Thursday 17 September 2015

Complete Guide to Collecting Gotham Comics!

(This is a Maxipost)
 
Hey hey hey Barbarians! If you are reading this post then chances are that just like yours truly you must have spent hours to unravel the mystery behind Gotham Comics!
Fret not!Yours truly too have spent hours in search not only online but from small street vendors to hyper malls and decided that its time to write a "Fools guide to Gotham Comics"!
Previously few topics were covered here and here but it's time now for a more comprehensive guide.
Gotham re-booted itself thrice in it's short lived existence of just over a decade, and now have mutated into "Graphics India" the term mutation is used as a metaphor here since Graphics India retains its old DNA from Gotham Comics and is re-re-printing stuff of the now defunct Gotham,with the only caveat that it re-prints creator owned characters like Devi,Sadhu etc.

Back to Gotham now, if you happen to check the wiki-page for Gotham you would get dazzled and hence this blog will give you the facts and no pandering on repeat mode to a celebrity!

1998 ~ Gotham's First Avatar - Books were standard issues comics format just like other American comics
Series highlights-
(Comics Format)
Batman Gotham Adventures
Superman Adventures
Superman
Batman
(Magazine Format)
Mad comics
Batman



Superman

2001 ~ Gotham's Second Reboot - Books got shortened into pocket books format,and 3 formats were introduced
Single issues,Double sized issues (2 issues together),Giant size issues(6 issues together ~ 140 Pages),{Special Formats ~ 200 Pages - subscription give-aways}

1.Marvel Comics Presents
2.Ultimate Spider-man
3.Amazing Spider-man
4.The Spectacular Spider-man
5.Spider-Girl
6.Ultimate X-Men
7.X-Men: The Hidden Years
8.Astonishing X-Men
9.Wolverine - For list of Wolverine published under Gotham click Here
10.DareDevil and The Marvel Knights
11.Fantastic Four 
12.Fantastic Four Adventures 
13.NightCrawler
14.The Incredible Hulk 
15.The Avengers
16.Conan - For list of Conan published under Gotham click Here
17.Marvel Team-Up
18.Marvel Adventures
19.Batman Gotham Adventures
20.Batman Detective
21.Batman Beyond
22.Teen Titans 
23.Superman
24.Superman and Supergirl 
25.WonderWoman 
26.Justice League Adventures
27.Thundercats
28.Tarzan
29.Tomb of Dracula
30.Flash
31.Planetary
32.Catwomen: When in Rome 
33.Hawkman
34.DC Comics Presents
35.The Ultimates
36.Robotech
37.Dexter's Lab
38.Scooby Doo
39.The Powerpuff Girls
40.The Flintstones & the Jetsons











Movie Adptations

Spider-man 1,2




X-Men 1,2





Hulk




Giant Super Specials-

Total 72 in numbers Printed in India for Indian Markets - For list of Giant Super Specials published under Gotham click Here

18+ in my knowledge for Singapore Market and are called Singapore editions
Unknown quantity for Malaysia,Brunei etc called Malaysian editions
                                                  
Both the Malaysian and the Singapore editions were different from Indian editions as they were printed on glossy papers and had a very good finish infact they were no lesser to modern day graphic novels and in some cases better. A few Giant size published for the Singapore,Malaysia markets were not printed for the Indian market

Uploading images of the unpublished Giant Size Super Specials which were not published in India!






Special Editions-
Superman,Spider-man,Marvel Presents

                                                
2006 ~ Gotham's second Reboot
Gotham along with Virgin comics and who's who of the industry forayed into adding Indian Mythological Characters

1.Devi
2.The Sadhu
3.Ramayan 3392 AD
For list of books published under these titles click Here
4.Spider-Man India






So long Gothamites Happy Collecting!

60 comments:

  1. Do you have the first five superman comics both regular sized as well as pocket sized.

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  2. Do you have the first five superman comics both regular sized as well as pocket sized.

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  3. Do you have the first five superman comics both regular sized as well as pocket sized.

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  4. I might have ,per my knowledge in 1999 when superman was published it was in regular size and they chose to publish the Superman Adventures series.

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  5. I can see the pocket sized Spider man #1.Now that's very rare issue. You have it in good condition. Gotham comics printed 1999 Regular Size are not very rare . Many sellers have the first issues. But the pocket sized #1 issues of Superman , Spider man,Batman, Tarzan published in 2001 are nearly impossible to find.

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    1. @Andrew I agree with your observation, however the Spiderman #1 is the Singapore edition which was not published in India (giant super special in India) the Indian single issue which was published , that picture has been published in the post "spiderman in India" that post has all the info on time lines and all Spiderman published in India

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  6. I read your that article . ITS great that you have Spider-Man comics of Falcon comics ,Spectrum comics, Diamond comics and Gotham comics .I have been part of various Facebook comic collecting groups . I have seen people posting Falcon comics # 1 for sale purposes. Even Spider-Man Diamond comics of Spider-Man. But I had never seen Gotham Comics #1of Spider-Man .Batman and Superman #1 Gotham comics pocket sized are also very rare . Most of the other #1 are quite common like JLA ,Wonder Woman ,Wolverine ,Dare devil etc.

