Comics Buyer's Guide #649

In "Batmania," Batman takes a rare break from the Batcave to gripe about the state of his comic book portrayals—specifically, how far they’ve strayed from his grim roots. When a barkeep suggests a writer named Miller might bring some needed edge, the comment lands with a quiet, knowing weight. Written, drawn, inked, and lettered by Randy Crawford, this 1986 story offers a self-aware, tongue-in-cheek nod to the rising influence of darker superhero storytelling, all in a single, sharp moment of meta-commentary.