This is how Frank Miller celebrates “Detective Comics #27!?”

So the upcoming issue #27 of “Detective Comics” is a Really Big Deal for DC.  I realize this must be common knowledge for a lot of people who read this blog, but in case you’re not aware of this bit of comics history, Batman’s first appearance was in the first issue #27 of “Detective Comics” back in the 30’s.  As a result, we’re getting a mega-sized anniversary issue which kicks off a major crossover, and features contributions from notable Bat-creators past and present.  One of these creators is Miller.  Justifiably revered for “The Dark Knight Returns” and “Batman:  Year One,” he’s also equally reviled these days for “The Dark Knight Strikes Again” and “All-Star Batman and Robin,” as well as just about all of the comics work he’s done since he stopped doing “Sin City.”  Still, you can’t have a celebration of Batman without inviting him along so he was announced as contributing something to this issue.

I thought it would be some kind of pin-up work for the back of the issue, and I wasn’t too far off the mark.  It turns out that Miller was going to be providing one of the many variant covers for this issue.  At least, that’s what he was going to do until he wasn’t.  For reasons that will likely never be explained his cover was cancelled despite it being one of the top-advance reordered comics.  Then, as suddenly as it was dropped, Miller’s cover was back.  All was now right with the world.  Right?

Well, DC unveiled his cover to the world this week and this is what we’ll be getting:

Um… yeah.  Because the best way to celebrate Batman’s first appearance is with Catwoman in a string bikini.  If you had issues with Miller’s portrayal of women over the years, then he’s just given you some fresh ammunition for future arguments.  It almost feels like a supreme act of trolling on his part.  I can just imagine him going, “YEAH!  I’m one of the greatest ‘Batman’ creators ever!  I’m so great that I can get DC to pay me for drawing a picture of Catwoman in fishnets!  BOO-YA!”

I certainly hope that Miller got a good payout for this job, and that this convinces DC to stop accepting his work sight unseen.  Though, to be honest, I’d actually make the effort to pick this issue up if DC went with Rich Johnston’s version of it.

Indeed.