We know that Batman has been at the top of the charts in popularity; but why does he currently dominate the Golden Age? Can we find the secret sauce to Batman #4? Why it is top of the Golden Age rankings on  GoCollect? Let's do some Bat-detective work on this mystery, shall we?

Batman is the most iconic character in DC Comics, and quite possibly all comics. This one character has more fans than most of the rest of the DC Super Heroes combined. In fact, this is merely my observation, but it seems that many Marvel Comics fans are also Batman fans. Perhaps the Caped Crusader intrinsically has the Marvel magic sauce of grit, action, and humanity that has done so well in the Marvel Universe.

Batman #4

This comic book hit the stores on January 10th, 1941. It was written primarily by Bill Finger with the pencils and inks of Bob Kane, among others. It is also a triple threat multi-key that is currently the most popular Golden Age book.

What do we know about this "Winter issue?"

This is the fourth appearance of arguably the most popular villain of all time - The Joker.  The Joker appears in many stories over the years. I am not sure if the fourth appearance necessarily dictates top GA billing, far from it. Let's dig a little deeper into this comic...

Is it because of costume changes to the primary character?

Probably not. After all, Batman's ears are shorter, but that is merely artistic license. I wouldn't call it a significant change from the "Kane/Moldoff duo to the Kane/Robinson duo." Though obviously, fans liked the new look. I don't think different ears would cause a surge in popularity.

Neutered Joker?

Maybe it is because in this particular comic book the Joker does not kill anyone. After all, some peaceniks might want this book for its non-violent thread. Not! Quite simply, who would care if Joker kills or doesn't? That is not what makes this sociopath interesting to me or his fans.

The Dark Knight Rises' teaser poster: Gotham City destroyed - nj.comFirst 'Gotham City' Named in Storyline...

There is one location that is synonymous with Batman other than the Batcave, and that is Gotham City. In the story "Victory of the Dynamic Duo" The location of these adventures is described as "Gotham City!" Yep, the "cesspool of all cesspools" to paraphrase one fishy superhero. This comic book is the first time Gotham City is created for the fans.

What is the Origin of Gotham?

Writer Bill Finger, on the naming of the city and the reason for changing Batman's locale from New York to a fictional city, said, "Originally I was going to call Gotham City 'Civic City.' Then I tried 'Capital City,' then 'Coast City.' Then I flipped through the New York City phone book and spotted the name 'Gotham Jewelers' and said, 'That's it,' Gotham City. We didn't call it New York because we wanted anybody in any city to identify with it."(Source: Wiki)

Top Golden Age (1938-1956)
Title Grade Last Sale CGC Census Return YTD
Batman #4 3.5 $3120 19 -17.1%
3.0 $2889 24 +11.1%
8.5 $41,500 5 N/A

Baturdays: Batman #4, “The Case of the Joker's Crime Circus” | We Have Always Lived in the KrakenConclusion

According to my count, this book has two minor keys and one major key. It is the 4th appearance of the Joker. It is also the first appearance of the Joker's hideout. But the most important key is it is the first mention of Gotham City, which has become synonymous with the Batman franchise.

This year, the Golden Age Batman #4 has done well with a positive +11% increase in value in the lower grades. More importantly, it is ranked number one for the most popular Golden Age comic book by GoCollect. Though there has been slippage in other grades, these GA books require a longer time frame to sort out return trends. That said, there is a great deal of movement for this book this year. Perhaps everyone is betting on the HBO Max spin-off of The Batman movie. This spin-off will focus on the corruption of Gotham and its police department - kind of a 'DC Law and Order'-type attempt. The show was embroiled in "creative differences" earlier this year, so go figure.Bat to the Beginning: Batman #4 (Winter 1941)

With three new movies set around early Batman and a Gotham Police Department drama, the popularity of Batman should continue to expand. Owning the first Gotham City reference in comic book format? Yeah, sign me up. This is a big book in the Batman GA. This most iconic character seems destined to sustain well into the 21st Century; a testament to great storytelling. Get a little piece of the Gotham City real estate. After all, "they are not making any more of it!"

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