DETECTIVE COMICS (1937-2011; 2016-) #31
CGC VG/F: 5.0
(Stock Image)
SOLD ON: Wednesday, 09/30/2015 1:31 PM
$87,150
Sold For
49
Bids
PUBLISHER: DC
COMMENTS: ow/white pgs
classic Batman over castle cover by Bob Kane! 1st Batplane and Batarang! (9/39)
Read Description ▼
classic Batman over castle cover by Bob Kane! 1st Batplane and Batarang! (9/39)
DESCRIPTION
ow/white pgs
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. It's no secret that top collectors also chase after the pre-Robin run of Detective #28-37 as 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 frenzied bidding that ensues on the rare instances when copies make it to market.
_______________________________________________
This 5.0 copy is in strikingly solid condition, with enduringly rich colors (after 85 years!) that capture all the initial impact of Bob Kane's inspired cover art.
Overstreet Guide 2015 VG/F (5.0) value = $32,500.
If you are a new customer planning to make a first-time purchase over $25,000, please contact us 24 hours in advance of the item closing at 212.895.3999 or support@comicconnect.com so that we may approve your account for bidding. (This policy was instituted to protect consignors and bidders against bids from fraudulent accounts, and to ensure the integrity of the bidding process.) Once approved, please log out of your account and then log in, for the approval to take effect.
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
Artists Information
Joseph Shuster was a Canadian-American comic book artist best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with writer Jerry Siegel, in Action Comics #1.
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.
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. It's no secret that top collectors also chase after the pre-Robin run of Detective #28-37 as 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 frenzied bidding that ensues on the rare instances when copies make it to market.
_______________________________________________
This 5.0 copy is in strikingly solid condition, with enduringly rich colors (after 85 years!) that capture all the initial impact of Bob Kane's inspired cover art.
Overstreet Guide 2015 VG/F (5.0) value = $32,500.
If you are a new customer planning to make a first-time purchase over $25,000, please contact us 24 hours in advance of the item closing at 212.895.3999 or support@comicconnect.com so that we may approve your account for bidding. (This policy was instituted to protect consignors and bidders against bids from fraudulent accounts, and to ensure the integrity of the bidding process.) Once approved, please log out of your account and then log in, for the approval to take effect.
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
Artists Information
Joseph Shuster was a Canadian-American comic book artist best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with writer Jerry Siegel, in Action Comics #1.
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.