Batman #1 1940 & Dark Knight 1986 creator owned copies Bob Kane & Frank Millers personal copies 12 key issues Start Price USD 99,500.00 Current Price USD 99,500.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 155,000.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, July 20, 2008 End Time Sunday, July 27, 2008 Location West Hills, CA See more about 'Batman #1 1940 & Dark Knight 1986 creator owned copies' Description   Today we are proud to present for auction these one-of-a-kind items of exceptional rarity and cultural significance.   This auction includes Batman creator Bob Kane's personal reference copies from 1940 of "Batman Comics #s 1, 2 and 3. And it includes Frank Miller's personal reference copies from "The Dark Knight," Miller's iconic new take on Batman in 1986 which, of course, was important in redefining the character and provided inspiration for the film which has, so far, smashed one box office record after another.  The Bob Kane volume was bound for Kane in 1940, and it also contains Detective Comics #39-45, which were printed simultaneously and also featured Batman. The "Dark Knight" books included are issues 1-4 of the series from 1986.  Issues 2 and 4 were Miller's personal copies, and have also been signed by him. All the items come with letters and/or certificates verifying their provenance, and are fully guaranteed original and authentic.   This is a rare opportunity to obtain unique, creator-owned, copies of some of the most sought after comic books of all.  "Batman" as he was imagined in his early days.  And then as he was re-imagined nearly five decades later that in some ways took the character back to his roots even as it took him in new directions which, twenty years later, inspired the incredible blockbuster in theaters today.   Not only are these the books that paved the way, they are the copies once owned by the creators themselves. And these amazing books are being offered, all together, for a fraction of what people have paid (and you'd likely have to pay more) for a non-provenance high grade copy of a second printing of Batman #1, all by itself.    This copy of "Batman" #1 is a rare first printing.  And, as mentioned, it was owned by the character's creator.  Batman #1 is one of the most influential comics of all time.  And aside from being the first issue in a series that is still running today, it contains the first appearance of the infamous villain and worldwide household name, the Joker.  As you no doubt know, the Batman is a multi-billion dollar franchise and a worldwide household name.  A character whose fame and recognition are virtually unparalleled.  Whose notoriety and cultural significance has endured for nearly 70 years, and is now reaching new heights,.  Again. There has been a new Batman for every generation over the past 70 years, with popular takes on Batman appearing constantly in films, on TV and cartoons, comic books and graphic novels.   Batman's popularity has reached virtual Batmania not once or twice but repeatedly, with incredible peaks of popularity in the 40s, the 60s, the 80s and now again -- starting with "Batman Begins" in 2005 and increasingly exponentially with the unprecedented success of "The Dark Knight" -- produced by Warner Brothers and directed by Christopher Nolan.  The "Dark Knight" presents the Joker for the first time on film as he was depicted in these historic issues.  In his debut, the Joker is a psychopathic murderer who implores his victims not to be so serious, and “cheers” them by bringing them death and, at the same time, putting a “smile” on their face. In all, this volume contains the first five stories to feature the Joker, as well as the super-villain’s first cover appearance.   And it also contains the key first appearances of other well-known supervillains, such as Clayface, the Puppet Master, and the Catwoman. These issues are all original and rare first printings.  Batman #1 went through at least two printings in 1940.  The rare first printings read “No 1” at the top.  In subsequent printings, a period was added to clarify that it was supposed to be read not as "No one" but "Number one."  Aside from the super key status of Batman #1, the other nine books in this volume are not to be forgotten.  They can sell for thousands apiece by themselves, and several of them (Batman 2 and 3; Detective 39 and 40) can sell for tens of thousands.   First and second printings of exceptional copies of Batman #1 now sell reliably for six figures and more.  A second printing that's one of a number of copies rated 9.0 or better sold for $280,000.  Other copies exist in better condition and would go for still more.  They are worth that much even with no guarantee better copies won’t surface, because the earliest issues of Batman are among the most reliably solid collectibles in comics, TV, toys, animation and film.   The books in this volume are not high grade, but aside from being verified as rare first printings, they have the impeccable and completely unique provenance of being the personal copies of the creator; which has been verified by cultural historians and some of the best-known comicbook experts.  It is guaranteed 100% as described.  We scarcely have to point out that Batman is a worldwide household name.  So, too, are many other characters in the Batman mythology – characters who in turn have been played by actors who are in their own right household names, even Oscar winners and nominees.  To name only a few:  Christian Bale, George Clooney, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, Adam West as Batman/Bruce Wayne; Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, Eartha Kitt and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman; Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon; Katie Holmes and Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes; Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox; Jim Carrey as the Riddler; Nicole Kidman as Dr. Chase Meridian; Tommy Lee Jones and Aaron Eckhart as Two-face; Michael Caine as Alfred the Butler and Jack Nicholson, as the Joker -- a role that went this time around to Heath Ledger, whose performance is already earning such superlative reviews it is generating a groundswell for an Academy Award.   