Batman (1940) comic books 1972-1974

Batman (1940) 248 CGC 8.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4378799001

Cover by Michael Kaluta. "Death-Knell for a Traitor!", script by Denny O'Neil, pencils by Bob Brown, inks by Dick Giordano; Batman follows an ex-Navy man who turned traitor during World War II to take a fabulous diamond from the Japanese; Batman realizes that said Navy man is in league with criminal Colonel Sulphur, and he has to stop them from recovering the diamond. "The Immortals of Usen Castle," script by Elliot S! Maggin, pencils by Irv Novick, inks by Frank McLaughlin; Dick Grayson and Diane Lewis are giving some local youths a tour of a castle that is supposedly haunted; When Diana and some of the children disappear, Dick changes to Robin and discovers the secret behind the "ghosts" in the castle. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.20.

Batman (1940) 251 CGC 4.5

Paper: White

Slab: See item notes

Minor plastic debris.

Label #3998519001

Cover art by Neal Adams. "The Joker's Five-Way Revenge!", script by Denny O'Neil, art by Neal Adams; The Joker has set himself free from the Mental Hospital for the Criminally Insane Batman had him incarcerated in, and he is out for blood; Before he was sent away, knowing that one member of his previous gang had ratted him out to the police, he had vowed to murder all five of them; And only the Batman is capable of stopping him; Despite Batman's best efforts, the Joker is able to finish off nearly all of his hit list; Batman is only alerted after the first murder, when a grinning corpse is found in the mud just outside of Gotham City, and he goes to each of the former members of the Joker's gang individually to try to protect them. Plop! comic book ad. Champion Sports comic book ad. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.20.

Batman (1940) 251 GD 2.0

3" spine split from bottom. Cover detached at one staple. Cover oxidation.

Cover art by Neal Adams. "The Joker's Five-Way Revenge!", script by Denny O'Neil, art by Neal Adams; The Joker has set himself free from the Mental Hospital for the Criminally Insane Batman had him incarcerated in, and he is out for blood; Before he was sent away, knowing that one member of his previous gang had ratted him out to the police, he had vowed to murder all five of them; And only the Batman is capable of stopping him; Despite Batman's best efforts, the Joker is able to finish off nearly all of his hit list; Batman is only alerted after the first murder, when a grinning corpse is found in the mud just outside of Gotham City, and he goes to each of the former members of the Joker's gang individually to try to protect them. Plop! comic book ad. Champion Sports comic book ad. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.20.

Batman (1940) 253 FN+ 6.5

Slight staple rust.

Cover by Michael Kaluta. Witness the first meeting of Batman and the Shadow in "Who Knows What Evil--?", script by Denny O'Neil, pencils by Irv Novick, inks by Dick Giordano; Batman stops counterfeiters and learns that their secret hideout is in Arizona; He travels to the desert and is assisted by a mysterious figure who saves him and helps him capture the bad guys; Batman meets The Shadow, the mysterious vigilante who inspired him to begin his own crime-fighting career Batman tries to convince The Shadow to come out of retirement. "The Legion of Super-Heroes"; Behind the Scenes at the DC Comic World article by Paul Levitz, art by Dave Cockrum and Sergio Aragones. Letter to the editor from writer and DC Comics "Answer Man" Bob Rozakis. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.20.

Batman (1940) 254 CGC 8.5

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #4389449009

100-page giant. This issue features Batman tales from the forties, fifties, sixties, and seventies. Cover by Nick Cardy. "King of the Gotham Jungle!", script by Frank Robbins, pencils by Irv Novick, inks by Dick Giordano; The recent rash of unsolved robberies in Gotham City spurs Man-Bat to come out of retirement. "The Witch and the Manuscript of Doom," script by Bill Finger, pencils by Bob Kane, inks by Bob Kane and George Roussos (backgrounds); The Batman and Robin must track down The Witch, a mysterious figure responsible for the murder of Erik Dorne and the theft of a manuscript he wrote. "The Bullet-Hole Club!", script by Bill Finger, pencils by Dick Sprang (as Bob Kane), inks by Charles Paris; A private detective petitions Batman and the other members of the prestigious "Bullet Hole Club" to become a member---even if he has to purposely put himself in the way of bodily harm to do it! Shazam Awards Behind the Scenes at the DC Comic World article, pencils by Ross Andru and Bernie Wrightson, inks by Bernie Wrightson. "The Man Who Stole from Batman" (from Detective Comics #334), script by Gardner Fox, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff (as Bob Kane), inks by Joe Giella; A new and unusual villain makes him presence known by stealing from the Batman: his Batmobile, Bat-a-Rang, and Bat-Boat, yet Batman cannot figure out WHY he would do such a thing. "The Phenomenal Memory of Luke Graham!", script by Elliot S! Maggin, pencils by Dick Dillin, inks by Murphy Anderson; Luke Graham needs the help of Robin the Teen Wonder to convince his college professor that a report he prepared on the Chinese iron industry was not plagiarized. "The Son of the Joker" (from Batman #145), script by Bill Finger, art by Sheldon Moldoff (as Bob Kane); In this imaginary story, penned by Alfred, trusted butler of Bruce Wayne, the Second Batman & Robin team run up against the Son of the Joker! Bat-Maze activity page. "The Guardian of the Bat-Signal!" (from Batman #85), script by Edmond Hamilton, pencils by Bob Kane, inks by Charles Paris; A long-time veteran of the Gotham City Police Department is about to be retired, when Batman suggests that he be put in charge of the Bat-Signal. 100 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.50.

Batman (1940) 257 CBCS 9.0

Paper: White

Label #22-0FD4FF7-005

100-page giant. Cover by Nick Cardy. "Hail Emperor Penguin!", script by Denny O'Neil, pencils by Irv Novick, inks by Dick Giordano; When a young King is kidnapped by the Penguin, it takes the efforts of Batman, Robin and Talia to free him from the madman's clutches. The Penguin's Unique Umbrellas! panels from previous comics. "Hunt for a Robin-Killer!", script by Gardner F. Fox, art by Gil Kane; After finding the Boy Wonder nearly dead from a brutal beating, a vengeful Batman hits the streets to find the man responsible. One-page Casey the Cop story by Henry Boltinoff. "Ally Babble and the Fourteen Peeves!", script by Bill Finger, art by Dick Sprang; Ally Babble accepts the offer of $5000 from a rich man to eliminate 14 peeves he has against others, but is soon charged with ripping off the man who paid him. "Conversational Clue!", script by Mort Weisinger, art by Jerry Robinson; When Alfred accidently hears some unsettling conversation in a local library, he follows the clue up...which nearly costs him his life! "Die Small--Die Big!", script by Robert Kanigher, pencils by Bob Brown, inks by Joe Giella; The appearance of a man dressed as the Batman at a party at Wayne Mansion and carrying a death threat for the Caped Crusader spurs Batman to attack the problem alone without the aid of Robin. "Rackety-Rax Racket!", script by Don Cameron, art by Dick Sprang (as Bob Kane); A series of crazy college initiations are actually a blind for daring thefts masterminded by the Joker! 100 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.60.