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Title: BATMAN No. 55
Publisher:DC [Indicia: National Comics Publications, Inc.]
Date Published: October-November, 1949
Description: CGC certified: Good (2.0). Purple label: Restored (C-2). Off-white pages. Grader notes: "Reattached with tape cover; tape cover; tape interior cover; ALL 3 EDGES OF COVER TRIMMED; heavy staining to cover; light tears to cover; medium piece out center of back cover; moderate creasing to cover; small amount of color touch on left center & bottom & right bottom front cover." Provenance: The DC UNIVERSE COLLECTION.
 
CGC Census: 190 graded copies (177 Universal, 4 Qualified, 1 Signature Series, 8 Restored).
 
GPAnalysis: No reported sales in this grade. A 2.5 (C-2) sold for $465 in 12/21.
 
For comparison purposes, here are recent Universal sales: A 2.0 sold for $850 in 9/22; another 2.0 sold for $650 in 2/22.
 
Credits: Cover: Dick Sprang and Charles Paris (inks). Scripts: Bill Finger. Art: Dick Sprang, Bob Kane, Charles Paris.  Overstreet: "Joker cover/stories."Bat-cyclopedia: "In October-November 1949 Batman and Robin battle the JOKER; apprehend the LONGSHOREMAN KID; and match wits with the GONG." — Michael L. Fleisher, The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes Vol. 1: Batman. Macmillan: 1976, p. 122.
 
Details: In order to spread his influence and maximize his crime-committing capacity, the Joker opens an underworld "college of clowns" and sets about training 48 new Jokers, one for every state in the Union. After the New Jersey Joker is captured, Batman takes his place to infiltrate Joker's clown squad. Unfortunately, the Joker sees through Batman's ruse and retaliates. By capturing Robin and threatening his death, the Joker forces Batman to entertain him and his goons by wearing a baggy, clown-like Bat-suit and capering around like a buffoon. Batman manages to escape, capturing all 48 Jokers and regaining his dignity in the process.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.