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    1. @Andrew Great that you enjoyed that article, since I consider it to be the most complete information on Spider-man's publishing history in India! I consider the Modern Classics Spiderman #1 to be rare and the only cover-to-cover reprint which is worth CGC-ing.

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  7. I'm quite Happy to see Some Singapore edition giant specials and Spider-Man #1, I have Spider-Man #15 onwards .I have bits and pieces. I have around 250 Gotham comics in total . I have around 70 giant specials.

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    1. @Andrew That's good to know! You might also consider Gotham published Conan #1 as rare , incidentally it also reprinted Marvel's Conan #1 as a back up story !

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  8. I have the entire collection of Conan issues published by Gotham. 1- 24 issues. Most of the sellers ive dealt with rarely had Conan and Tarzan issues. I purchased the conan comics from a guy shifted to U.K so he was selling all his Gotham Comics he collected. He did did not have 4 or 5 Conan issues. I got those issues though comic hunting. Finally a few months back I completed my set.

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    1. @Andrew You are right the uniqueness of Conan has largely gone unnoticed in India! Congrats tht you hv been able to complete the series , I still have a few left in my own collection to complete the series.

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  9. Reading the conan Comics was really an experience. Being black and white it was still the best title Gotham title Gotham published along with Tarzan, Batman,Superman,Ultimate Spider-Man. It's great sharing views with you regards .

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    1. @Andrew Same here dude! Thanks for your encouraging words this blog exists to impart information and bringing down hegemonies of established sellers by putting the facts out !

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  10. Do you have Batman and Tarzan #1 pocket sized Gotham Comics?

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    1. @Andrew Unfortunately i dnt seem to have those ! But i will be dedicating a single post to a very rare book from Gotham which has gone undetected for so long since it had a very small print run, and is the most important collectors item in Gotham!

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  11. Most of the comics Gotham published were mass published. The first 4 giant specials (200 pages) not 160 pages one's , Batman Megazine #1,2 / Ultimate Spider-Man Megazine #1,2 had a very limited print.

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  12. Gotham also had a very limited release of Superman Peace on Earth and Batman War on Crimes.The Spider-Man #1, Batman #1 and Superman #1 pocket sized are the rarest issues. I have asked collectors on Facebook group's for Superman #1 and nobody had that issue. A very few no of the collectors have Batman and Spider-Man #1 . Till now only one guy has shown me his Superman #1 . I have been trying to get that issue since 5 years . I consider Superman #1 as the holy grail of Gotham Comics.

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    1. @Andrew Yeah Sure ! As i keep saying "Beauty lies in the eyes of the Beer holder"! On a serious Note i do have the Superman #1,The full sized issue from 1999.

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  13. Dear Grammaton,
    Gothams were mass produced hence their value is low except a few series /Characters which had low print runs and sought after by collectors.
    Coming to your question it really depends upon which issues you hold.

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  14. I was wondering what you think of the gotham comics special hardcover issue of batman war on crime/superman peace on earth

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    1. It's a good book and only 2000 were printed, Print quality was excellent and very professional , unlike the original both the books were combined to make a Hardcover collectible and Collectible it is!

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    2. I was able to purchase one for 500 recently.Never knew such versions existed.Is it worth anything?

      also could you please tell me if there are any other such versions.Ive checked the prices of batman:war onc rime and superman:peace on earth and they are pretty expensive

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    3. As far as i know there is no other limited prints with "declared" quantity, however some issues had seen limited prints especially during their waning years. But i won't be able to guess any numbers for that.It's a good purchase at that price point, if you ask me about value i would say it's a subjective thing ,it all depends on supply and demand.

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  15. Hi,

    Please do mention about the pocket sized gotham comics which we used to get along with a family pack of maggi in the beginning of 2000's & also please upload the picture of batman war on crime/superman peace on earth gotham issue in your blog if available.Thanks.

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    1. @Anonymous Sure will update both, as per your request

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  16. can you please tell me how many issues were published for teen titans and the incredible hulk?

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    1. @Karhik I hv seen till Issue 13 in Teen Titans but i'm not sure about Incredible Hulk

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    2. Thank you. Do u you know about planetary and Back to the house of mystery ?

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    3. Teen titans has 15 issues and hulk has 32 issues plus 1 marvel age issue and 1 movie adaptation

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  17. Can you please tell me about the no of issues of Planetary and Back to the house of mystery?

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  18. @Karthik Planetary is tricky it came out in big size and small size.House of Mystery had 3 issues as far as i remember

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  19. Hi ,


    Please upload the pics of gotham comics first 4 giant specials (200 pages) also if available.

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    1. @Karthik Will try can't assure though dude!

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  20. Abhishek I grew up reading those comics from Gotham! Your blog is fascinating is there any option so that I can post my covers as well, I have over 100 of 'em including many #1's. Keep us posted May the force be with you!

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    1. @Sujan,
      Plz feel free to use the FB comment handle for uploading the pics , only thing is watermark them. I integrated the FB handle with the blog so that ppl can post their own media! enjoy!

