The Dark Knight Returns #1, The Original Published Cover Artwork by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley

Truly historic! Major congrats, Jim! 

Truly iconic. 

Nice. If you like that sort of thing. GOOD GOD THAT IS EPIC!!!

Not bad, for a silhouette and a lightning effect. Lol. Well, it is comics history. When I consider superhero covers I think of this, Superman 1 and X-men 133. Not a bad group to be in.

Take away the artistic merit of the piece and you still have an extremely historic, pivotal piece that has been repeatedly copied and parodied since it was first debuted due to its importance and eye catching imagery.  It is a wonderful get.  Congrats!

To the winner go the spoils!  

Thanks for posting.  CAF is a nice one stop internet museum for the world to see great art.  I wish more gallery owners would post their gems.   No matter what I personally feel about Heritage's business practices, I did appreciate how forthcoming you were on the interview. 

That is a spectacular adddition to your collection, Jim. Important, iconic and beautifully rendered. Congratulations on adding another museum piece!

Ground-breaking book, earth-shattering cover and historic piece...best of the best. Super congrats Jim!

Congrats! A piece of comic art history! Thank you for sharing it here.

Congratulations James.  This is fantastic.

Simple and iconic.. really drove the imagination when it came out and still fabulous today! 

Mamma mia!  Congratulations!!!

As collectors (especially in this hobby), it's obviously a lot easier to want something than to actually get it.  Even for someone of your stature.  Most of us would say that the percentage falls somewhere on the disappointing side of half the time.  Personally, I'm not aware of a single person walking around in this hobby who can say that he's gotten every piece he has ever gone after.  That's just not how it works.  So it means a lot to any collector, when they can celebrate any kind of triumph.  Whether it's some small personal piece of nostalgia, or a majestic and iconic piece of comic history like this.  Enjoy this for as long as you can, and congratulations.  Hopefully this will inspire all collectors as to what's possible, even if the odds are against you.  Happy collecting everyone!

We aren't all millionaires, Eric. We can all however dream. I dream of all the guys  who own the stolen Bolland Dredd artwork dying , or having to sell and me having oodles of cash at the time and them all landing on my doorstep. Dream, dream, dream...Dream, dream, dream.. I also dreamed of a better book than the Brian Bolland apex edition. Back to the fabulous Miller piece. Still my number one comic book of all time.

And we have a winner!!  Seen this in person and just love it..  One of the historical artifacts of the hobby!    Congrats!!!

Jim, when you look at this...do you see Batman from behind? Or is he facing the viewer? ("The Dress" of the comic art hobby!)

Thanks for the scoop! Looking forward to Part 3!

Hey Felix, great seeing you at Comic-Con! It had been way too long.

Filling the blanks of the silhouette in my head, I imagine Batman looking straight down. Curious what you think?

It was my pleasure, and I enthusiastically anticipate Part 3. :)

Yes, he's looking down...but I'm seeing the back of his head, with his right arm pointing downward...as opposed to straight-on, and his left arm...

It's "The Dress" all over again!

To me, it's his left arm outstretched pointing downward, and I'm looking at the right side of his head.

To each imagination, its own interpretation :)

I gotta go with Felix on this, roughly side ways back of head, right arm stretched forward. The rendition works well imagining it from the front as you see it Jim, but I think then you would HAVE to see Batmans left ear (to the viewers right) in that orientation. EITHER WAY, it's an ANMAZING piece of history you've got there!

Theres an even funnier interpretation. Its not Batman at all. Its somebody throwing a cutout through the sky.

Felix, DC licensed this statue, apparently: https://www.sideshow.com/collectibles/dc-comics-batman-the-dark-knight-returns-sideshow-collectibles-300805

Seems closer to my version with left arm outstretched, but I have no idea whether they consulted with Frank Miller. I'll ask him next time I get the chance (unless you beat me to it!).

Historic book, congrats

Thanks for sharing!!  Historic.  

Cuh-razy cool cover !!!  Batman riding the lightning.  This is a pure classic, plain and simple.  Major congrats!

Congratulations. It is one of the singularly most recognizable images in pop culture history.

Damn........!!!!

There are no words to describe how truly epic and historic this piece is...huge congrats, and great podcast with Felix!

Best comic of all time (you heard it here first) and what an iconic image this is!

I'm glad it's on CAF and part of the community, vs. buried in a black hole collection!

I always love hearing you on the podcast. Great cover for a great collection! 

