1966 O-Pee-Chee Batman #1A The Ghostly Foe Batman Puzzle Back Canadian Red Bat

Description

1966 O-Pee-Chee Batman #1A The Ghostly Foe Batman Puzzle Back Canadian Red Bat Every set has its cornerstone, and this haunting showdown with a shadowy gunman serves as the number one card of the 1966 Red Bat A Series, giving it extra significance for anyone building the run from the very first slot. The painted front shows Batman lunging at a hat-wearing ghostly foe who fires back from the gloom of a brick underpass, the muzzle flash and swirling cape creating a noir-tinged moment that stands apart from the set's sunnier perils, all branded with the red bat title emblem. Issued as the second Batman set of 1966 after the 55 card Black Bat release, the 44 card series channeled the television phenomenon into Norman Saunders style paintings that remain among the most evocative non sports cards of the decade. The Batmania context needs little introduction. The ABC series starring Adam West and Burt Ward premiered in January of 1966, aired twice weekly in primetime, and turned Batman into a worldwide merchandising juggernaut complete with Grammy nominated theme music and a theatrical movie that same summer. Number one cards always attract extra attention from set builders, and in O-Pee-Chee's Canadian printing, identified by the vertical T. C. G. PTD. IN CANADA credit on the reverse, that demand gains a parallel collecting dimension north of the border. The reverse completes the mystery: trapped under the city, an invisible enemy tried to shoot his way out to win his freedom, but Batman, wearing a special bulletproof uniform, raced into the line of fire and knocked out his ghostly foe, ending a wave of crime in Gotham City, a science fiction flavored twist typical of the show's inventive villains. The back also opens the hero's mosaic as piece number 1 of 10 in the Batman puzzle, making it the starting tile for collectors assembling the ten piece Batman portrait. Shoppers entering the exact phrase 1966 O-Pee-Chee Batman #1A The Ghostly Foe should know exactly what they are buying: a raw Canadian O-Pee-Chee printing with the English language puzzle back, not a bilingual back, described honestly and priced to match its visible history. this is a well handled example showing a diagonal crease at the upper right, rounded and frayed corners, edge chipping along the right side, surface wrinkles and scuffs across the artwork and soiled white borders, with centering that remains acceptable for the grade. Because the crease and surface wear are clearly visible, our conservative raw estimate settles at VG 3, an honest and affordable way to secure the key number one slot of the series while its ghostly drama still displays with plenty of character. Grade Estimate: VG 3