SHAUN TREAT
Scott Williams, comic book legend and artist of the Denton Batman #1 variant cover exclusive to More Fun Comics, will be signing his work Saturday May 6. Photo courtesy of Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Free Comic Book Day is one of the most anticipated events of the nerd year, always the first Saturday in May, when fans get a preview of upcoming projects involving their favorite icons or discover new characters. More Fun Comics and Games is celebrating its 15th year in Denton with a very special #FCBD guest, comics legend Scott Williams, who illustrated the Denton Batman #1 exclusive variant cover. After a day of in-store signings on the downtown Denton Square, the award-winning illustrator will be revealing his artistic beginnings, his storied career, and behind-the-panels tales of infamous projects in a very special Nerd Nite Denton event at the Bearded Monk on Saturday May 6 at 8pm.
The special 2016 DC Comics ‘Rebirth’ issue is only the third time in Batman's 75-year publication history that the Dark Knight has appeared in a “Batman #1” first issue. Tim Stoltzfus, co-owner of More Fun Comics & Games on the downtown Denton Courthouse Square, will reveal the secret origins of this special Denton Batman #1 cover that is the most recent in his line of exclusive variant covers that feature the iconic Denton Courthouse.
The Denton Batman #1 cover is an exclusive limited-edition variant that you can only buy from one place in the world: More Fun Comics in Denton TX.
So who is this artist of Gotham City’s masked man? Scott Williams has been working with the top talents in the comics world for over 20 years, and is most famous for being the artist/inker who helped give Image Comics their distinctive style when the upstart imprint launched in the ’90s. Besides his bold inkwork, Williams gained recognition in numerous books for every major publisher during his distinguished career, with notable runs for both DC and Marvel. Williams has previously worked on X-Men, WildCATs, Gen¹³, Batman, Superman, and the crossover WildC.A.T.s/X-Men as well as Justice League, but more recently has inked All-Star Batman and Robin, penciled by Jim Lee and written by Frank Miller. In 1993, he was nominated as a finalist for an Eisner Award as Best Inker, and in 2012 Scott was the Co-Recipient of the The Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award from the Inkwell Award committee. As Ron Burgundy says, he’s kinda a big deal.
Although certainly the biggest thing going down in town for FCBD 2017, Williams ain’t the only show in the Lil’ D for this big day. Madness Games & Comics is bringing in cosplayers and folks from Gearbox Software, while Freaks & Geeks have some featured specials. Then on Monday May 8, the TWU Library is hosting an event on their Denton campus. Not sure know which comics you definitely want to get? Then check out these quick guides of top picks to help make your hard choices.
But I’m gonna leave yall with a wacky bit of Denton Batman trivia: Did you know that DC Comics actually sued a Denton TX band called “Riddle Me This” in 1996 for trademark infringement? Yep, true story, the band filed for trademark protections in 1995, the same year Batman Forever with Jim Carrey as The Riddler was released… but DC didn’t take too kindly to their homage. Keep it weird and strange, Denton!
Shaun Treat is a former professor at the University of North Texas and founder of the Denton Haunts historical ghost tour. Doc has written about numerous local places and personalities at his Denton Haunts blog, and is forever indebted to the great work of our local keepers of history like Mike Cochran and Laura Douglas at the Emily Fowler Library for their tireless work in helping preserve Denton’s intriguing past. Be sure to check out our local museums curated by the fine folks at the Denton County Office of History & Culture, and follow @Dentonaut on Twitter for local happenings.