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DETECTIVE COMICS (1937-2011; 2016-) #40
CGC G/VG: 3.0
(Stock Image)
SOLD ON:  Wednesday, 03/13/2019 12:10 PM
$9,500
Sold For
1
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This auction has ended.
PUBLISHER: DC
COMMENTS: ow/white pgs; tp on int cvr & int
1st appearance of Clayface, w/ origin; 1st Joker cover; Bob Kane/Jerry Robinson cover/art; Comic Book Impact rating of 7 (CBI)
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DESCRIPTION
ow/white pgs; tp on int cvr & int
1st appearance of Clayface, w/ origin; 1st Joker cover; Bob Kane/Jerry Robinson cover/art; Comic Book Impact rating of 7 (CBI)


Detective Comics #40 has remained a classic collectible for the first appearance of The Joker on a comic's cover. The issue is even more beloved for how the new character isn't quite himself, even though the cover is recycled from the second Joker story in Batman #1. His face may have been accidentally colored pink by some unknown staff artist, or maybe someone missed their deadline and a desperate decision was made to try and hide the Joker's identity — since the Joker doesn't actually appear in this issue of Detective !

In any case, that really is the Joker making his debut as the most-collected cover character in comics fandom. Couple this with the first-ever appearance of Clayface as one of the Batman's most memorable villains, and this is a perfect Bat-collectible. This issue also features a full-page ad for Batman #1 within its pages, which gives you an idea of how quickly DC swiped the art.
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Artists Information

A celebrity comic artist of the Golden Age, co-created Batman and Robin with Bill Finger, as his brainchild became more in demand he hired an army of ghost artists to illustrate the dearth of Batman features on the market, but all were credited to Kane. His other achievements include the creation of Catwoman, Two-Face and cartoon character Courageous Cat. Kane was the object of some controversy for taking credit for the art and inspiration of others, but he was also undoubtedly an important figure in the history of comics. He published an updated version of his autobiography "Batman and Me: The Saga Continues" shortly before his death in 1998. He got his start at the Eisner/Iger studio and was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame.

Sherrill David Robinson known as Jerry Robinson, was an American comic book artist known for his work on DC Comics' Batman line of comics during the 1940s. He is best known as the co-creator of Robin and the Joker and for his work on behalf of creators' rights. He was inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2004.


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