Set Description:
In 2013 this set of Detective Comics 401 to 500 was selected by Comics Guaranty Corporation (CGC) as one of the Best Presented sets in the Registry and it received the Best In Set award from 2008 to 2017 and, again, in 2019. The other three sets selected as Best Presented for 2013 were Buzzettas Spider-man Set (Owner: Buzzetta); Conan the Barbarian by Barry Windsor-Smith (Owner: Rune); and Malebolgias Gemstones (Owner: Newshane).
To say that I was pleasantly surprised to have received this recognition and the accompanying award from the CGC Judges would be an understatement. This is especially so in light of the other three sets that were recognized because each one is simply magnificent and take set presentation, as have all the sets to be recognized such by CGC, to a level that inspire me to work even harder on refining the presentation of this set.
In 2020, this set was recognized by CGC as on of the "Best Bronze Age Sets" (top three). To once again state that I was pleasantly surprised would, again, be an understatement especially since the CGC judges wrote:
"The most beloved era of the Dark Knight! What makes this set so special isn't just the content of amazing stories and art, which is some of the finest in comic book history! It is in the owners descriptions of each issue! The memories and observations made by Tec-Tac-Toe are at the very core of what collecting should be about. The amazing feat though? 62 9.8's, 34 9.6's & 4 9.4's that make up this 100 issue run! Wow!"
Taking the CGC Judges' comment from the 2013 award "[f]or many of the entries, he mentions the possibility of upgrades if the right book comes along. It will be fun to see how this set evolves over time"; as well as for their comment for the 2020 award to heart, commencing in July of 2013 and continuing to the present day, I am fortunate to be able to have, thus far, added fifty-seven issues to this set that either upgraded the copy that was present at the time of the 2013 CGC Registry Awards, filled-in an issue slot that had been empty since the creation of this set, or added a second CGC graded 9.8 copy of an issue already contained in this set to my CGC graded comic book collection.
The fifty-seven issues of Detective Comics that have thus far been added to this set commencing with the 2013 CGC Registry Awards in order of addition are:
Detective Comics 472, White Pages [A 9.6 that was replaced with a 9.8];
Detective Comics 436, Off-white to White Pages, Old CGC Universal Blue Label;
Detective Comics 418, Off-white to White Pages, Old CGC Universal Blue Label (A previously empty slot);
Detective Comics 475, Off-white to White Pages (A previously empty slot);
Detective Comics 497, White Pages (A previously empty slot);
Detective Comics 405, White Pages;
Detective Comics 456, White Pages (A previously empty slot) [A 9.6 was replaced with a 9.8 White Pages copy] (The 9.8 copy was added after the close of the 2019 CGC Registry Awards);
Detective Comics 476, White Pages;
Detective Comics 421, Off-white to White Pages (A previously empty slot);
Detective Comics 455, Off-white to White Pages;
Detective Comics 469, Off-white to White Pages, Old CGC Universal Blue Label;
Detective Comics 479, White Pages;
Detective Comics 482, White Pages;
Detective Comics 498, White Pages (This copy of Detective Comics 498 was added after the close of the 2014 CGC Registry Awards);
Detective Comics 416, White Pages;
Detective Comics 461, White Pages;
Detective Comics 471, White Pages (A previously empty slot);
Detective Comics 437, Off-White to White Pages [A 9.4 was replaced with a 9.6 that was, in turn, replaced with a 9.8 copy] (A previously empty slot until the 9.4 copy was added after the close of the 2015 CGC Registry Awards)*;
Detective Comics 483, White Pages;
Detective Comics 464, Off-White to White Pages;
Detective Comics 500, White Pages (This is the second CGC graded 9.8 copy that I own of Detective Comics 500);
Detective Comics 414, Cream to Off-White Pages;
Detective Comics 462, Off-White to White Pages (Peter Kuper Copy) [The Peter Kuper 9.6 copy was replaced with a 9.8 White Pages copy] ( added after the close of the 2019 CGC Registry Awards);
Detective Comics 451, White Pages (Rocky Mountain Copy; this copy of Detective Comics 451 was added after the close of the 2016 CGC Registry Awards);
Detective Comics 485, White Pages;
Detective Comics 494, White Pages;
Detective Comics 463, White Pages (A previously empty slot; added after the close of the 2017 CGC Registry Awards): Color this set COMPLETE except for obtaining a higher CGC graded copy for every issue that I am able;
Detective Comics 481, White Pages [A 9.4; Don Rosa Collection copy; that was replaced with a 9.6];
Detective Comics 406, Off-white to White Pages;
Detective Comics 432, White Pages (This copy of Detective Comics 432 was added after the close of the 2018 CGC Registry Awards) [The 9.6 was replaced with a 9.8];
Detective Comics 492, White Pages (This copy replaced the one that was previously part of this set);
Detective Comics 412, Off-White to White Pages;
Detective Comics 437, Off-White to White Pages*;
Detective Comics 443, Off-White to White Pages;
Detective Comics 450, White Pages;
Detective Comics 454, White Pages;
Detective Comics 491, White Pages;
Detective Comics 490, White Pages, Signature Series;
Detective Comics 424, White Pages;
Detective Comics 456, White Pages (This copy of Detective Comics 456 was added after the close of the 2019 CGC Registry Awards);
Detective Comics 458, White Pages;
Detective Comics 462, White Pages;
Detective Comics 465, White Pages;
Detective Comics 466, Off-White to White Pages;
Detective Comics 488, White Pages;
Detective Comics 433, White Pages (Murphy Anderson File Copy);
Detective Comics 413, White Pages;
Detective Comics 446, White Pages;
Detective Comics 428, White Pages;
Detective Comics 452, Off-White to White Pages;
Detective Comics 432, White Pages;
Detective Comics 448, White Pages;
Detective Comics 417, White Pages, Rocky Mountain Pedigree;
Detective Comics 468, White Pages;
Detective Comics 441, White Pages [A 9.6 that was replaced with a 9.8]; and
Detective Comics 481, White Pages [A 9.6 was replaced with a 9.8].
