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A 15% BUYER'S PREMIUM WILL BE ADDED TO THIS ITEM AT CONCLUSION OF THE AUCTION
ow/white pages; Apparent: top edge of cvr trimmed
1st appearance of the Riddler, w/ origin (10/48) COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 8 (CBI)


Detective Comics #140 came along over 100 issues after Batman began, but this Golden Age classic marks the first appearance of The Riddler as one of the Caped Crusader's most popular foes! This diabolical debut assured fans that were plenty more surprises left to come, years after Batman #1 introduced The Joker and Catwoman!

Bill Finger still crafted this classic origin story so that the Riddler immediately seems like a classic Batman bad guy. We get a look at the troubling early years of puzzle expert (and compulsive cheater) Edward Nigma, with his overblown obsession perfectly fitting into the existing Bat-mythos. The Riddler would become the perfect foil for Batman's own exacting self-discipline and Sherlockian-level detective skills.

In a puzzling twist, the Riddler would reappear in Detective two issues later, and then promptly disappear until 1965! From there, however, The Riddler would even briefly eclipse the Joker as Batman's most beloved foe. He was even brought in as the first Bat-villain for the hit '60s TV series. (Frank Gorshin would credit Detective #140 as the inspiration for his Riddler's particularly nasty personality.) This issue was released when DC and other hero publishers were experiencing a post-war sales dip, meaning that reduced print runs have made this an unusually rare key issue for a major Bat-villain. This issue is set to remain a top collectible with the Riddler's expected return to the big screen in 2027's The Batman: Part II !
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The first appearance of the Riddler was an important event in the history of Batman and his rogue’s gallery of villains, fitting in perfectly with the Penguin, Joker, and Catwoman, this cerebral criminal would go on to become one of the Caped Crusader’s most formidable nemeses. The success of Matt Reeves’ Batman was due in no small part to Paul Dano’s compelling depiction of the character as a vengeful vigilante. Dominated by a vibrant yellow background wash, this copy is quite impressive, it presents a solid spine, nice corners, and a clean, unmarred central focal area. The top edge of the book’s cover has been trimmed which does little to affect the overall appeal of this important Batman key.

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