Heading:
Title: DETECTIVE COMICS No. 140 * 1st Riddler Appearance
Publisher:DC [Indicia: Detective Comics, Inc.]
Date Published: October, 1948
Description: CGC certified: G/VG (3.0). Off-white to white pages. Grader notes: "Detached centerfold; stain top of interior; creasing to cover; light cover tanning; spine roll; staining to cover; staple tears; writing on cover." Provenance: The DC UNIVERSE COLLECTION.
 
CGC Census: 213 graded copies (184 Universal, 7 Qualified, 22 Restored).
 
GPAnalysis: A 3.0 sold for $7255 in 11/22; a 2.5 sold for $9500 in 6/21.
 
Credits: Cover: Jack Burnley (Charles Paris inks). Scripts: Bill Finger. Art: Jack Burnley (ghosting as Bob Kane), Lee Harris, John Daly, Curt Swan. Overstreet: "Riddler cover/story (1st app.)."Bat-Bibliography: The DC Universe Collection copy of Detective Comics #140 is given a full-page illustration in Taschen's 75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking (page 156), with the following commentary: "'What I tried to pull off was making movies in frozen frame, drawn images that produced a recognition and feeling of dramatic movement, lighting, and setting, cutting from close-up to long shot, bird's eye to ground-level view, and perspective untamed. All comic art pages are a collection of images. But how do you arrange them to establish danger, serenity, suspense, fear, and humor; how do you interpret a script with gusto, likeliness, vigor, and authentic substance?' — Dick Sprang."
 
Bat-cyclopedia: "In October 1948 Batman and Robin meet the RIDDLER.... a wily criminal mastermind whose name derives from his villainous preoccupation with riddles, puzzles, and enigmas of all kinds. His real name is Edward Nigma, and his first initial therefore, coupled with his last name, produces the word enigma.
 
"'Because of a quirk in his nature, he never commits a crime without first tipping off BATMAN — by means of a riddle — where he intends to strike!'
 
"The Riddler wears a green costume decorated with black question marks, a purplish-gray belt, and a narrow mask. The texts refer to him as the Conundrum Champion, the Emir of Enigmas, the King of Conundrums, the Prince of Puzzlers, the Puzzle-Prince of Cryptic Crimes, and the Wizard of Quiz." — Michael L. Fleisher, The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes Vol. 1: Batman. Macmillan: 1976, pp. 121, 315.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.