Jim Aparo - Definitive 'Batman' Artist of the 70s Quiz | Entertainment

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Jim Aparo began his career working for an agency that provided advertising art for the Hartford Times. What was the name of the short-lived comic strip he started in that newspaper with Ralph Kanna?

Answer: Stern Wheeler

Neither Jim nor Ralph received any kind of payment for "Stern Wheeler", the idea being that the exposure their work received in the newspaper would be more valuable than a paycheck. Unfortunately, the strip was never picked up by a syndicate, and Jim went to work for another Connecticut-based company, Charlton Comics (Ralph moved on into the field of television production).

Spotlight Comics reprinted the first "Stern Wheeler" storyline in a 1986 comic book.

2. At Charlton Comics, Jim Aparo worked on many distinctive features. What was the name of the character he and Denny O'Neil created, which was based in the futuristic city of Ultrapolis?

Answer: The Prankster

"The Prankster" fought crime with toys and gag items, which seemed to confound the high-tech workings of the fascist society ruled by the tyrant Bane. The feature was well-done and ahead of its time, but only made a single 8-page appearance, in the final issue of Charlton's "Thunderbolt". Denny O'Neil co-created the character, and scripted the story under his pseudonym of Sergius O'Shaugnessy.

3. Jim Aparo is probably best known for his work on "The Brave and the Bold", where he managed a stretch of nearly 100 consecutive issues as penciller and inker. What character was featured with Batman in the very first issue of "The Brave and the Bold" that Jim Aparo worked on?

Answer: The Phantom Stranger

"The Brave and the Bold" #98 had Jim Aparo's first work on the title. He started his long run on the book with issue #100, which had Batman, Robin, Green Lantern, Green Arrow and Black Canary in a special 100th anniversary story.

Jim would also provide the artwork for a sizeable run of the Phantom Stranger's own comic book.

4. What was the title of the controversial story that Jim Aparo pencilled which had readers call in to a 900-number to determine the fate of one of the characters?

Answer: A Death in the Family

"A Death in the Family" was controversial in both having the call-in poll to determine the fate of Jason Todd, one of the youngsters the Batman had recruited to be Robin, and the fact that the Joker beat the boy to near death with a crowbar, and then blew him up (along with the woman Jason believed to be his mother). Batman was unable to extract direct justice against the Clown Prince of Crime, as he was able to get diplomatic immunity for his crimes by becoming the United Nations Ambassador for the country of Iran!

5. What was the name of the character that Jim Aparo helped Michael Fleischer revamp into a very controversial comic feature in the mid-seventies?

Answer: The Spectre

The Spectre, as he appeared in "Adventure Comics" #431-437, was a considerably more violent and ruthless character than a lot of people would have thought the Comics Code allowed. There were a lot of grotesque deaths, dismemberments, decapitations, and the like ... very strong stuff for the rather-banal times of the seventies.

"The Wrath of the Spectre" was a reprint series that featured all of the original stories from "Adventure Comics" as well as an issue's worth that had never been published because of the controversy.

6. Besides the Batman, Jim Aparo was also recognized as one of the preeminent artists who worked on Aquaman in the sixties and seventies. What was the first comic book that featured both Aquaman and Jim Aparo's graceful artwork?

Answer: Aquaman #40

Jim took over the pencilling reins from long-time DC cover artist Nick Cardy with issue #40, and remained with the character for the next six years, until he was replaced by penciller Don Newton (another fantastic artist who was taken from us much too soon).

7. What was the name of the short-lived feature that Jim Aparo drew for Charlton Comics' "The Cheyenne Kid", featuring an intergalactic merchant stranded in the Old West?

Answer: Wander

"Wander" premiered in "The Cheyenne Kid" #66, and ran for several issues. DC's "Bat Lash" and "Jonah Hex" are the only comparable features, as all three were definitely ahead of their time.

8. While Jim Aparo didn't create this character, he did pencil the first adventures featuring the character. After the Charlton Comics super-heroes were sold to DC comics, this character was one of the few still active in current continuity. What character am I talking about?

Answer: Nightshade

Jim started drawing Nightshade's adventures, which were written by creator David Kahler, as the back-up feature in Charlton's "Captain Atom".

Nightshade can currently (mid-2005) be seen in the limited series "Day of Vengeance", and she also put in quite a run with the original "Suicide Squad" series.

9. Name the Marvel Comics series that Jim Aparo worked on in the seventies.

Answer: He didn't do any work for Marvel Comics.

Unfortunately, Jim Aparo never had an opportunity to do any artwork for Marvel Comics.

10. Besides "Batman and the Outsiders", what was the name of the only super-hero team book that Jim Aparo provided artwork for?

Answer: Justice League of America

For the 200th anniversary issue of "Justice League of America", Jim provided the artwork for the chapter that featured Aquaman, the Phantom Stranger and the android Red Tornado. It may of been short, but it was really one of the highlights of the book, comparing favorably to chapters done by fan favorites like George Perez and Brian Bolland.

For some reason, perhaps because of scheduling or because of his work load, Jim never did a full issue of any of the major super-team books. After "The Brave and the Bold" was cancelled, he started doing the art for the replacement book, "Batman and the Outsiders", which did feature several characters that he had already gotten to know drawing for "B&B" (particularly Metamorpho and, of course, the Caped Crusader).

Source: Author vig407

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Jim Aparo - Definitive 'Batman' Artist of the 70s Quiz

Jim Aparo passed away on July 19, 2005. He was one of a select few comic book professionals who pencilled, inked and lettered their own work. This is a short quiz to honor this great artist.

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