Thread by @IAmBradWalker

THREAD!

So, since I'm on the topic, Maybe now's a good time to look at some Detective Comics logos, throughout the years. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts on them, and share, if you like.

Here's the first one. I don't think it's very good. The deco look to the word "Detective" wasn't so much a style choice, just a popular type of the moment. And "Comics" is in a completely different (uglier) font.

By the time Batman showed up, they at least made the two words match, but it seems like an odd choice to make the word Comics seem more prominent than Detective, by making the word fatter (surely, in a quick move to fit the longer word in the same width) #Batman80 #LongLiveTheBat

With small tweaks, it stayed like that for 300 issues (25 years). Then they switched to this, for a bit. Nothing that inspired, but not unappealing, I guess.

After a couple years, they realized the usefulness of adding Batman to the title, but went about it in this hideous, two logo fashion.

In 1968, they went to this version. Personally, I think "Detective Comics" is too small, but I do have an affection for the manic, throw everything at you, late-60's aesthetic here.

This one went through several variations, with "Batman and Batgirl" being featured, or "Batman and Robin and Batgirl". But same design. #Batman80 #LongLiveTheBat

A couple issue later, they went back to the original logo for one, whole issue, albeit a much improved version. The dimensions and spacing are evened out, a great deal.

Issue 420 brought this one. Nothing about it describes Batman, which I think is important (trust me, when I say I draw "Detective Comics", and then begin to explain what that means, you start to see the usefulness to putting his name on the book). But I do like the font, kinda.

Then, we came back to the classic logo ("Comics" is still too big. It's clearly a comic, that's not a point that needs belaboring). They stick a lil Batman face above it for clarity. Okay. Maybe not the best approach, but it covers the bases.

Then, they shrunk "Comics", lowered the logo way down to accommodate the banner, and stuck a great Batman logo (though, it doesn't match the Tec logo, so it looks awful) beside it. But look at that hideous 'S!!!

😳😳😳 LOOK AT THAT GIANT BATFACE. This only ran for a few issues. #Batman80 #LongLiveTheBat

I love this one. It's kinda gaudy, but it's fun to look at, and it was on a really classic era. They used a lot of funny color choices on it (since there are so many elements to throw color at, I guess. But I still love it. Stuck around for almost 30 issues with a couple breaks).

BRB. Gotta get my laundry...

Okay, I'm back. There were a couple issues where they bumped the page count just before issue 400, and put 4 backup stories in the book. For 3 issues, I think, they stuck this Batman Family logo under a tiny Detective logo. I...hate it. But whatevs. Ha!

Then this. Small, classic Detective logo, straight across, above my favorite Batman logo. I SHOULD love this, but I don't, because the two don't work together at all. And though I feel like Batman should be ON the title, I think Detective should be more prominent, for clarity.

That one lasted for a long time. Almost 70 issues (minus a couple single issue breaks).

Then, they came back around to the classic font, but in its best form. The tilted angle makes it much more dynamic. The font is cleaned up, and sized better. I still think "Batman" should be on the cover, but I love this. #Batman80 #LongLiveTheBat

Then, for four issues, on the Year Two storyline, they put the Year One bat behind it. This SHOULD be the best version, but the bat brings the logo down too far. Still. Love that asymmetrical bat silhouette. Shape looked fantastic on the Batman logo on Year One.

Then, just in time for the great Norm Breyfogle's first issue of Tec, we got this logo. I think it's a classy font, and I like the lil, understated Bat-motif, over "Comics", rather than "Detective".

Just before 600, DC introduced this one. I love it. Very sleek and classy lookin, and I think the "V" is inspired.

A couple issues later, they stuck the Batman logo of the time over it, and put the whole think in front of another cool, asymmetrical bat shape. Considering I'm not a fan of them just jamming two logos together, this is the one that worked the best.

For Batman's 600th appearance, they changed again. Another really nice one! Classy, understated. I think Tec's logos have a trend of understatement that maybe work against the book a little. As a kid, my eye jumped to Batman more, on the rack. But I appreciate them as an adult.

Ugh. Then they did this again. Two great logos that look bad, crammed together. #Batman80 #LongLoveTheBat

Then they changed the Batman part slightly. Possibly fits even worse. Haha!

Then, this one, featured over some really nice Graham Nolan covers. I think it's a good looking logo, though now, looking back, it feels very 90's/Joel Schumacher era. And I still think Batman should be ON the logo, but Detective should get the most space.

That one stayed through No Man's Land. After, editorial changed, and new creative teams came on, and they made a bold, unified design aesthetic to the whole line. I don't love these as "logos", but the approach and execution WAS really cool. Everything worked together.

Then, WAY back in 2003, they debuted the current, outgoing logo. Honestly, this is one of the best the book has ever had. It's not overly dynamic, but it has so many elements I find essential. It was best when it had the bat-shape behind it. Without, it could feel a little blah.

So, it's been 16 years since the current one debuted, aside from the New52 era (next tweet). My first work on the book debuted under that logo (backups in issues 795 and 796), and I thought we were still using it when I drew the covers to the upcoming arc.

Of course, for 52 issues, the New52 featured this logo. It's good, though I don't go for digital textures on logos because I think less is more, and the details distract from the art that's supposed to be selling the story (rather than the I.P.). But nice shapes and asymmetry!

Then, we come to the new one. I'm REALLY excited to feel like I'm at the start of a new moment for a historical title, especially when I look through, like this. That's so special and rare, and really only Tec and Action can really give that feeling, these days.

I like that it's one piece, including both "Batman" and "Detective Comics" in the same design (it's Batman's book. You gotta get over this idea that it's a hard boiled detective anthology with some Batman features. It's not).

The bat shape is bold and contains everything, and the font is clear, simple, but new. If it's pulled from some standardized list of fonts, I'm not aware. Part of me wishes it had a slight deco vibe, but maybe it's better to get away from that for a bit, after 80 years.

Batman is above Tec, but smaller, so the title of the book gets the most attention. People have complained that it has a "kiddie" look, but I don't see why (apart from the primary colors, but they'll change, every issue), and frankly, if it attracts young readers, good!

I'm REALLY excited about doing this book, I'm REALLY happy with the team I'm working with, and I love that we'll have a fresh, visual take for people to jump on with. I'll post more about Batman, my thoughts and approach, in the next couple weeks, leading up to release. <END>