950s. Other pulp characters have been adapted to comic books. The Shadow, drawn by Michael William Kaluta for DC Comics in 1973-1974, is a notable example. Matt Marshall's adaptation for Five Star Comics #2 is perhaps unique for its halftone art and its Prince Valiant-like narrative. The Black Bat has appeared in other comic books, though, and will no doubt go on appearing for a long time to come. It's a popular and intriguing character with fans all over the world. Those fans include a blogger who goes by the designation TSOG. TSOG hails from Ontario, Canada, and writes a number of blogs, including The Colony of the Black Bat, about all things black and batty. You can read his blog by clicking here. TSOG has written about the Five Star Comics version of The Black Bat twice, first on May 12, 2013, then again on May 26, 2013. That was awhile ago, but we thought you would like to know. Besides, TSOG's blog is as thorough as you can hope for. It even includes German covers from the 1970s. So click and start reading today.

Copyright 2016 Five Star Comics

The Black Bat Video on YouTube

Black Bat artist Matt Marshall has created a video for "Origin of The Black Bat," his first comic book story and the lead story for Five Star Comics #2. You can see the video, "5 STAR COMICS #2: ORIGIN OF THE BLACK BAT!" on YouTube, here.

Black Bat art and video copyright 2012 by Matt Marshall

Five Star Comics #2 Now in Print

For those eagerly awaiting the second issue of Five Star Comics--it has arrived! Five Star Comics #2, with a cover and a lead story by Black Bat artist Matt Marshall, is now in print. The newest issue of our comic book made its debut at the Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo (S.P.A.C.E.) during the weekend of April 21-22, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio, and is now available to readers. Ordering information is below. In the meantime, have a look at a sampling from Five Star Comics #2.

In the lead story of Five Star Comics #2, Matt Marshall reveals the origin of The Black Bat--the NEW Black Bat, son of the original from the pulp magazines of the 1930s and '40s. Matt's artwork is like nothing you have seen before in the comics and unlike anything you're likely to see anytime soon. 

Missile, great granddaughter of the Golden Age superhero Silver Streak, returns to face an old foe in "The Trojan Cuckoo." Larry Blake created Missile for the first issue of Five Star Comics and handled the penciling on this story. Tim Corrigan provided the inks. 

Next up: Gary Gibeaut wrote, penciled, and inked a tribute to Will Eisner's original Lady Luck. The story is called "The Return of Lady Luck" and features a new incarnation of the 1940s Lady Luck drawn by Klaus Nordling. 

The whole gang collaborated on "The Case of the Nutcase," a story featuring The Amalga-Mates, the first all-original characters to appear in Five Star Comics. In real life, The Amalga-Mates are Hemsworth V. Hemsworth and Semyon Hemsworth, millionaire philanthropists. Donning the trappings of their alter egos, they become the world's first and only Siamese twin superheroes! Tim Corrigan penciled a script by Terence Hanley. The inking came from Many Hands.

Cave Girl returns to Five Star Comics in a ten-page story, "Cave Girl and the Bat King," written and drawn by Terence Hanley.

So how do you order this 48-page extravaganza? Just send a check or money order for $5.00 to:

Larry Blake

69306 State Route 124

Reedsville, OH 45772

And what do you get for your five dollars? Five stories by five artists and featuring five (or six) protagonists, plus two pages of letters, a preview of Miss Masque, and a full-color photo-collage of Cave Girl by Larry Blake on the back cover. Order yours today.

Text copyright by 2012 by Five Star Comics

Art copyright 2012 by Matt Marshall, Larry Blake, Tim Corrigan, Gary Gibeaut, and Terence Hanley

Five Star Comics #2 Preview

Five Star Comics #2 is nearing completion and if you liked the first issue, you'll love the second. The Black Bat by Matt Marshall takes the lead spot in this issue. Matt's cover design will knock your socks off! Look for Five Star Comics #2 at the Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo (S.P.A.C.E.), Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22, 2012, at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio!

Art copyright 2012 Matt Marshall

Text copyright 2012 Five Star Comics