DETECTIVE COMICS (1937-2011; 2016-) #140
CGC F/VF: 7.0
(Stock Image)
SOLD ON: Wednesday, 03/16/2022 8:27 PM
$30,588.85
Sold For
26
Bids
PUBLISHER: DC
COMMENTS: A 15% BUYER'S PREMIUM WILL BE ADDED TO THIS ITEM AT CONCLUSION OF THE AUCTION
crm/ow pgs; QES Certified: Criteria met: impressive prime focal area + glossy + deep color strike (yellow, green & red)
1st appearance of the Riddler, w/ origin (10/48) COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 8 (CBI)
Read Description ▼
crm/ow pgs; QES Certified: Criteria met: impressive prime focal area + glossy + deep color strike (yellow, green & red)
1st appearance of the Riddler, w/ origin (10/48) COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 8 (CBI)
DESCRIPTION
A 15% BUYER'S PREMIUM WILL BE ADDED TO THIS ITEM AT CONCLUSION OF THE AUCTION
crm/ow pgs; QES Certified: Criteria met: impressive prime focal area + glossy + deep color strike (yellow, green & red)
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 this issue 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 2026's The Batman: Part II !
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This copy of Detective Comics #140, featuring the first appearance of the Riddler, earned a 7.0 CGC Universal Grade and has cream to off-white pages. The yellow background is remarkably sharp here, with Win Mortimer’s renditions of the Riddler, Batman, and Robin all remaining in incredibly clean condition. With less than 200 copies currently recorded on the CGC Census, this is a rare book, especially for a Batman key. With the Riddler reportedly being the main villain of the upcoming Robert Pattinson vehicle, “The Batman,” Edward Nigma is a timeless comic character and a pop culture icon. A CGC 7.5 recently sold for over $40,000. Batman's key issues and first appearances are always in high demand, and this example is certainly no exception.
Overstreet Guide 2021 F/VF (7.0) value = $13,550.
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 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
Visit the QES website.
crm/ow pgs; QES Certified: Criteria met: impressive prime focal area + glossy + deep color strike (yellow, green & red)
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 this issue 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 2026's The Batman: Part II !
________________________________________________
This copy of Detective Comics #140, featuring the first appearance of the Riddler, earned a 7.0 CGC Universal Grade and has cream to off-white pages. The yellow background is remarkably sharp here, with Win Mortimer’s renditions of the Riddler, Batman, and Robin all remaining in incredibly clean condition. With less than 200 copies currently recorded on the CGC Census, this is a rare book, especially for a Batman key. With the Riddler reportedly being the main villain of the upcoming Robert Pattinson vehicle, “The Batman,” Edward Nigma is a timeless comic character and a pop culture icon. A CGC 7.5 recently sold for over $40,000. Batman's key issues and first appearances are always in high demand, and this example is certainly no exception.
Overstreet Guide 2021 F/VF (7.0) value = $13,550.
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 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
Visit the QES website.