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Batman, Comics Strike at Big Heritage
he Dark Knight may prefer the shadows, but he was certainly in video games based on the comic book properties.
the spotlight during Heritage’s Comics & Comic Art Signature Almost as soon as the ink was drying on the deal, however, the
TAuction. Batman’s two most valuable comics achieved million- market for new comic books, which had been booming, started
dollar sales, bolstering the auction to a $17 million total. The auction contracting. Among the factors were speculators, many of whom had
was held on March 30 through April 2, 2023. migrated to comic books after devastating the trading card market.
Batman’s debut in Detective Comics #27 CGC 6.0 led the They bought and sold huge numbers of comics with the promise that
auction when it hammered for $1.74 million. The sale ties the auction comic values would only continue their rapid ascent. However, when
record for Batman’s first appearance, following a CGC 6.5 copy that demand decreased, market forces took over. From their post-Unity
Goldin Auctions sold in May 2022 for the same price. highs, print runs on the original VALIANT titles continue decreasing
Joining this mega key’s impressive sale was Batman #1 CGC 8.0, until even their longest-running series was
his first self-titled book, which realized canceled by September 1996.
$1.11 million. This copy hails from a That same month, though, the company
father’s secret collection that his son found in teamed up with Marvel Comics for a two-part
2020 and has the special Fantast Collection miniseries featuring X-O Manowar and Iron
Custom CGC label. Man. X-O Manowar/Iron Man in Heavy Metal
Other standouts for the Caped Crusader #1 (published by Acclaim) and Iron Man/X-O
were a copy of Batman #1 CGC 7.0 for Manowar in Heavy Metal #1 (published by
$660,000, Detective Comics #140 CGC 9.6 Marvel) were both written by Fabian Nicieza.
(Riddler’s debut) for $360,000, and Detective Based on an Acclaim video game of the same
Comics #33 CGC 6.5 (Batman’s origin story) name, the story involved fragments of the
for $288,000. reality-altering Cosmic Cube. In one altered
The auction continued to produce strong reality, the miniseries ended up giving readers
results for Golden Age DC books when the their first glimpse of the VH2 universe.
Mile High Pedigree copy of More Fun Comics As Senior Vice-President and Editor-in-
#55 CGC 9.6 nabbed $264,000 and broke its Chief of Valiant (and later President and
previous record. This key book introduces the Publisher), Nicieza would be the prime
powerful and ominous Doctor Fate, as well as architect of the VH2 universe (for “Valiant
Wotan and Inza, and the cover features fellow Heroes 2” based on the logo and the fan
Justice Society of America member, the Spectre. interpretation of it), which saw the retooling
According to Heritage, several books of Magnus Robot Fighter, Solar, Turok, X-O
surpassed their expectations, such as Amazing Manowar, Shadowman, Ninjak, and
Fantasy #15 CGC 6.0 (first Spider-Man) for Bloodshot. It also combined Eternal Warrior
$75,000, X-Men #3 CGC 9.8 Pacific Coast and Archer & Armstrong into a new take,
Pedigree for $75,000, and Captain America single series, Eternal Warriors. Harbinger
Comics #2 CGC 7.5 for $50,400. was basically ignored until the one-shot
“This is surely the first time the top ten lots in Harbinger: Acts of God #1 (January 1998).
our auction were all Golden Age comic books,” In addition to revamping the company’s
Heritage Vice President Barry Sandoval said. established characters, Nicieza and company
“Ten comic books combining to sell for more This CGC-certified 6.0 copy of Detective Comics #27, introduced new properties such as N.I.O.,
than $5 million might seem crazy to some, but the first appearance of Batman, sold for $1.74 million at Trinity Angles, Troublemakers, and VH2’s
the feeling among collectors seems to be that Heritage Auctions on March 30, 2023. breakout series, Quantum & Woody.
these major key issues will be even more expensive Image courtesy of Heritage. The comic book market continued to
in years to come.” contract, and parent company Acclaim was
faced with mounting problems. The VH2 comic book line was ended
as they were told to focus on tie-ins to Acclaim’s video games.
VH2/Acclaim Comics: A Deeper Dive
Last issue in this space, we took an overview of the history of Shadowman #20 and X-O Manowar #21 (June 1998), Doctor Tomorrow
Valiant, the comic book company behind the feature film Bloodshot and #12 (August 1998), Bloodshot #16 (October 1998), and
those popular Turok videogames in the 1990s. This time we’ll delve a Turok/Shadowman #1 (February 1999) represented the last of VH2.
little deeper into their VH2/Acclaim Comics iteration. Following staff and budget cuts, Nicieza left the company in 1999.
The story of the VH2/Acclaim Comics incarnation of Valiant Acclaim Comics limped along under a new logo, shedding the Valiant
actually begins before the end of the original VALIANT. In June 1994, identity for which they had paid so much. Some collectors refer to the
Voyager Communications was sold to videogame company Acclaim period that followed as “VH3” or simply “Acclaim Comics” to differ-
Entertainment for a reported $65 million. Acclaim intended to develop entiate it from the VH2 continuity.

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