| Slot: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 1 |
| Item: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.8 |
| Cert #: |
1323193012
|
Owner Comments
This books was signed by both Frank Miller and Klaus Janson, and furthermore Miller drew a small sketch.
In order to introduce this book to persons with no previous knowledge of this amazing book, let's quote Wikipedia:
"Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is a four-issue comic book limited series written and drawn by Frank Miller, originally published by DC Comics under the title Batman: The Dark Knight in 1986 [...] The Dark Knight Returns tells the story of a middle-aged Batman who comes out of retirement to fight crime, only to face opposition from the Gotham City police force and the United States government".
This book is considered to be the most important (Batman) comic books ever made, and in 2005 TIME Magazine chose the collected four-issues as one of the 10 best "English language graphic novels" ever written with these words:
"One of the best-selling graphic novels of all time, this black comedy version of Batman's latter days masterfully combines satire with superhero antics without betraying it's central character's core of danger. Along with Alan Moore & Dave Gibbon's Watchmen, it redefined the concept of "superhero," and helped spark the first wave of "serious" interest in comics".
In my opinion, this is indeed the greatest Batman publication ever (at least until this day, September 2013 ;-) - and therefore a key issue to every serious Batman comic collector. Currently, it simply does not get any better:
"Groundbreaking."
—USA TODAY
"It's film noir in cartoon panels."
—VANITY FAIR
"There's never been storytelling quite like this."
— THE WASHINGTON POST
"Changed the course of comics."
—ROLLING STONE
"Revisionist pop epic."
—SPIN
DC Comics has described the four albums in these words:
"Hailed as a comics masterpiece, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS is Frank Miller's (300 and Sin City) reinvention of the legend of Batman. It remains an undisputed classic, one of the most influential stories ever told in comics, and is a book cited by the filmmakers as an inspiration for the most recent Batman movies.It is ten years after an aging Batman has retired, and Gotham City has sunk deeper into decadence and lawlessness. Now, when his city needs him most, the Dark Knight returns in a blaze of glory. Joined by Carrie Kelly, a teenage female Robin, Batman takes to the streets to end the threat of the mutant gangs that have overrun the city. And after facing off against his two greatest enemies, the Joker and Two-Face, for the final time, Batman finds himself in mortal combat with his former ally, Superman, in a battle that only one of them will survive".
Source: http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/batman-the-dark-knight-returns-0
|
| Slot: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 1 Second Printing |
| Item: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.8 |
| Cert #: |
0267578002
|
Owner Comments
Great thanks to Anthony from Bad Astronaut Collectibles for providing this book. In October 2015 only 7 of these books had made the 9.8 grade and none better. Due to the flash, the photos show a few reflections in the CGC holder.
|
| Slot: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 1 Third Printing |
| Item: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.8 |
| Cert #: |
1060369006
|
Owner Comments
This book is dedicated to Bill Bassman (eBay seller: starwarsny) for his kind help in providing me with this great book. Census October 2015 - 15 books in 9.8 and none better.
|
| Slot: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 1 Fourth Printing |
| Item: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.8 |
| Cert #: |
1990309011
|
Owner Comments
Currently there're just 3 DKR #1 4th Printing 9.8 books in the Census, and I'm delighted to have found this amazing book.
The fourth printing is using staples for the binding - unlike the 1st, 2nd and 3rd printings.
|
| Slot: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 2 |
| Item: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #2 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.8 |
| Cert #: |
1062859003
|
Owner Comments
Full title of this book: "Batman: Dark Knight Triumphant". See the description regarding issue #1 for an elaborate introduction to the four "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" books.
In October 2015 the highest CGC grade for these books was 9.8, and just 8 books at 9.8 were part of the Signature Series making this book extremely rare.
Adding to the desirability of the signature (since signatures can be quite obtrusive to the cover illustrations), the grey silver/metal color of the signature was chosen to match the cover colors.
It has been speculated that this book inspired mass murderer James Eagan Holmes, July 20th 2012 at the Batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora, Colorado, to kill 12 people and wound 58:
"There are eerie similarities between the massacre at the Aurora multiplex during a showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” and a sequence in a seminal 1986 comic book. In the second issue of Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns” a crazed gunman stands up in the middle of a Batman-inspired porn movie and opens fire inside the crowded theater."
Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/dark-knight-shooting-aurora-theater-eerie-echo-seminal-1986-comic-frank-miller-article-1.1118713#ixzz2GTsfa0Rg
According to Wikipedia, Holmes pretended to be The Joker and had dyed his hair red, which may seem strange, because The Joker normally has green hair. The gunman Arnold Crimp in DKR #2 had red hair.