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  21. I donno if this site is still alive or not but here goes.. Hey dude i've spent days searching ways to get weekly/monthly hard copies of marvel and dc. I found out about subscription of marvel and dc but the cost is absolutely stupid and kinda impractical.will there ever be a publisher like gotham comics or is there one which I not know about if not then I would have to spend about $600 dollars to get both marvel and dc subscription that too only for 6 months.At last I have about 30 sealed new gotham comics about 15 years old,are they worth anything other than nostalgia?

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    1. Hello Keshav ! Apologies for the late reply let me explain what you can do go to Marvel's site (marvel.com) and pick up a subscription,mostly you get new subscriptions at 40% discount, they then process the subscription and send you the books from the next cycle onwards (which is important to note as you might expect a issue but might receive another) the only glitch is since they send the books from the nearest printing hub (in India's case its denmark) you might miss out an issue in between it works. It will cost you about 45 $ i'm not current on the prices lately.Gotham books are only nostalgia i would not go and say its worthless but they are available and hence prices are cheap

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  22. Hi, I'm a MAD magazine collector from Switzerland and looking for Gotham MAD magazines, published in India. Any help is much appreciated!

    Some interesting information about the Indian MAD edition: http://madtrash.com/indian-mad/

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    1. Hello Bernd !

      Looks like my blog is travelling far and wide ! LOL ! from one fellow collector to another I can get you in touch with some Indian collectors who might be of help, let me know if you would like to ?

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  23. Hi, I'm a MAD magazine collector from Switzerland and looking for Gotham MAD magazines, published in India. Any help is much appreciated!

    Some interesting information about the Indian MAD edition: http://madtrash.com/indian-mad/

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  24. Sir
    Could you please provide some information about the shops from which we can purchase these comics.

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    1. @Anonymous ~ I have stopped taking requests from Anonymous id's as a policy of this blog please reach out with your name

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  25. I have got flash 1 of Gotham comics. This is rare,too.

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  26. Came across your blog by chance and loving the posts. It would be great if you mention the storylines that are present in the special sized issues you have. For regular sized issues I have compared their covers with online resources like coverbrowser ( for example reading through JMS Amazing Spiderman online which was the one being published through Gotham)but its a little harder for the special sized issues

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    1. @Sayantan Are you talking about the Megazines? I guess there are 2 one is Superman and the other is Batman. Haven't been able to scan and publish the Superman Magazine cover.

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  27. Hi guys,

    Any picture of Superman Peace on Earth by Gotham Comics?
    Do you know the ISBN?
    When it was published?

    Regards,

    Fabio.
    www.super-homem.com

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    1. @Fabio looks like it was published in 2002-2003,it was a hard bound book, with "peace on earth" and one more of bat man.I dnt have the isbn number , it's been bagged , boarded and saved safely ! LOL

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    2. Hi Abishek,

      I am going to New Delhi region soon, and I would look like to know where can I find old Superman comics published by Gotham Comics. In special that Superman Peace on Earth harddover.

      Regards,

      www.super-homem.com

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    3. Hey Fabio Unfortunately I'm not from Delhi, however you can try Karol bagh sunday market in the morning you might find some treatises. Superman Peace on earth were printed in limited numbers (which were numbered) there are some collectors on FB you can ping them.

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    4. Hi Abhishek,

      I will not able to go on Karol Bagh on Sunday, leaving Gurgaon next saturday (19/1). I tried to contact two collectors in FB, maybe they will be able to track down one issue of Superman: POE from Gotham Comics.

      Any image, ISBN, print date, is helpful.

      Regards,

      Fabio.

      Delete
  28. it's very sad that lot of Gotham comics Indian versions are now sold in market @ very high rate.Sellerr are taking advantage of the situations.

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    1. @avirup Demand & supply, however vultures live feeding on dead carcasses

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  29. I started collecting gotham after keeping this posta as reference and i just completed it. Joyful ride to complete all 1008 issues.

    In first coming of gotham, you forgot to mention X-men evolution,spiderman adventures,ultimate fantastic four,johnny bravo and cartoon cartoons,superman adventures,superman in action comics and 4 marvel age issues under gotham.

    In second coming of gotham you forgot to mention snakewoman.

    And thank you so much for an amazing post!

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    1. Good to know that my pages of research could be of help to you! As you pointed out there are a few things which were missed out and you could find out as they say "The fun is in the journey, not in reaching the destination" Enjoy the HUNT!

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  30. Thank you for this thread Abhishek. I am right now on this journey. Damn it costs a lot from sellers but Gotta Catch Em All!

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  31. Thank You for this thread Abhishek. I am right now on the journey and damn it costs a lot. Gotta Catch Em All!

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  32. I was the first one to complete this entire collection.
    https://gothamcomics.webs.com/

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  33. How much are the Gotham comics worth today? Is there any medium to buy and sell them?

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  34. Totally non commercials Pl. call / whatsapp for Sale/Exchange/ Buy comics- DC /Marvel/Independent and Indian Comics.Lalit 9821332572-Mumbai.

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