CGC-certified Joker Comics Offered in Heritage Sale

Classic Joker comics that would put a smile on any collector’s face are among almost 100 books graded by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) in an upcoming sale. The clown prince of crime is in the spotlight in Heritage Auctions’ The Joker Collection of Robert Ben Garant Comics & Comic Art Showcase Auction on December 7, 2023.

The Joker made his debut in Batman #1, published in 1940, by creators Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson. With his chalk-white skin, emerald-green hair and a perpetual, sinister grin, The Joker is a chaotic force of nature, driven by an unpredictable and nihilistic worldview. The character's mystique adds to his allure, as different interpretations across comics, films and television offer varying glimpses into the mind of this psychopathic criminal mastermind.

While the credit for The Joker’s creation was challenged by Bob Kane, artist Jerry Robinson once described his creative process in an interview.

“To make a story interesting, you need a special villain — like Dr. Moriarity in Sherlock Holmes. And I felt to give him extra appeal, I’d have to make him not only evil, but also humorous. That’s when I thought of the Joker,” Robinson said. “My mother and brother played a lot of cards, and in one of their decks, I found a traditional Joker. It was just what I was looking for, and I created a character based on that premise, and submitted the idea and some sketches to Kane and Finger.”

Among the comics in this auction is Batman #11 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81003), from 1942, featuring a classic Joker cover by artists Jerry Robinson and Fred Ray. This comic is only the third time The Joker was featured on the cover. High-grade instances of this comic are difficult to come by, with 298 examples of Batman #11 in the CGC Census, and only 14 in grades 8.5 or higher, topping out at 9.4. A CGC 6.5 example (lot 81004) is also offered in this auction.

Among the comics in this auction is Batman #11 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81003), from 1942, featuring a classic Joker cover by artists Jerry Robinson and Fred Ray. This comic is only the third time The Joker was featured on the cover. High-grade instances of this comic are difficult to come by. There are 298 examples of Batman #11 in the CGC Census, and only 14 in grades 8.5 or higher, topping out at 9.4. A CGC 6.5 example (lot 81004) is also offered in this auction.

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Another key issue in this auction is Detective Comics #168 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 81084). This comic from 1951 features one popular origin of The Joker, and the first appearance of Red Hood. In this story, The Joker is a failed comedian who donned the Red Hood persona for a heist at the Ace Chemicals plant, only to be confronted by Batman. In a fateful confrontation, he was plunged into a vat of chemicals, emerging transformed and reborn as the chaotic force known as The Joker. A CGC 3.0 Restored example (lot 81085) is also offered in this auction.

Other CGC-certified comics in this auction

• a Batman #5 graded CGC 8.0 (lot 81002)
• a Batman #37 graded CGC 8.0 (lot 81008)
• a Batman #40 graded CGC 9.0 (lot 81009)
• a Batman #44 with a Promise Collection pedigree graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81011)
• a Batman #52 graded CGC 9.2 (lot 81015)
• a Batman #55 with a Promise Collection pedigree graded CGC 9.2 (lot 81017)
• a Batman #73 graded CGC 8.0 (lot 81021)
• a Batman #251 graded CGC 9.6 (lot 81034)
• a Detective Comics #45 graded CGC 8.0 (lot 81054)
• a Detective Comics #137 graded CGC 9.6 (lot 81077)

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for many other types of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. The newest division of CGC, CGC Home Video, provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes.

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