COMIC DETAILS
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Comic Description:
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Daredevil 181
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Grade:
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9.9
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Page Quality:
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WHITE
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Certification #:
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1127754005
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Owner:
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RMI High Tech
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SET DETAILS
Owner's Description
A 9.9 NINE.NINE WP Copy. A Direct Edition Issue. That's a NINE POINT NINE BABY!
Currently worth 500 CGC points, the highest points for this issue.
CENSUS: 6 in 9.9 (5 are WP, 1 is OWW), 1650 in 9.8, 2067 are in 9.6 out of 6612 graded copies. SIX THOUSAND.
740 SS copies, 205 in 9.8, the highest graded SS copy as of April 2023.
The most popular and classic of the Miller Ear Daredevil covers. Apx. 10% in 9.8 are Newsstand copies.
Key Comments. "Death" of Elektra., Bullseye & Kingpin appearance., Punisher cameo.
Art Comments. Frank Miller story, Frank Miller & Klaus Janson cover & art.
Published in April 1982.
CENSUS: as of June 2016.
6 in 9.9. I have seen 5 with WP's, and 1 in OWW page color.
I purchased my 9.9 copy after a careful exam for around $2500-3500 bucks. It was the fourth in the Census, and the third WP copy at 9.9. I did not bid much for the OWW copy. I could go on for hours about how to get or not get a 9.9 copy, but not here...email me.
888 copies in 9.8. Many new copies per year since 2013. Three or four on EBay all the time.
1095 more copies in 9.6 out of 3201 graded copies. Wow.
112 SS copies. 57 graded at 9.8. Another wow, because three years ago there were only 8 SS copies and only THREE at 9.8. LOL. Three.
Autographs are primarily by Stan Lee and Klaus Janson, and now Frank Miller, and now I presume a few Netflix cast SS copies also. I expect EVERYONE to SS one sooner or later.
Adding to the fun, I have 3 SS copies now also, besides the 9.9. One was signed by Stan, one by Klaus, and then I just recently had a Newstand Variant SS by all three.
This cover had no advertising. Yeah! And finally we are back to "The Man Without Fear". The DAREDEVIL title font remains at the larger size.
There were separate Direct Issues and Newstand variants for issue number 181 and this pattern follows through the entire Daredevil Miller era run. I have been told the numbers of direct edition vs. newstand versions ranged proportionally 60-40 to 70-30 for each type, depending on the issue.
The newstand variants are much rarer in high grade, as they lived their life on a heavily fondled newstand, not in a direct edition mailer. This ratio also varies, with approximately one out of five (some issues one out of 20!) issues being graded 9.8 as the rarer Newstand Variant. Newstand Variants are hard to get, calculated at about one outta 20 for this issue.
Newstand variants have the price in a square box next to the issue number at the top of the letter box, the direct editions have the price and issue number in a diamond shape within the letter box.
A double sized new price $1.00 issue. Probably some UK variants too.
VALUE:
This is the iconic Daredevil, Elektra and Bullseye cover of this set. It may not be the most expensive or rarest issue in the set, but arguably it is the most popular. By comic world definition, it is a key issue.
Expect to pay $2,500.00 for a 9.9 copy. You will have competition to get it. Maybe me too.
Expect to now pay $150 for a basic 9.8WP Copy, easily more if excellent structure and more again if signed. And add a premium for the “Newstand Variant”, generally sold for around $200 now. The Newstands aren't rare but they are hard to find.
I have seen Stan Lee 9.8WPSS copies sold for $400.00, and recent Frank Miller 9.8 WPSS copies actually sold for around $700.00, more if Klaus is added, and if Stan is added, well over $1,000.00 for all three. I expect this price to hold as Franks SS fees have dropped.
I have seen no sketches on any SS copy, but expect one sooner or later.
CREATOR DETAILS:
Cover Artist, Frank Miller.
Writer, Frank Miller.
Pencilers, Frank Miller and Klaus Janson.
Inker, Klaus Janson.
Colorist, Klaus Janson.
Letterer, Joe Rosen.
Editor, Denny O’Neil.
ISSUE TITLE "Last Hand".
STORY LINE:
Ignoring the movie plot in the Daredevil movie (which I liked), the storyline in the comic is basically a fight off between Bullseye and Elektra to see who would be his potential assassin. Add to the plot is that Bullseye escapes from prison and plots revenge against Daredevil. He discovers Daredevil's true identity and the one way to hurt DD worse than killing him is to go after Elektra, his past love. Each character collides in the finale. Bullseye wins.
NOTES and TRIVIA:
Well, Elektra doesn't really die either. Takes a bit longer in comic world to bring her back. Frank Miller was promised by Marvel she would not be used again. She was used again. And again. Frank is not happy. But I am happy, I like Elektra!
Published every month now.
First published in April 1982.
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