Jason Todd Robin

[Rai-fan]

Yeah--doesn't make sense to me why 428's the impossible one in the set given that it's not double-sized like 426-427 and collectors had the lead-time to pick up on it--_everybody_ bought 5-10 copies.

My theory is there's some sort of bindery or staple defect that keeps it out of 9.8.

Fred Karger had a 9.8 for sale on ebay a few months back for $120 or so; I missed it.

[Chuck]

Yeah--doesn't make sense to me why 428's the impossible one in the set given that it's not double-sized like 426-427 and collectors had the lead-time to pick up on it--_everybody_ bought 5-10 copies.

My theory is there's some sort of bindery or staple defect that keeps it out of 9.8.

Fred Karger had a 9.8 for sale on ebay a few months back for $120 or so; I missed it.

Well here are actual GCG populations on Batman (426-429):

426 (99 total submittals, with 5-9.8s): http://www.cgccomics.com/poplookup/grad ... te=12%2F88+++++++++++++++

427 (59 total submittals, with 2-9.8s): http://www.cgccomics.com/poplookup/grad ... te=12%2F88+++++++++++++++

428 (160 total submittals, with 2-9.8s): http://www.cgccomics.com/poplookup/grad ... te=12%2F88+++++++++++++++

429 (77 total submittals, with 9-9.8s): http://www.cgccomics.com/poplookup/grad ... ate=1%2F89++++++++++++++++

The submittals do suggest that 9.8s for Death in the Family are quite rare, with 428 having the lowest 9.8s/(total submitted) ratio

[The Spider]

Actually, a correction: Batman #368 is the first time Jason wears the actual Robin outfit (he wore a variation a little earlier).

Uh uh. #366, Jason 'finds' Dick's costume in a closet (!!) and wears it to help Bats tackle Joker.

#368, Dick GIVES Jason his costume and of officially becomes Robin.

Really? Dammit, now I've got to read up on this.

The pre-Year One and post-Year One fiddling with Jason Todd, SANS ANY EXPLANATION, also bothered me. Silly Denny O'Neil.

Something I still don't get: How the hell would anyone in a DCU of MAN OF STEEL, YEAR ONE, etc recall the Crisis if a lot of the characters in CRISIS don't even exist in their known universes? (i.e. Supergirl Kara Zor-el; Superboy from Earth-Prime; Superman, Robin, and Huntress from Earth-2. etc). For CRISIS to have happened exactly, wouldn't Barry Allen and Jay Garrick (for example) have to be living on seperate worlds instead of neighboring cities?

[KO2003]

I wonder if Jason Todd had a twin or sibling that could be the Red hood or if it's a Lex Luthor clone. I'm hoping that's the case cuz I'm getting tired of all these near-death experiences (i.e. Superman, Green Arrow, Green Lantern,etc.) Well, not really, but you'd think an innovative writer would be able to script an exciting storyline and not have to rely on hype to sell the title.

[whetteon]

The silly thing about comic deaths was back in the early 80's it was shocking, done to show the seriousness of the situation and left many of us fans saddening for weeks and months after the issue. Now it's just an inside joke but people keep buying it so the big publishers will keep printing it. If a character proves popular enough they will bring them back no matter what. Heaven forbid they make an original character.

[Chuck]

The silly thing about comic deaths was back in the early 80's it was shocking, done to show the seriousness of the situation and left many of us fans saddening for weeks and months after the issue. Now it's just an inside joke but people keep buying it so the big publishers will keep printing it. If a character proves popular enough they will bring them back no matter what. Heaven forbid they make an original character.

You make a great point whetteon. Anybody who's been reading since the 80's will not view a death of a character, these days, with same amount of shock as say the first time Jean Grey died

[hulk181man]

I agree it seems like a cheap ploy but haven't read it....a co-worker did

***
Spoiler Warning
***

From what he told me there was a pervasive sense of justice in seeing ol' Jason take a crowbar to the Joker while saying something to the effect of, "let's see how you like it!" Sort of speaks to that revenge motivation within all of us...

again, haven't read it, so this is all 2nd hand.

[The Spider]

I agree it seems like a cheap ploy but haven't read it....a co-worker did

***
Spoiler Warning
***

From what he told me there was a pervasive sense of justice in seeing ol' Jason take a crowbar to the Joker while saying something to the effect of, "let's see how you like it!" Sort of speaks to that revenge motivation within all of us...

again, haven't read it, so this is all 2nd hand.

The scene happened at the end of the issue, and I have to admit, gimmick story or not, I actually liked that scene, especially considering all the stuff that Joker has gotten away with in the past (paralyzes Barbara Gordon; kills Jason, Sarah Essen, and possibly hundreds more)

[greg]

Yeah--doesn't make sense to me why 428's the impossible one in the set given that it's not double-sized like 426-427 and collectors had the lead-time to pick up on it--_everybody_ bought 5-10 copies.

My theory is there's some sort of bindery or staple defect that keeps it out of 9.8.

Fred Karger had a 9.8 for sale on ebay a few months back for $120 or so; I missed it.

Well here are actual GCG populations on Batman (426-429):

426 (99 total submittals, with 5-9.8s): http://www.cgccomics.com/poplookup/grad ... te=12%2F88+++++++++++++++

427 (59 total submittals, with 2-9.8s): http://www.cgccomics.com/poplookup/grad ... te=12%2F88+++++++++++++++

428 (160 total submittals, with 2-9.8s): http://www.cgccomics.com/poplookup/grad ... te=12%2F88+++++++++++++++

429 (77 total submittals, with 9-9.8s): http://www.cgccomics.com/poplookup/grad ... ate=1%2F89++++++++++++++++

The submittals do suggest that 9.8s for Death in the Family are quite rare, with 428 having the lowest 9.8s/(total submitted) ratio

Here's a page that might make your life easier...

[Chuck]

YOU ARE THE 'MAN' GREG

[Rai-fan]

"Thanks," Greg. Seeing those stats and graphs just makes me want to cry re. losing the books. 1/2 a set! I felt like I had two of the railroads in a Monopoly game.