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A 15% BUYER'S PREMIUM WILL BE ADDED TO THIS ITEM AT CONCLUSION OF THE AUCTION
ow/white pages; Nicolas Cage Collection
SUPER RARE!; classic WWII Hitler, Tojo, Mussolini, Goering cover; COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 7 (CBI)
Ruben Blades Copy


Catman Comics #16 would be an ultra-scarce comic just from the beloved title's regular troubles with distribution This particular issue has also become a top draw for Golden Age collectors, featuring an Axis-smashing cover with a quartet of iconic WWII villains: Hitler, Mussolini, Hirohito, and Goering. Charles Quinlan's high-impact art has proven irresistible to collectors who already place a high premium on comics that simply showcase der Fuhrer getting attacked by super heroes. Quinlan’s work here is regularly cited as a top WWII-era cover, with the inner pages packed with more attacks against the Axis by the Hood, Rag-Man, and Blackout (while the Deacon takes on the mob)!

Catman Comics was publisher Frank Z. Temerson's attempt to cash in on the sudden superhero boom, resulting in a colorful costumed crimefighter with an origin combining elements of Tarzan, Batman, and Captain America. Catman (aka David Merrywether) originally fought crime as a private detective, and later became a U.S. Army officer. He'd also adopted child acrobat Katie Conn, saving her from a life of crime as she became his sidekick Kitten.

The beloved Axis-bashing hero found a dedicated following despite that often-troubled distribution. (In a unique twist, Catman and Kitten were also the only superhero team who'd age somewhat realistically over the years.) The scarcity of the run has made Catman Comics one of the toughest and most rewarding of hero titles to collect. There's also the challenge of Golden Age collectors particularly drawn to the book's amazing WWII-era covers from Quinlan and (occasionally) L.B. Cole.


This double-pedigree book hails from the Ruben Blades Collection by way of the Nicolas Cage Collection, and is typical of the rare Golden Age gems preserved by both respected collectors. This is also an exceptionally rare artifact, with only 21 copies in the CGC Census — and only four copies ranked higher than this exceptionally color 4.5 copy with an overall sturdy appearance.

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