Posted By Dan Greenfield on Dec 14, 2023 | 8 comments

EXCLUSIVE: Coming in March — the Limited Collectors’ Edition #C-51 Facsimile Edition! PLUS: Detective Comics #411!

I’m gonna plotz! Seriously! This is the news I have been hoping for — been waiting for — since the launch of DC’s Facsimile Edition program. And even before!

In March, the publisher will be re-releasing the famed and acclaimed Batman-Ra’s al Ghul treasury edition — aka 1977’s Limited Collectors’ Edition #C-51 — as a Facsimile Edition, at its original tabloid size.

Wow. Just… wow.

But that’s not all! DC will also be releasing Detective Comics #411 — featuring Talia’s first appearance — as a Facsimile Edition that month, as well.

Dig the official solicitation info, which will be released formally by DC this week:

LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-51 FACSIMILE EDITION

Written by DENNIS O’NEIL
Art by NEAL ADAMS, IRV NOVICK, and DICK GIORDANO
Cover by NEAL ADAMS
Foil variant cover by NEAL ADAMS ($19.99 U.S.)

$14.99 U.S./80 pages
ON SALE 3/19/24

Presenting 76 pages of epic adventure starring the Dark Knight detective in an equally epic giant-size (10″ x 13″) format! This full facsimile reprinting of the iconic Bronze Age tabloid-size comics features a wraparound cover by Neal Adams and collects the Ra’s al Ghul saga Neal (and Irv Novick) produced with Denny O’Neil (Batman #232, #242-244).

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DETECTIVE COMICS #411 FACSIMILE EDITION

Written by DENNIS O’NEIL
Art by BOB BROWN and DICK GIORDANO
Cover by NEAL ADAMS
Blank sketch cover
Foil variant cover by NEAL ADAMS ($5.99 US)

$3.99 us/32 pages/Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 3/5/24

In pursuit of Dr. Darrk and the League of Assassins, Batman finds himself on a trail that stretches from the top of the Satue of Liberty to an abandoned Buddhist monastery in Asia, in this full facsimile reprinting of Talia al Ghul’s first-ever comic book appearance. Also features the Batgirl story, “Cut… and Run.”

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A few thoughts:

— I’ve written and said just about everything I can write and say about the original Ra’s al Ghul saga, in particular the treasury edition. The LCE version is, in a word, magnificent. In more words, it is majestic, cinematic, gorgeous, dramatic, adventurous, thrilling and enthralling. In a few more words, it’s one of the greatest Batman stories of all time. I have talked to Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams about it. Adams even wrote a special column about Ra’s for the villain’s 50th anniversary (link below). I have even fan-casted this story, based on my experience reading this version. In all, I say this without reservation: It is the greatest Treasury Edition ever published (with LCE #C-37, the Batman villains issue, a hair under for completely different reasons).

— I listed the Facsimile Editions above in reverse order of release. Detective #411 should be read first, then the treasury. Detective came out March 30, 1971, less than a month before Batman #232, the opening chapter of LCE #C-51. It’s long been my belief that the treasury edition boils the saga down to its essentials, making for a lean, muscular reading experience. But if you want all the chapters in the storyline, you could try to track down the out-of-print hardcover Batman: Tales of the Demon. (Or collect the individual issues.)

DC released Batman #232 as a Facsimile Edition in 2019.

— Some time back, I had a great time talking about LCE #C-51 on Rob Kelly’s TreasuryCast. Click here if you wanna check it out — we had a great time — or find it wherever you get your podcasts.

— I suppose this is a good time to remind artists and merch manufacturers that Ra’s al Ghul DOES NOT HAVE EYEBROWS. Giving him eyebrows made Adams — who designed him — want to break your fingers.

— Let’s talk about the variants: I’ve recently fallen for foil variants. Not as a rule, but certain covers, especially Golden Age ones, really lend themselves to that glossy presentation and I love to stare at them. So bring on the foil variant for this treasury because I just know it will be epic. Further, I eagerly anticipate the sketch cover for Detective #411 because it features one of my all-time fave Bat-logos. I know it’s flawed but I love it, and always have since I was a little kid. Ga-roovy.

— Obligatory Price Comparisons: You can get an original LCE #C-51 at a wide array of prices: A Very Fine+ copy recently sold on eBay for $210. But a VF copy sold for $21. So, go figure. Meanwhile, an unslabbed Fine copy of Detective #411 went for $315.

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MORE

— Why RA’S AL GHUL Has Endured for Five Decades, by NEAL ADAMS. Click here.

— DENNY O’NEIL Talks the Origin of Ra’s al Ghul. Click here.