American Comics Update: The Bute Collection/Batmania: Batman #22 (1944)
*DC: Another Batman gem from the Bute Collection this week. #22 cover features the new look skinny Alfred, fresh from the health farm in the previous issue and slimmed down to represent the actor playing him in the Batman film series of the time. It also heralds the first in a series of Alfred solo stories, as well as stories featuring Catwoman and the Cavalier. Cover by Dick Sprang, with internal art by Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson & Jack Burnley, scripts by Al Schwartz, Mort Weisinger and Bill Finger. This is a copy with amateur restoration, involving tape reinforcement at top and bottom spine (mostly no longer present) and evidence of the spine being glued at front. Despite this, this copy presents fairly well. The spine edge has a slightly ‘knobbly’ texture from the glue, but the colours are strong and the cover mostly unmarked (small stain in spotlight at bottom, two tiny nicks to right edge). Staples are good but have been reinforced by tape at centrefold. Pages are a solid and supple off-white with tiny loss to bottom splash page margin only.
PICTURED: BATMAN #22 App VG+ £400