Auctions: comic books December 1988

Batman (1940) 426N CGC 9.6 SS Starlin

Paper: White

Signed by Jim Starlin on 8/7/25. Newsstand Edition.

Label #4622446001

First printing. Newsstand Edition. Cover art by Mike Mignola. "A Death in the Family" part 1 of 4, script by Jim Starlin, pencils by Jim Aparo, inks by Mike DeCarlo; Jason discovers that his "real" mother was really his step-mother, and his birth mother is still alive; Joker escapes from Arkham and Batman chases him to the Middle East where he runs across Jason looking for one of the women he thinks is his mom. Infamous story where readers called an 800 number, and 'voted' to have Robin killed! Story continues in Batman #427. NOTE: Most issues from 397-432 were reprinted in 1989 and sold in multipacks. These 2nd and 3rd prints have back cover ads dated 1989. 52 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $1.50.

Batman (1940) 427 FN 6.0

First printing. Direct Edition. Cover art by Mike Mignola. "A Death in the Family" part 2 of 4, script by Jim Starlin, pencils by Jim Aparo, inks by Mike DeCarlo; Jason meets his real mother, Sheila Haywood, but she turns out to be working for the Joker and allows her son to fall into his deadly hands inside of a warehouse; Joker beats Robin with a crowbar and leaves him for dead as a badly beaten Robin attempts to save his mom and himself from the dynamite left behind by the Joker as he leaves them both to a horrible fate; Batman watches in horror as the warehouse containing Jason and Sheila blows up, too late to stop the Joker. Infamous Phone Poll on death or life for Robin (Jason Todd). The Direct Sales copies of this comic, released first, contained a 1-800 phone number to either vote "for" or "against" the death of Jason Todd on the inside back cover. The newsstand copies, released 3 weeks later did not contain the 1-800 number. NOTE: Most issues from 397-432 were reprinted in 1989 and sold in multipacks. These 2nd and 3rd prints have back cover ads dated 1989. 52 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $1.50.

Batman (1940) 427 FN 6.0

First printing. Direct Edition. Cover art by Mike Mignola. "A Death in the Family" part 2 of 4, script by Jim Starlin, pencils by Jim Aparo, inks by Mike DeCarlo; Jason meets his real mother, Sheila Haywood, but she turns out to be working for the Joker and allows her son to fall into his deadly hands inside of a warehouse; Joker beats Robin with a crowbar and leaves him for dead as a badly beaten Robin attempts to save his mom and himself from the dynamite left behind by the Joker as he leaves them both to a horrible fate; Batman watches in horror as the warehouse containing Jason and Sheila blows up, too late to stop the Joker. Infamous Phone Poll on death or life for Robin (Jason Todd). The Direct Sales copies of this comic, released first, contained a 1-800 phone number to either vote "for" or "against" the death of Jason Todd on the inside back cover. The newsstand copies, released 3 weeks later did not contain the 1-800 number. NOTE: Most issues from 397-432 were reprinted in 1989 and sold in multipacks. These 2nd and 3rd prints have back cover ads dated 1989. 52 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $1.50.

Batman (1940) 428N CBCS 9.6

Paper: White

Slab: Plastic debris between case and inner well

Newsstand Edition.

Label #21-218A045-020

First printing. Newsstand Edition. Cover art by Mike Mignola. "A Death in the Family" part 3 of 4, script by Jim Starlin, pencils by Jim Aparo, inks by Mike DeCarlo; Death of Sheila Haywood; Burial of Sheila Haywood and Jason Todd; The Joker becomes the Iranian Ambassador to the U.N. Results of Phone Poll as to whether Robin dies this issue or not. NOTE: Most issues from 397-432 were reprinted in 1989 and sold in multipacks. These 2nd and 3rd prints have back cover ads dated 1989. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.75.

Comico Christmas Special (1988) 1 FN+ 6.5

Cover by Dave Stevens. Stories by Doug Wheeler. Art by Ken Holewczynski, Bernie Mireault, Tim Sale, Bill Willingham, Steve Rude, Chris Warner and Al Williamson. Featuring: "Living for Christmas" by Doug Wheeler and Ken Holewczynski; "Too Many Santas" by Wheeler and Bernie Mireault; "The Stiflemix Diaries" by Wheeler and Tim Sale; shovelling in "One Winter Day" by Wheeler, Bill Willingham and Chris Warner; and aliens in "Traditions Everlasting" (cover story) by Wheeler, Steve Rude and Al Williamson. 40 pages, full color. Cover price $2.50.

Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind Part 1 (1988) 1 CGC 9.8

Paper: White

Label #4699308006

Comic with Moebius poster. Cover price $2.50.

Uncanny X-Men (1963 1st Series) 239 CGC 9.8

Paper: White

Label #4501690006

Inferno: Prologue - "Vanities!" Story by Chris Claremont. Art and cover by Marc Silvestri and Dan Green. Strange occurrences are happening all over the city of Manhattan. Mr. Sinister plots and schemes from the shadows. The X-Men are betrayed by one of their own. And the Marvel Universe is about to engulfed by an all encompassing evil from which no one will escape. Welcome to the Inferno! 36 pgs. Cover price $1.00.