While Frank Miller richly deserves credit for his reimagining of Batman, the cast and crew of "The Dark Knight" were also greatly influenced by the tales from Batman's early days, when, in 1940, Kane and his colleagues created the early issues featured here.  "Batman/Bruce Wayne" actor Christian Bale said recently, “I feel like we’ve kind of gone back to its roots, when I’ve spoken with friends of Bob Kane, relatives, they’ve said, ‘No, he meant this to be a very dark character Aside from their importance and notoriety, the early “Golden Age” Batman comics are simply far more scarce than their newer comicbook counterparts.   More recent comics, from the 1960s on, were routinely saved and the newer they are the less likely they were to be destroyed or damaged (or even opened).  In the 40s, it was a whole different story.  Comics were treated as disposable items, and it was considered unpatriotic to hang onto them.   Ads in World War II era comics show Batman imploring kids to recycle so the paper in their comics could be used to fight the “paperhanger in Berlin” (Hitler).  It’s estimated there are no more than a few hundred existing copies of any of the issues in this volume.  There’s no records available on how few of the existing copies of Batman #1 are first printings, but they are more rare than subsequent printings.   But, however many copies there are, this volume is unique above and beyond that.  It’s truly a one-of-a-kind item.  A rare and exceedingly cool way to own the creator's copies of these historic, valuable and culturally significant comics. If readers of the 40s did a poor job of hanging onto their comics, the comics creators of the day did even worse.  The best-known comic creators simply didn't hang onto their golden age comics very well.   Marvel Comics luminary Stan Lee's golden age collection was reportedly destroyed by flooding in his basement.   Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster went through such a financial downturn they couldn't hold onto much of anything, let alone their comics.  Siegel was ultimately left with few issues, which he sold shortly before he died.  But Bob Kane's story beats all of those for sheer melodrama.  Unlike some of his contemporaries, Kane had made an effort to hang onto his Batman comics and original artwork.  But he didn't make enough effort to hang onto his marriage, and ended up losing both.   Kane's womanizing was well-known in Hollywood, and he counted a young Marilyn Monroe among his conquests.   (to learn more about Kane's life and travails, check out the documentary on Kane called "Batman and Me," which is part of the Batman: Gotham Knight DVD package just released).   Kane's wife tired of being cheated on and vengefully destroyed as much of Kane's comics and art as she could get her hands on.  But she didn't get to the comics in this volume.  These copies were bound for Kane by D.C. comics in the ring binder style D.C. used at the time so books could be laid flat for reference.  These were used for reference by Kane in his studio, where Kane worked in 1939 and 1940 creating Batman comics with writer (and co-creator) Bill Finger, along with artists Jerry Robinson and Sheldon Moldoff, and others.   This volume of comics didn't get destroyed, but got left behind when Kane moved.  (Kane and his first wife divorced in 1957; Kane later remarried happily).   This volume was reportedly rescued from the trash by a domestic who worked for the Kane family.    It was discovered decades later at the domestic's home in the Carolinas by dogged Batman collector and historian Joe Desris, who authenticated them as well as the story of their survival.  For the past dozen years, this volume has been kept in a special acid-free box with special filters and salt crystals, to retard the aging process.   In the letter of authenticity which comes with the books, Desris notes Kane and his co-workers made much use of the volume for reference and it shows the wear.  Kane clipped some panels from a few pages in back-up (non-Batman) stories to 'swipe' the poses for later issues of Batman.  The books weren't stored as well as they should have been and the pages turned brownish and fragile in places, though they can be turned and read.  The pages can be restored and strengthend in those areas if you like by a professional paper conservationist using one of several methods, which reinforce the original paper without adding to the original inks and artwork.  As a piece of comics culture, it is very hard to beat this.  Collectors and dealers can and do spend thousands apiece on fresh but relatively common copies of Batman issues from the 60s, 70s, even 80s.   Even modern copies and golden age reprints have sold for hundreds and sometimes even thousands.   We offer this vintage, unique, one-of-a-kind, historical, museum-quality volume from the beginning of Batman’s fame and owned by Batman's creator at a starting bid which, comparatively speaking, is a steal worthy of the Joker himself. Bidders unfamiliar with ebay should be aware that last-minute bids may be difficult if you have not first been verified by ebay, which could involve putting a credit card on file with ebay.   Best to make any bidding preparations ahead of time.  And if you have any questions, please contact us as early as possible.  Purchase details will be arranged as needed for the buyer’s satisfaction, security and comfort.  Serious buyers in the Los Angeles area can arrange for a viewing.  Place a Bid!