The CGC assigned grades of the books in this set are:
Grade / Number of Issues in that Grade / Percent of Issues in that Grade
9.8 / 64 / 64%
9.6 / 32 / 32%
9.4 / 4 / 4%
Although I am thankful to have added the fifty-seven issues presented above to this set, my goal prior to the deadline for the 2022 CGC Registry Awards; as it has been since the 2008 CGC Registry Awards; is to upgrade the copies of the issues in this set to 9.8 or higher CGC graded copies.
With the presentation of the 2021 (previously the 2020; 2019; 2018; 2017; 2016; 2015; and 2014) CGC Registry Awards on Friday, July 23, 2021 (July 24, 2020, for the 2020 Awards; June 14, 2019, for the 2019 Awards; June 5, 2018, for the 2018 Awards; July 14, 2017 for the 2017 Awards; July 8, 2016 for the 2016 Awards; July, 10, 2015 for the 2015 Awards; July 25, 2014 for the 2014 Awards), my effort to upgrade every issue; yes, including CGC 9.8 graded copies; in this set continued unabated.
As with the Best Presented and Best Bronze Age Set awards, to say that I enjoy collecting the Detective Comics issues is an understatement because, for example, every one of the books in this set brings back memories of purchasing multiple copies of each one at the "almost-corner grocery store" (please see below) and then anxiously, but carefully, reading the next exciting installment of Batman's adventures in Gotham City.
Although those days are long past, and these are much better days, every one of these issues will always bring back fond memories.
Well, as I wrote, it seems so long ago now, in the "second installment" of the Set Description to this set [w]hen I started reading comic books, way back when, my favorite character/superhero was the Amazing Spider-Man; in fact, I recall that I went numerous times as Spider-Man for Halloween. At some point during the late 1960s or early 1970s the Amazing Spider-Man took a back seat to the Batman. I imagine that this occurred because, at least to me, the Batman, Detective Comics, Brave and the Bold, etc., comic books were so much grittier than the Amazing Spider-Man comic books. However, I did, and still do, immensely enjoy reading and collecting Amazing Spider-Man comic books, including, at least as of January 1, 2014, the Superior Spider-Man title.
With this change of heart, my favorite comic book titles became Batman and Detective Comics. However, the Amazing Spider-Man and literally every comic book published by DC and Marvel were not far behind. Having such a broad interest; what some may term an obsession, others a passion; lead me to purchase almost every single title published by DC and Marvel from the last few years of the Silver Age through 1984. After 1984 I did not purchase what I would term the obscure DC and Marvel titles (fill-in the blank), except for the first issue-rarely beyond that-of such titles if only for lack of storage space.
I purchased every comic book issue of which this set consists at my favorite newsstand (or, as I refer to it, the almost-corner grocery store). In fact, I purchased multiple copies of each issue as Detective Comics was, along with Batman, my favorite comic book title. I still purchased The Amazing Spider-Man as it was a fantastic read.
As you will note in the comments I provide for the books in this set, every book contained herein was purchased slabbed as I have not had any of my original owner/off the newsstand purchased Detective Comics graded by CGC. I plan to one day following my retirement, perhaps much sooner time permitting, as moving my books into an acid-free/neutralizing environment took what appeared to be, being melodramatic, a lifetime so I can only imagine how long it will take selecting which copy/copies to have graded.
As my original set description read, Dark the Batman may be, but DC 401 to 500 is pure fun!; Yes indeed.
I repeat, yes indeed!
Previous Set Winners:
Comic_Best_Category Set larstrue 2006
Comic_Best_Category Set mr.highgrade 2007
Alfred Pennyworth 2018
Set Issue Highlight:
Detective Comics 411, CGC Graded 9.4, Off-white to White Pages
Detective Comics 411 somewhat slowly became widely recognized as a (major) key issue because of perhaps two reasons. One, it is the first appearance of Talia, as in al Ghul fame, and, arguably, two, Adams' magnificent cover.
I hope that you enjoy viewing the front cover scan of this set's copy presented below. You may view the back cover, and my comments on this issue and set copy, in the Detective Comics 411 slot of this set.
Thank you, and happy comic book reading and collecting!
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