DETECTIVE COMICS #397 & 404 (1970) 8.0 VF BATMAN and BATGIRL! Adams and Kane!

Item Specifics

Series Name

DETECTIVE COMICS

Issue Number

#397, #404

Publisher

DC Comics

Main Character

Batman

Genre

Superhero

Grade

8.0 VF

Certification

Uncertified

Signed

No

Item Description

The character of BATGIRL had a long and winding history, from being a girly version of Robin in the 1950s, to being the actual daughter of BRUCE WAYNE and BATWOMAN! But by the mid-1960s, Editor Julius Schwartz deemed all that backstory null and void. Prompted by the producers of TV's BATMAN series who wanted a female protagonist added to the cast, to attract more young female viewers, Schwartz made big changes!

When the producers saw rough concept artwork of the new Batgirl by artist Carmine Infantino during a visit to DC offices, they optioned the character immediately in a bid to help sell a third season to the ABC television network. Things moved quickly, and she became so popular she almost got her own TV show. Yvonne Craig portrayed the character in the show's third season. Barbara Gordon and her alter ego BATGIRL debuted in Detective Comics_#359, "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl" (1967).

Here are two 1970 issues of DETECTIVE COMICS showcasing BATGIRL in stories of her own, both illustrated by Gil Kane.

In issue #397, BATMAN stars in "Paint a Picture of Peril!", wherein he encounters a wealthy man who hires a gang to steal works of art he cannot buy, which remind him of a lost love. Then BATGIRL takes over in "The Hollow Man" - Barbara Gordon has a date with a wallflower who turns out to be The Orchid Killer, and she becomes BATGIRL to take him down!

#404 gives you "Ghost of the Killer Skies" wherein a deranged killer thinks he is ENEMY ACE and tries to kill BATMAN in a tribute story to ENEMY ACE creators Robert Kanigher and artist Joe Kubert. You also get BATGIRL starring in "Midnight DOOM-Boy!" in a bit of a take-off on the film "Midnight Cowboy" that was making headlines around this time!

You get the bounty of NEAL ADAMS' artwork on both lead stories, and GIL KANE's talent on the back-ups!

Both comics have covers by the iconic team of Neal Adams and Dick Giordano . . . who also illustrate the two interior BATMAN tales!

This is a great-looking pair of 51-year old comics -- the bindings are strong, the colors are bright, the covers still have their gloss . . they're both in top-notch condition. We'll conservatively grade these a joint 8.0 VF . . . which Overstreet values at an aggregate $144!! . . . but we're pricing them at just $112 . . with FREE shipping!

Seller Information

Seller

bennettoons (899)

Registered Since

05/07/2005

Feedback

99.6%

Store

Benny's Comics Corner

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Item Location

California, United States

Ships To

United States

Shipping Instructions

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Returns Accepted

Yes

Returns Policy

We will happily send you a refund if you are not completely satisfied with your purchase -- just let us know the reason why, send it back to us in the same condition it was sold, and we'll refund your purchase price.

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