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Title: BATMAN No. 34
Publisher:DC [Indicia: Detective Comics, Inc.]
Date Published: April-May, 1946
Description: CGC certified: Poor (0.5). Purple label: Restored (C-3). Off-white to white pages. Grader notes: "Missing interior part/page/wrap centerfold; affects story; piece reattached with tape front cover; tape cover; tape spine; cover tanning; creasing to cover; piece added with tape spine C-3; staining to cover." Provenance: The DC UNIVERSE COLLECTION.
 
CGC Census: 191 graded copies (177 Universal, 5 Qualified, 9 Restored).
 
GPAnalysis: Only 2 reported sales of restored copies in any grade. A 6.0 (SA, trimmed) sold for $121 in 5/03, and a 7.0 (SA) sold for $320 in 11/19.
 
For comparison purposes, here are recent Universal sales: A 0.5 (centerfold missing, incomplete) sold for $218 in 8/23; a 2.5 sold for $240 in 8/23.
 
Credits: Cover: Dick Sprang. Scripts: Bill Finger. Art: Dick Sprang (signed as Bob Kane), Jerry Robinson, George Roussos (inks).Bat-cyclopedia: "In April-May 1946 Batman and Robin thwart the machinations of GEORGE KALE; renew their acquaintance with ALLY BABBLE; and break off an elaborate crime-detecting exercise, in which Robin is given twenty-four hours to locate and 'apprehend' Batman, long enough to capture a gang of criminals attempting to hijack a truckload of antiques." — Michael L. Fleisher, The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes Vol. 1: Batman. Macmillan: 1976, p. 119.
 
Details: George Kale, motorcar magnate, sabotages contestants in an automobile race so that his niece Glenda will win, bringing his company free publicity. * Ally Babble, a good-natured but insufferable gasbag, bores Batman with his endless bloviations. During a climactic battle in a hospital between the Dynamic Duo and some hooligans disguised as doctors, Babble gets drunk on "pure oxygen" and in his disoriented state, accidentally helps Batman kibosh the crooks.
 
Babble-on Revisited: Motormouth Ally Babble may be the most annoying supporting character in Bat-history, which helps explain why he hasn't had so much as a cameo appearance in almost 80 years. "Ally Babble makes his second and, mercifully, final appearance in this Finger and Sprang story. This story is played even more strongly for comedy, although at no point does it amuse me. Babble gets his fortune told in tea leaves, and in following the trail of his 'destiny' causes all manner of havoc. Mercifully, Ally Babble loses his voice at the end of this story. One can only hope it never came back." — Deejay Dayton, "Babblings About DC Comics" blog, August 28, 2015.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.