Derf's Picks of the Week (March 19, 2025)

I have to ask, how was your St. Patrick's Day?

You don't have to be Irish to enjoy the holiday.

Luckily, I didn't have to work.

So, I got to enjoy some good food and time with those I love.

You know what else I love?  New Comics.  

Let's take a look at what this week has in stores.

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DARK HORSE

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #16

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DC COMICS

Absolute Batman #6

Absolute Flash #1

Batman / Superman: World's Finest #37

Challengers of the Unknown #4

DC x Sonic the Hedgehog #1

Detective Comics #1095

Nightwing #124

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DYNAMITE

Silver Hawks #2

Thundercats: Lost #1

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IDW

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation #5

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IMAGE

Bug Wars #2

Deadly Tales of the Gunslinger Spawn #4

G.I. Joe #5

King Spawn #43

Rat City #12

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MARVEL

The Avengers #24

Cable: Love and Chrome #3

Daredevil: Unleash Hell – Red Band #3

Deadpool / Wolverine #3

Exceptional X-Men #7

Magik #3

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #31

One World Under Doom #2

Psylocke #5

TVA #4

Werewolf by Night #8

X-Force #9

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Well, that's it for me for this week.

I hope something on my list caught your eye.

Until next time, get your READ on!

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Comic Cover of the Week

Magik #3

MARVEL

Cover Art by J. Scott Campbell

Saturday Showcase: the Polka-Dot Man

Straight from the pages of DC Comics and the big screen success, The Suicide Squad, comes today's Saturday Showcase.  My showcase today is on the unlikely superhero, Mr. Polka-Dot aka the Polka-Dot Man.

Shortly after Batman began appearing in Gotham City, his growing renown inspired an entire generation of costumed rogues who committed largely harmless crimes to attract his attention in the hopes of matching wits with the legendary vigilante. Among these was a local crook named Abner Krill, who decided, for reasons unknown, to launch a crime wave based on spots and dots in Gotham City, where he inevitably came into conflict with Batman and Robin. 

As Mister Polka-Dot, he wore a costume covered in spots, and once removed from the costume, the spots could be used for a variety of purposes, such as creating deadly weapons and a bizarre escape vehicle. He succeeded in capturing Robin, but Batman defeated him.

Years later, Krill (now calling himself the Polka-Dot Man) was driven to crime once more when he found himself unemployed, penniless, and desperate to pay his bills. No longer able to afford his original electronically gimmicked costume, he instead resorted to using a baseball bat in a poorly thought-out attempt to rob a jewelry store, which resulted in him assaulting Officer Foley of the Gotham City Police Department, causing minor injuries. He was then beaten badly by Detective Harvey Bullock, who was sick of costumed villains in the city. The assault put the Polka-Dot Man in traction and he filed a brutality suit against the police department, which resulted in Bullock being forced to see a psychiatrist.  So you can say that Harvey Bullock was taken down by the Polka-Dot Man, lol.

Following his recovery, Nightwing encountered the Polka-Dot Man a second time when he trashed My Alibi, a bar known for underworld regulars who vouched for each other's whereabouts when they were off committing crimes. Nightwing pitched Krill through a window display and into the street, where he was picked up by the police.

Powers & Abilities

When he created his costume, Abner Krill possessed advanced technology in the form of the costume's polka dots, which were controlled through the costume's belt. When attached to his costume, they were inert, but once removed, they would enlarge in size and become various different devices which could aid in his crime sprees, most notably a flying saucer which he used as a getaway vehicle.

Weaponized Dots used by the Polka-Dot Man included:

• Flying Buzzsaw Dot, a red polka dot designed as a projectile. The dot had a rotating interior mechanism upon which a circular saw blade was mounted.
• Flying Saucer Dot, a yellow polka dot which expanded rapidly into a flat, man-sized glider. It was steered by a series of buttons or switches on the Polka-Dot Man's belt.
• Sun Dot, a gold polka dot designed as a projectile. It was gimmicked to resemble a model of the sun and emitted a blinding, disorienting light similar to a flare.
• Bubble Dot, a white polka dot which expanded into a translucent capsule capable of flight. Like the Flying Saucer Dot, it was steered by a belt apparatus.
• Fist Dots were red, yellow, and orange polka dots designed as projectiles. They were thrown at once and gimmicked to resemble human fists. When bounced off opponents at close range and in concert, these dots could produce concussive effects.
• Hole Dot, a black polka dot simply referred to as a "hole" by the Polka-Dot Man. It opened up what appeared to be a teleportation transport system and was presumably developed with assistance from General Immortus.

Publication Information:

Publisher:  DC Comics

First Appearance:  Detective Comics #300 (February 1962)

Created by: Bill Finger (writer) & Sheldon Moldoff (artist)

Alter Ego:  Abner Krill

Team Affiliations: Suicide Squad

Notable Aliases: Mister Polka-Dot

Until next time, get your READ on!

Saturday Showcase: Calendar Man

    It is December 1st and I thought there was no better character to spotlight than the Calendar Man from DC Comics.  When I think December, I think in with the new and out with the old, which has a calendar feel to it so here we are.

First appearance: Detective Comics #259 (September 1958)

    The Calendar Man first made his appearance in Detective Comics back in '58.  He was the brain child of Bill Finger (writer) & Sheldon Moldoff (artist).  Of course you know the publisher was DC Comics.
    
    The Calendar Man was born Julian Day and he has always been obsessed with dates and times.  Therefore he took the name Calendar Man and would commit his crimes at specific times on specific days.  His look has changed throughout the years, but one thing remained the same, his obsession with dates.

New 52 Julian Day aka the Calendar Man

    The Calendar Man has appeared in Batman Comics since the late '50s but never really gets the credit he deserves.  Sure he has made appearances in movies, shows, and video games, but when you think Batman villain, he is never at the top of the list.  I, for one, would love to see an animated Batman film featuring the Calendar Man and his group of Misfits.

The Misfits: Cat-Man, Calendar Man, Killer Moth, & Chancer

    Abilities

*Genius-level Intellect*

*Obsession with Quirks of a Calendar*

*Successful Inventor*

*Skilled Hand-to-Hand Combatant*

*Expert Manipulator*

*Ages and rejuvenates according to season*

*"Immortal" - He never really dies, but is "reborn" like new*

DC Who's Who (Art by Pat Broderick)

Well, I hope you liked my spotlight on Calendar Man.  

Until next time, Get your READ on!

Calendar Man surprised by the Batman (Brave and Bold)

Comic Picks of the Week (June 28, 2017)

For my comic picks click the link to head over to Somewhatnerdy.

6/28/17 Comic Picks

Comic Cover of the Week

Detective Comics #959

Cover Art by Yasmine Putri

New 52: Detective Comics

I admit, I was anti-new 52 at first.  In fact, I still am in certain areas.  For example costume changes, but I have to admit, out of all the New 52 issues I have read so far, they are pretty solid.  I am upset with the Firestorm title but that is another post in itself.  Let's talk about the issues that I think are hot and worth your time and money. 

For my first post about the New 52, I want to share my thoughts about Detective Comics.  What can I say?  I tell you what I can say...Damn, this is a good book!  The action in Detective Comics does not fail the world of Batman, not by a long shot.  I mean, you got murders happening in Gotham that appear to have the Joker's name on it.  You get the introduction to some new villains and man they are some freaks like Batman has not seen before. The Dollmaker is going to be a fixture in the DC universe for days to come.  This title is definitely a 5 out of 5 star book at the moment.

Do yourself a favor and pick up issues #1-3 today.