Auctions: comic books December 1988

Batman (1940) 426 FN 6.0

First printing. Direct 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) 428 FN/VF 7.0

First printing. Direct 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.

Batman (1940) 428 FN+ 6.5

First printing. Direct 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.

Batman (1940) 428N VF 8.0

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.

Batman (1940) 428N FN/VF 7.0

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 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #4699337017

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.

Doctor Fate (1988 2nd Series) 1 CGC 9.8

Paper: White

Label #4698526002

Who is the new Doctor Fate? You witnessed the death of the original Dr. Fate and the birth of his new incarnation in the 1987 mini-series, but many questions were left unanswered...until now. Possessed by two separate, distinct personalities - that of a young boy and an older woman - Dr. Fate must learn to cope with the conflicting feelings within his mystical persona. In addition, his household has run amok, pitting Fate against more than average domestic problems. They are situations he had best learn to deal with fast as the war between the Lords of Order and Lords of Chaos escalates, with Fate caught in the middle. DOCTOR FATE is an ongoing monthly series in the New Format, written by J.M. DeMatteis (writer of the 1987 Dr. Fate mini-series), and features the art of Shawn McManus and Mark McKenna. Painted cover by McManus. Cover price $1.25.

Hellblazer (1988) 12 CGC 9.8

Paper: White

Label #4698528018

Painted cover art by Dave McKean. Jenette Kahn discusses the new TSR line of books, Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, Dragonlance and Gammarauders. The Devil You Know..., script by Jamie Delano, pencils by Richard Piers Rayner, inks by Mark Buckingham; Constantine gets his revenge on Nergal for what happened 10 years earlier in Newcastle. Suggested for Mature Readers. New Format. 36 pgs. $1.25. Cover price $1.25.

Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind Part 1 (1988) 1 CGC 9.0

Paper: White

Label #4693919004

Comic with Moebius poster. Cover price $2.50.

Superman (1987 2nd Series) 24REP.3RD CGC 9.8

Paper: White

Third Printing.

Label #4609513018

3rd Printing. "Power Politics!" Story by Roger Stern. Art by Kerry Gammill and John Beatty. A few months a go Dr. Kitty Faulkner was exposed to strange energy - energy that transformed her into the monstrous Rampage (see Superman (1987- ) #7). Now, a mad scientist bent on revenge, and a former colleague of Kitty's, will attempt to use her ailment for his own nefarious schemes. This looks like a job for Superman! Cover price $0.75.