Batman #53 is another Belgian issue published by Interpresse which I picked up on my recent trip to Paris and Brussels:
Similarly to Batman #12, I picked up this sealed copy on the basis of recognising the cover image. In this instance, the image is sourced from the main contents:
This is the second page of the story [A Vow from the Grave!].
This story was originally published in
Detective Comics #410, April 1971 - here's a scan of the original page from my copy:
The reproduction of the linework is clearer on the Belgian copy - but this may be due to the age of my US copy.
Given the contents of this issue aren't indexed on the GCD I will detail them here. The other two stories in this issue are as follows:
[Alfred, Armchair Detective!], originally published in
Batman #31, October-November 1945. This reprint is from the version published in
Detective Comics #417, November 1971;
The rear cover of this issue advertises the Belgian
Superman #105:
The inner front and rear covers contain non-comics related activities.
Postscript: After I completed this post I discovered this edition was published in other countries with the same cover and contents, in local translations - for example, as
Batman Classics #77 in The Netherlands,
Laderlappen #8 in Sweden, and
Lynvingen #8 in Norway. This is the pattern I noted in yesterday's post on
Batman #12. A note on the GCD connected to this series states "[t]he cover is part of the Joint European Series (JES) representing titles and issues printed across Europe." This goes some way to explaining the connection between these various editions.
Update 15 May 2025:
“The reproduction of the linework is clearer on the Belgian copy - but this may be due to the age of my US copy.”
Nope. Age has nothing to do with reproduction – except for the stock yellowing.
Here’s a numbered comparison of one of the panels between the original printing and the Belgium reprint
1. The linework on Batman’s forearm where it joins the upper arm is ‘murky’
2. Some of the finer lines of the grass on the left of “2” are missing
3. The evidence of a moiré pattern on the rock (and throughout the panel) shows the (original) printing is misregistered
4. If anything, the Belgium printing is slightly heavier but is okay because the paper stock appears (marginally) better than the 1971 version where US publishers were using crap plates and crappier newsprint.
Conclusion: better stock, better printing. Belgium wins!
So, ultimately, Spiros is correct in stating “The reproduction of the linework is clearer on the Belgian copy”.
Mark Muller
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