Auctions: comic books January 1989, graded by CGC

Batman (1940) 427 CGC 9.4

Paper: Off white to white

Slab: See item notes

Label strip detached.

Label #0038568035

1st printing. 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.

Uncanny X-Men (1963 1st Series) 240 CGC 7.5

Paper: White

Label #2050485022

Inferno: Part 1 of 7 - "Strike the Match!" Story by Chris Claremont. Art and cover by Marc Silvestri and Dan Green. Something strange is happening to New York City, and something strange is happening to Madelyne Pryor. But before the X-Men can figure that out, they have an old score to settle with their old friends - the Marauders! Cover price $1.00.