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DETECTIVE COMICS (1937-2011; 2016-) #31
CGC VG/F: 5.0
(Stock Image)
SOLD ON:  Wednesday, 06/26/2024 9:24 PM
$174,340
Sold For
34
Bids
This auction has ended.
PUBLISHER: DC
COMMENTS: A 15% BUYER'S PREMIUM WILL BE ADDED TO THIS ITEM AT CONCLUSION OF THE AUCTION
cream/ow pages; QES Certified for impressive prime focal area + rich colors + deep color strike (red, black & gray)
classic Batman over castle cover by Bob Kane! 1st Batplane and Batarang! (9/39)
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DESCRIPTION
A 15% BUYER'S PREMIUM WILL BE ADDED TO THIS ITEM AT CONCLUSION OF THE AUCTION
cream/ow pages; QES Certified for impressive prime focal area + rich colors + deep color strike (red, black & gray)
classic Batman over castle cover by Bob Kane! 1st Batplane and Batarang! (9/39)


Detective #27 and #38 are vital keys for the introduction of, respectively, Batman and Robin. Top collectors have also taken to the pre-Robin run of #28-37 for some of the moodiest and most compelling Batman stories ever published. There are several reasons that Detective #31 is probably the most famous (and difficult) issue to obtain, starting with the cover's iconic imagery of the brooding Caped Crusader in his third cover appearance.

"Batman Versus the Vampire" is also considered by many fans to be the first true classic Batman story. Comics legend Gardner Fox had to write Batman's first two-part tale to cover the global menace of The Monk — making history as the second super-villain to ever take on the Dark Knight. (Fox had brought in Doctor Death as the first.) The Monk's supernatural origins as both vampire and werewolf soon had him sidelined when Robin came along to lighten Batman's stories. Gerry Conway would finally revive the Monk in the '80s, leading to another story arc as the Mad Monk and a cameo in 2016's Batman #14. Bob Kane's classic cover has also been regularly reworked in tribute over the years.

For further firsts, this issue has the Bat-Gyro debuting as a precursor to the Batplane, plus the introduction of the famous Batarang — as still brandished by the Caped Crusader. Julie Madison also makes her first appearance as Bruce Wayne's earliest girlfriend. Gardner Fox adds Batman leaving New York City for the first time, following Julie to Paris. (References to Gotham City were at least a year away.) No serious DC Golden Age collection is complete without this masterpiece, which explains the feeding frenzy that ensues on the rare instances that copies make it to market.

This striking 5.0 book is one of a mere 61 unrestored copies in the CGC Census, with only seven copies graded higher. This issue has also been QES-Certified for an impressive prime focal area for an already classic cover, plus a deep color strike emphasizing the dramatic red, black, and gray. (Visit the QES website.)


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We realize many of you would like to bid on this auction lot, so for this listing, ComicConnect.com offers a 6 month, interest free, time payment plan with a 20% non-refundable deposit. Time Payments invoices can only be paid by cash, check, money order or wire transfer. LEARN MORE



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