DETECTIVE COMICS (1937-2011; 2016-) #31
CGC VG/F: 5.0
(Stock Image)
END TIME: Thursday, 03/20/2025 7:19 PM
Auction Ends In
$93,000
Current Bid
32
Bids
NEXT MIN. BID: $95,000
(No Reserve)
PUBLISHER: DC
COMMENTS: A 15% BUYER'S PREMIUM WILL BE ADDED TO THIS ITEM AT CONCLUSION OF THE AUCTION
crm/ow pages
classic Batman over castle cover by Bob Kane! 1st Batplane and Batarang! (9/39)
Read Description ▼
crm/ow pages
classic Batman over castle cover by Bob Kane! 1st Batplane and Batarang! (9/39)
DESCRIPTION
A 15% BUYER'S PREMIUM WILL BE ADDED TO THIS ITEM AT CONCLUSION OF THE AUCTION
crm/ow pages
classic Batman over castle cover by Bob Kane! 1st Batplane and Batarang! (9/39)
Detective Comics #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 what's only 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. Matt Wagner then revisited the story for the Batman and the Mad Monk limited series in 2006,, leading to a Mad Monk cameo in 2016's Batman #14. Bob Kane's classic cover has also been regularly reworked in tribute over the years, most famously by Neal Adams for Batman #227 .
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.
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This 5.0 Detective Comics #31 preserves one of the classic comics of the Golden Age, with only 108 copies listed on the CGC Census. This book shows some signs of wear, but Bob Kane's central cover image of Batman retains a powerful punch after 85 years. That includes richly dark colors against vibrant yellows and glowing earthiness. This comic is a sought-after treasure at any grade, and opportunities to own a personal copy are few and far between.
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.
_______________________________________________
Looking to make a purchase? Learn more about how to buy Detective Comics #31 from ComicConnect!
_______________________________________________
We realize many of you would like to bid on this auction lot, so for this listing, ComicConnect.com offers a 3 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
crm/ow pages
classic Batman over castle cover by Bob Kane! 1st Batplane and Batarang! (9/39)
Detective Comics #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 what's only 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. Matt Wagner then revisited the story for the Batman and the Mad Monk limited series in 2006,, leading to a Mad Monk cameo in 2016's Batman #14. Bob Kane's classic cover has also been regularly reworked in tribute over the years, most famously by Neal Adams for Batman #227 .
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 Detective Comics #31 preserves one of the classic comics of the Golden Age, with only 108 copies listed on the CGC Census. This book shows some signs of wear, but Bob Kane's central cover image of Batman retains a powerful punch after 85 years. That includes richly dark colors against vibrant yellows and glowing earthiness. This comic is a sought-after treasure at any grade, and opportunities to own a personal copy are few and far between.
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.
_______________________________________________
Looking to make a purchase? Learn more about how to buy Detective Comics #31 from ComicConnect!
_______________________________________________
We realize many of you would like to bid on this auction lot, so for this listing, ComicConnect.com offers a 3 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