Neat-o

Best of CAF 2022.  Wash, Rinse, Repost. 2023, 2024, 2025...

It legitimately was a bolt of lighting to the comics industry that shocked every long time creator and every aspiring creator that came after to change the course of their storytelling in comics, movies, TV, etc.           

Sounds a lot like Tatis Jr...

Historic cover! Enjoy it!!

Such an iconic piece...major congrats on acquiring this!!!

You won the internet ! Take a bow !

I am not a DC guy but I have to pay my dues to a masterpiece of comic history and American pop culture.

Congrats Jim. This cover is very special. Thanks so much for sharing with the community!

Best,

Great googly moogly! 

Unbelievable! Thank you so much in sharing this fantastic piece of art!

Peter, Would you mind emailing me ([email protected]) using your Heritage email address (or include your customer number) and I'll check it out? I didn't even know we had a process like that. :o  Thanks!

Congrats!

Iconic piece of comic book history!!

Particularly after listening to Jim on Felix's podcast, I'm certain that this piece has ended up in the loving and appropriately reverent collection it was meant for.  Well done!

Jim, I was not surprised to learn this monumental comic cover landed in your amazing collection.  Congrats on another superb addition to a truly museum quality collection. 

Probably one of the most iconic image in comics.    So simple, yet so powerful.   Congrats Jim.   As my grandmother used to say:  "Ya done good!"

I truly expected this to dwarf the recent record price that the first Spider-Man symbiote costume appearance set. It seemed on track to do just that; but I was really surprised when it finally went live and there were barely any additional bids, and while it's kinda hard to call the end price on this a "deal", I honestly feel like it was, all things considered. So congrats on a relative "deal" on an amazingly historic piece from what I consider the greatest Batman story ever told.

It's truly an iconic cover and it fits perfectly in your world class collection Jim!!!! 

Congrats Jim! Wonderful image added to a tremendous collection.

Such an iconic piece in bat lore. Huge congrats and thanks for sharing 

Breathtaking !! 

There are grails, and then there are grails of grails. Just iconic piece of history.

Wow!

No more to say . Huge congrats 

While we all see the moment in time captured on this gorgeous cover, you get to relive the moment when you realized you won this grail of grails. Congrats Jim! 

A grail amongst grails! 

Speechless! Congrats!

Congratulations. What an amazing piece of art!

Huge congrats Jim!  Appreciate you posting it for others to enjoy :)

I only ever saw this as Batman with his back to the viewer and it never occured to me that we can flip the direction via an anaomaly of perception. Glad to discover that the art didn't end up with Martin Shkreli or some hedge fund bro.
Thanks for sharing!

There's nothing left to say other than CONGRATULATIONS, Jim!

Wow. Congrats.

Legendary

1 iconic cover. 
660 views in 48 hours.

64 comments. 
43 Likes.

And not one "If you ever thinking of letting this one go let me know!"

Congrats on adding another historical piece to your collection, Jim. 

If he gets a really, really (Tom Parker bad and no Elvis cash cow to hand to bail him out) bad gambling habit he might.

And just like that, Batman would never be the same again. 

Congrats Jim!

How much better can your art collection get???? Well, you just displayed that answer! Beautiful and historic---congrats Jim!

This cover could not have found a better collection to be loved at its true value, another jewel in your sidereal collection, toutes mes félicitations Jim!

Truly iconic piece!  Congrats!

Baller! Congrats

Whew!  C-L-A-S-S-I-C.  One of the most iconic images in the history of comic-dom!  I mean, there it is.  Congrats!

Congratulations Jim! Epic aquisition for your wonderful collection!

Best Batman cover of the 80's!

Nothing new to add but heck, I have to comment on this museum piece.

And there it is. Congrats on this piece!!!

Wow!  Absolutely great piece of comic history!   Beautiful and iconic!   Huge congrats and great seeing on here.  

No words needed, other than CONGRATULATIONS!

Truly amazing piece, Jim!   Congrats!

Uber Grail

iconic .............. thanks for sharing

Top!

Historic. Congrats!

When art crosses comic art and becomes an instant pop culture icon !

Definitly not my kind of things but heck I remember !!! We all remember when this came out !!! comic books were not for kids only anymore ...

Bravo !

Congrats on the Iconic Cover!

I remember seeing this book in my LCS  when I was high school. It changed my perspective in comics and remains my all time favorite. Looking at this brings back so many fond memories. Thank you for sharing!