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Dingbats of Danger Street

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Dingbats of Danger Street
The Dingbats of Danger Street from 1st Issue Special #6, art by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearance1st Issue Special #6 (September 1975)
Created byJack Kirby
In-story information
Member(s)Good Looks
Krunch
Non-Fat
Bananas

The Dingbats of Danger Street are a fictional comic book gang of kids published by DC Comics. The Dingbats debuted in 1st Issue Special #6 (September 1975) and were created by Jack Kirby.

Publication history

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According to inker Mike Royer, The Dingbats of Danger Street was developed as a new series, but the series was cancelled and the first issue repurposed as an issue of 1st Issue Special.[1] In this issue the Dingbats (at least partly by accident) stop the villains Jumpin' Jack and the Gasser with the help of Lieutenant Terry Mullins.[2] Kirby drew two further issues which were not scripted or inked.

The Dingbats reappear in The Adventures of Superman, one of a number of Kirby homages by Karl Kesel. They first appear in brief cameos, but are subsequently seen in full in The Adventures of Superman #549, in which they compete with the Newsboy Legion and the Green Team for a disused theatre.[3] Kesel explained that he was a fan of the Newsboy Legion, and brought in the other two boy groups as a counterpoint to the Newsboys, since all three were created by Joe Simon and/or Jack Kirby. He added: "As much as I love Kirby's work overall, I can't say I have any special fondness for the Dingbats - they served their story purpose as a counterpoint to the Newsboys, but it wasn't like I was hoping we'd get a Dingbats mini out of their appearance".[1]

The group makes a cameo in the final issue of Batman: The Brave and the Bold as Bat-Mite is upset at the comic's cancellation and states several missed crossover opportunities including the Dingbats.[4]

One of the Dingbats, Krunch, appeared as a member of the new Challengers of the Unknown in the 2018 miniseries written by Scott Snyder.

In 2022, a new 12-issue series written by Tom King and art by Jorge Fornés was launched. It takes a darker tone as a plan to join the Justice League by Starman, Metamorpho, and Warlord goes awry, dragging the Dingbats into trouble.[5]

Membership

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  • Good Looks - an average looking kid, the group's leader.
  • Krunch - a large red headed boy whose eyes were always hidden by his long hair; the muscle.
  • Non-Fat - a skinny boy in a wool hat with a hot dog. Mike Royer has confirmed that, as his facial features and a few lines of dialogue suggest, Non-Fat was meant to be African-American but was mis-colored as a Caucasian.[1]
  • Bananas - a boy who was considered to be crazy. The visual model for Bananas was a caricatured Mike Royer.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Abramowitz, Jack (April 2014). "1st Issue Special: It Was No Showcase (But It Was Never Meant To Be)". Back Issue! (#71). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 42–46.
  2. ^ Kooiman, Michael. "Obscure DC Comics Characters: D". Cosmic Teams. Archived from the original on June 23, 2011.
  3. ^ "Dingbats of Danger Street". Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  4. ^ Batman: The All New Brave and The Bold #16
  5. ^ "DC's 'Danger Street' gets trailer and new December 13 release date". aiptcomics.com. 2022-09-16.
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