DETECTIVE COMICS (1937-2011; 2016-) #140
CGC F/VF: 7.0
(Stock Image)
SOLD ON: Thursday, 08/30/2018 12:40 PM
$13,856
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PUBLISHER: DC
COMMENTS: off white pgs
origin & 1st app. the Riddler (10/48) COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 8 (CBI)
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origin & 1st app. the Riddler (10/48) COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 8 (CBI)
DESCRIPTION
off white pgs
origin & 1st app. the Riddler (10/48) COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 8 (CBI)You shouldn't be surprised to see the Joker, Catwoman, and Hugo Strange popping up in the first year of the Caped Crusader's exploits -- they seem to have always been there, part of the furniture, a vital component of the Batman mythology. When moving on in the character's history, however, it's surprising to note how many iconic bat-villains and motifs came along much later in the series' devlopment. Point out, for example, that the first appearance of the Riddler comes over 100 issues after the Dark Knight's debut, and the average fan will react with amazement and bewilderment. Wasn't he there from the beginning? Isn't he among the first bat-baddies that Batman encountered?
It's a testament to how well Bill Finger crafted this origin story and new baddie that Edward Nigma, aka the Riddler, seems to have been there all along, his M.O. and style slotting immaculately into the existing Bat-mythos. A perfect foil for a character known for his exacting self-discipline and Sherlockian-level detective skills, the conniving, devious Prince of Puzzles (as noted on the issue's classic cover) was an instant success, and became so hugely popular for a time that he eclipsed even the evil Joker and was tapped as the first bat-villain in the smash hit 1960's TV series (a performance Frank Gorshin based largely on the dark, nasty personality on display in this debut appearance). As this issue was released when DC and other hero publishers were experiencing a post-war sales funk, print runs were lower than usual, and few copies survived, making this an unusually rare key issue for a major bat-villain.
This handsome copy presents cacophonous yellows and bursting reds, with deep green and gray hues.
Overstreet Guide 2017 F/VF (7.0) value = $8,700.
Artists Information
Swan was a house artist at DC working on titles like Tommy Tomorrow, he began gravitating towards Superman and his related books, Superboy, World's Finest and Jimmy Olsen, he would eventually leave DC thanks to his personality issue with Editor In Chief Mort Weisinger. He would eventually return and go on to be the artist that defined the look of Superman in the Silver Age, eventually becoming the editor of the title, but after thirty years of keeping up standards of all things Superman, Swan was given the boot in favor of John Byrne's Superman reboot, Swan's comic work began to taper off after this dismissal and he eventually retired, but will forever be recognized as the Silver Age Superman's finest artist.
Win Mortimer is a Canadian comic strip/ book artist who worked for the big publishing houses during both the golden and silver age era of comics. Win mostly worked with DC but later freelanced for Marvel comics, where his most notable works include Action comics and Spidey Super Stories.
origin & 1st app. the Riddler (10/48) COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 8 (CBI)You shouldn't be surprised to see the Joker, Catwoman, and Hugo Strange popping up in the first year of the Caped Crusader's exploits -- they seem to have always been there, part of the furniture, a vital component of the Batman mythology. When moving on in the character's history, however, it's surprising to note how many iconic bat-villains and motifs came along much later in the series' devlopment. Point out, for example, that the first appearance of the Riddler comes over 100 issues after the Dark Knight's debut, and the average fan will react with amazement and bewilderment. Wasn't he there from the beginning? Isn't he among the first bat-baddies that Batman encountered?
It's a testament to how well Bill Finger crafted this origin story and new baddie that Edward Nigma, aka the Riddler, seems to have been there all along, his M.O. and style slotting immaculately into the existing Bat-mythos. A perfect foil for a character known for his exacting self-discipline and Sherlockian-level detective skills, the conniving, devious Prince of Puzzles (as noted on the issue's classic cover) was an instant success, and became so hugely popular for a time that he eclipsed even the evil Joker and was tapped as the first bat-villain in the smash hit 1960's TV series (a performance Frank Gorshin based largely on the dark, nasty personality on display in this debut appearance). As this issue was released when DC and other hero publishers were experiencing a post-war sales funk, print runs were lower than usual, and few copies survived, making this an unusually rare key issue for a major bat-villain.
This handsome copy presents cacophonous yellows and bursting reds, with deep green and gray hues.
Overstreet Guide 2017 F/VF (7.0) value = $8,700.
Artists Information
Swan was a house artist at DC working on titles like Tommy Tomorrow, he began gravitating towards Superman and his related books, Superboy, World's Finest and Jimmy Olsen, he would eventually leave DC thanks to his personality issue with Editor In Chief Mort Weisinger. He would eventually return and go on to be the artist that defined the look of Superman in the Silver Age, eventually becoming the editor of the title, but after thirty years of keeping up standards of all things Superman, Swan was given the boot in favor of John Byrne's Superman reboot, Swan's comic work began to taper off after this dismissal and he eventually retired, but will forever be recognized as the Silver Age Superman's finest artist.
Win Mortimer is a Canadian comic strip/ book artist who worked for the big publishing houses during both the golden and silver age era of comics. Win mostly worked with DC but later freelanced for Marvel comics, where his most notable works include Action comics and Spidey Super Stories.