DETECTIVE COMICS No. 96 Provenance: DC Universe Collection Publisher: DC [Indicia: Detective Comics, Inc.] Date Published: February, 1945 Description: CGC certified: Apparent Good (2.0). Purple label: Restored. Off-white to white pages. Grader notes: "Staple detached bottom of cover; tape cover; tape interior cover; 2 small piece out back cover; TOP EDGE TRIMMED; heavy creasing to cover; medium piece reattached with tape left center of back cover." Provenance: The DC UNIVERSE COLLECTION. CGC Census: 91 graded copies (88 Universal, 1 Qualified, 2 Restored). GPAnalysis: Only one reported restored sale in any grade: a 0.5 (C-1, centerfold missing, incomplete) sold for $280 in 5/21. For comparison purposes, here are recent Universal sales: A 1.8 (incomplete) sold for $276 in 7/23; a 3.0 sold for $234 in 3/20. Credits: Cover: Jack Burnley (George Roussos inks). Scripts: Don Cameron, Jack Farr. Art: Dick Sprang (ghosting for Bob Kane), Howard Sherman, George Roussos, Jack Farr, Louis Cazeneuve. Overstreet: "Alfred's last name 'Beagle' revealed, later changed to 'Pennyworth' in #214." Bat-cyclopedia: "In February 1945 Alfred, his pride injured over Batman's refusal to allow him to accompany the Dynamic Duo on their nightly patrol of the city, requests permission to begin his month-long vacation immediately, then promptly sets up a private detective office in the nearby town of Middleton, where he hopes to 'show the mawsters... that Alfred is a better sleuth than they suspect!'" — Michael L. Fleisher, The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes Vol. 1: Batman. Macmillan: 1976, pp. 9, 306-307. The Butler Did It: Alfred's ego-driven bid for glory backfires when his investigatory efforts inadvertently aid a criminal mob. As a result, Alfred gets charged with a bank robbery and chucked into the jug, causing the Dynamic Duo to run to his rescue. Alfred returns the favor by saving Batman and Robin's lives, and the Gotham News proclaims him a hero: "Private Detective Saves Lives of Batman, Robin; Helps Smash Robber Ring!" The story ends with a puffed-up Alfred insisting on accompanying his employers on their nightly rounds: "Since I have proved beyond question my qualifications as a nemesis o' criminals — where do we go tonight?" The DC UNIVERSE COLLECTION comprises over 40,000 comic books, including a copy of every single DC comic published for retail sale from 1934 to 2014. The collection was amassed by British music producer Ian Levine over the course of several decades, and it's been hailed as the single greatest collecting accomplishment in comic book history. This collection served as the basis for former DC Comics president Paul Levitz's monumental book 75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking, published by Taschen in 2017. PBA is proud to present this epic collection in a series of themed sales over the next two years. To join the DC Universe Collection notifications list, contact pba@pbagalleries.com. Enjoying PBA's Batman sale? A very small number of softcover and limited edition hardcover auction catalogues are available for purchase. The catalogues are fully illustrated, thoroughly researched, and make excellent reference works for Batman fans. To order a copy, or to inquire about consignment opportunities, contact Ivan Briggs, PBA's Director of Comics: ivan@pbagalleries.com. Item#: 360070 Headline: DETECTIVE COMICS #96 * Alfred Uber Alles
DETECTIVE COMICS No. 96 Provenance: DC Universe Collection Publisher: DC [Indicia: Detective Comics, Inc.] Date Published: February, 1945 Description: CGC certified: Apparent Good (2.0). Purple label: Restored. Off-white to white pages. Grader notes: "Staple detached bottom of cover; tape cover; tape interior cover; 2 small piece out back cover; TOP EDGE TRIMMED; heavy creasing to cover; medium piece reattached with tape left center of back cover." Provenance: The DC UNIVERSE COLLECTION. CGC Census: 91 graded copies (88 Universal, 1 Qualified, 2 Restored). GPAnalysis: Only one reported restored sale in any grade: a 0.5 (C-1, centerfold missing, incomplete) sold for $280 in 5/21. For comparison purposes, here are recent Universal sales: A 1.8 (incomplete) sold for $276 in 7/23; a 3.0 sold for $234 in 3/20. Credits: Cover: Jack Burnley (George Roussos inks). Scripts: Don Cameron, Jack Farr. Art: Dick Sprang (ghosting for Bob Kane), Howard Sherman, George Roussos, Jack Farr, Louis Cazeneuve. Overstreet: "Alfred's last name 'Beagle' revealed, later changed to 'Pennyworth' in #214." Bat-cyclopedia: "In February 1945 Alfred, his pride injured over Batman's refusal to allow him to accompany the Dynamic Duo on their nightly patrol of the city, requests permission to begin his month-long vacation immediately, then promptly sets up a private detective office in the nearby town of Middleton, where he hopes to 'show the mawsters... that Alfred is a better sleuth than they suspect!'" — Michael L. Fleisher, The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes Vol. 1: Batman. Macmillan: 1976, pp. 9, 306-307. The Butler Did It: Alfred's ego-driven bid for glory backfires when his investigatory efforts inadvertently aid a criminal mob. As a result, Alfred gets charged with a bank robbery and chucked into the jug, causing the Dynamic Duo to run to his rescue. Alfred returns the favor by saving Batman and Robin's lives, and the Gotham News proclaims him a hero: "Private Detective Saves Lives of Batman, Robin; Helps Smash Robber Ring!" The story ends with a puffed-up Alfred insisting on accompanying his employers on their nightly rounds: "Since I have proved beyond question my qualifications as a nemesis o' criminals — where do we go tonight?" The DC UNIVERSE COLLECTION comprises over 40,000 comic books, including a copy of every single DC comic published for retail sale from 1934 to 2014. The collection was amassed by British music producer Ian Levine over the course of several decades, and it's been hailed as the single greatest collecting accomplishment in comic book history. This collection served as the basis for former DC Comics president Paul Levitz's monumental book 75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking, published by Taschen in 2017. PBA is proud to present this epic collection in a series of themed sales over the next two years. To join the DC Universe Collection notifications list, contact pba@pbagalleries.com. Enjoying PBA's Batman sale? A very small number of softcover and limited edition hardcover auction catalogues are available for purchase. The catalogues are fully illustrated, thoroughly researched, and make excellent reference works for Batman fans. To order a copy, or to inquire about consignment opportunities, contact Ivan Briggs, PBA's Director of Comics: ivan@pbagalleries.com. Item#: 360070 Headline: DETECTIVE COMICS #96 * Alfred Uber Alles
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