Furthermore I was able to obtain the most amazing custom statue showing the book's cover in very detailed 3D (digital sculpt). This may be the finest Batman statue ever created, and I consider it an important attachment to this book. So if I one day had to part with the book the statue should follow the book, since brothers should stick together! ;-)
I would like to dedicate the statue to Benjamin Preisler Herbst at http://www.superhelten.dk , without him and his expert knowledge of rare Batman statues, I probably would never have gotten this precious item. This statue is number 3 out of 10, making it extremely rare. The size is huge, 15" base diameter, height about 14", weight probably about 15 pounds (high quality resin material, hand painted by the artist).
In August 2013 the original art cover by Frank Miller sold for an amazing $ 478,000.00 at HA.com:
http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7079&lotNo=92234
|
| Slot: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 2 Second Printing |
| Item: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #2 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.8 |
| Cert #: |
0258878004
|
Owner Comments
Thanks to Colin Bush for his great help in acquiring this book. Census November 2015 - 8 books in 9.8, none part of the Signature Series and none graded higher.
|
| Slot: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 2 Third Printing |
| Item: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #2 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.8 |
| Cert #: |
0259734001
|
Owner Comments
Thanks to Colin Bush for his great help in acquiring this book. Census November 2015 - 8 books in 9.8, none part of the Signature Series and none graded higher.
|
| Slot: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 3 |
| Item: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #3 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 10 |
| Cert #: |
0058431072
|
Owner Comments
Full title of this book: "Batman: Hunt the Dark Knight". See the description regarding issue #1 for an elaborate introduction to the four "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" books.
In October 2015 this was the only DKR #3 book graded a perfect 10 from CGC, and one book had reached 9.9, compared to more than 420 books at 9.8. So this book is as rare as an albino northern rhino in the African Congo...
Furthermore this book contains the final version of the most expensive original page from Frank Miller, namely page 10, which sold for $448,125.00 in May 2011:
http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7033&lotNo=92134
|
| Slot: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 3 Second Printing |
| Item: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #3 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.8 |
| Cert #: |
0229684010
|
Owner Comments
Full title of this book: "Batman: Hunt the Dark Knight". See the description regarding issue #1 for an elaborate introduction to the four "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" books.
In October 2015 there were 4 9.8 books graded and none better.
|
| Slot: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 4 |
| Item: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #4 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.8 |
| Cert #: |
1064124005
|
Owner Comments
Full title of this book: "Batman: The Dark Knight Falls". See the description regarding issue #1 for an elaborate introduction to the four "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" books.
Only 8 books in October 2015 were part of the Signature Series and achieved the CGC 9.8 grade (9.8 is the highest current grade for these books).
This book has been signed by both Frank Miller and Klaus Janson, so it may qualify as 2X Signature Series ;-) Or maybe the best DKR #4 in existence, since I know of no other DKR #4 9.8 book with two different signatures including Miller's. (I know of three other DKR #4 CGC 9.8 SS books, one signed by Frank Miller (owned by Mitol cert# 0635109004), the two other books signed only by Klaus Janson.
Furthermore, both signatures are placed unobtrusively on the cover adding to their desirability.
I would like to thank Michael Jeter for his kind help in acquiring this amazing book (our negotiations for this book took nearly one year, I greatly appreciate being the new owner!).
The CGC holder caused some light reflections when I photographed this book, but hopefully the book's qualities can easily be seen.
|
| Slot: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (2018) #1 Foil Edition |
| Item: |
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.8 |
| Cert #: |
1612937018
|
Owner Comments
Another reprint, but Miller's signature looks awesome!
|
| Slot: |
Millennium Edition: Batman the Dark Knight Returns 1 |
| Item: |
Millennium Edition: Batman The Dark Knight Returns #1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.8 |
| Cert #: |
1136727015
|
Owner Comments
I do like the embossed gold foil logo on this book, although I normally only buy first print.
According to Wikipedia:
"Millennium Edition was the umbrella title of 62 one-shot comic books published by DC Comics in 2000 and 2001. It reprinted key issues from the history of the company such as the first appearance of notable characters, the relaunch of existing characters, or the start of major storylines. The oldest issue reprinted was Detective Comics #1 (March 1937) and the most recent was JLA #1 (January 1997). Each issue of Millennium Edition had a gold foil logo stamped onto the front cover and a brief essay on the inside covers detailing the significance of the issue reprinted."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Edition_(DC_Comics)
In October 2015 there were 15 books in CGC 9.8, none better or signed.
|
| Slot: |
Batman Essentials-Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 1 |
| Item: |
Batman Essentials-Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.8 |
| Cert #: |
0240835023
|
Owner Comments
Another reprint, but the cover looks nice ;-)
The flash caused several reflections from the CGC holder not seen in normal light, but hopefully this flawless book still shines through... Census October 2015, two 9.8 books and none better.
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| Slot: |
DC Comics Essentials: The Dark Knight Returns 1 |
| Item: |
DC Comics Essentials: The Dark Knight Returns #1 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC 9.8 |
| Cert #: |
1432882012
|
Owner Comments
Another reprint, but Miller's signature looks awesome!
| |