Jim Lee 1-in-500 Foil Variant from Batman #1. Source: eBay
As we reported yesterday, this week’s release of Batman #1 has been complicated by some retailers and those jumping over guns to break road schedules.
The Matt Fraction/Jorge Jiménez team debuted, the “Blind As a Bat” edition, is a special polybag version that included a random foil variant cover. The “Common” cover was a wraparound by Jimenez, Andy Kubert, David Aja, Frank Cree Ousan, Gabriele Del Cott, J. Scott Campbell, Mark Silberty, Julian Tortino Tedesco, Jim Lee and Stanley “Altogarm” Lau. However, there were also rare variations:
1-in-500 Jim Lee Alternative Foil Version 1-in-1000 Jorge Jiménez Alternative Foil Version
So, with a $9.99 pop, like blindbox toys and figurines that come across the mini saw, you get the thrill of opening a bagged comic in the hopes of seeing if it’s what you want.
But this wasn’t enough for some people. Several retailers appeared live on Facebook on the extremely popular Whatnot Auction app, streamed opening blind bags last week, showing off their covers and, most importantly, sold them on shipping dates before street days. Therefore, the book would have arrived by Wednesday, as auction items must be shipped within two days. This behavior was described as unfair to me as it not only violated the street day, but also ruined the surprise of showing the cover for people.
There is no mistake. These variations were respected. Two copies of the Jorge Jimenez 1-in-500 Foil Variant are already on sale for over $1,000. However, most other variations (even in Lee One) are now much less.
DC distributor Lunar actually shipped the comics to retailers later in the previous week, and early sales and delivery was possible as the comics usually arrive on Thursday or Friday. In this case, the enthusiastic Beaver went straight to the selfie camera and began filming.
Source: eBay
“Street Dating” has been a problem with comic retailers for many years. For too long, the comic arrived brightly and early on Wednesday morning on a new comic book day. Finally, Diamond began shipping comics earlier earlier. Arrived on Monday or Tuesday, giving the retailer time to unpack in a more orderly way. Lunar released the comics even earlier. It’s something that retailers have repeatedly praised. However, this time the temptation was too great.
Although Wednesday’s street dates are primarily enforced under the Honorary System, Diamond’s “secret shopper” program randomly checked stores to make sure they were observing street dating. Clearly, if Diamond is goodbye, that program would no longer exist, and new distribution players Lunar, Prh, and now Universal didn’t really need to deal with it. Until now.
Jorge Jimenez regular foil variant. Source: eBay
Blind Bags – Polybagged cartoons with secret surprises – is a gimmick trend as far as publishers are concerned, as David Harper reported a few months ago. And Batman #1 is not the first cartoon with an early opening for live streaming. A sparkly copy of the invincible universe: Battle Beast #1 created a minor frenzy with those who sold it early in whatnot.
Previous stories about early sales were compiled from social media reports. Lunar and DCBS co-owner Christina Merkler actually contacted me to clarify what happened and updated the beat in a statement sent to DC and Lunar retailers in response to the destruction of the rules.
Street Day Reminder: Batman #1 Blind Bag
Street Day Reminder: Batman #1 Blind Bag
DC is aware that some retailers have made Batman #1 blind bags available before official street day. To ensure a fair and consistent experience across all sales channels, brick and mortar retailers and live selling platforms have strictly prohibited the contents of Batman #1 blind bags from being clearly, displayed or shipped to consumers by Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
please note:
Blind bags must not be equipped with customer property before street days. The contents of the blind bag will not be displayed or disclosed prior to street days.
Retailers who violate this policy may be restricted from participating in future blind bag programs.
We appreciate your help in maintaining the integrity of this release.
To be clear, DC and Lunar do not allow any more pre-release auctions or sales of blind bags. Repeated criminals start getting their cartoons again on Wednesday.
The issue of Battle Beast #1 spoke to people, but this Batman #1 Boondoggle appears to be warning publishers and distributors that stiffer rules must be needed to prevent this kind of suspicious behavior. This is hoping to follow DC in a language that makes this clear that no.
And they definitely have more opportunities for it. Blind bags will remain all rage. In October, Keynes Pot will release Mark Spears Monster: Monster & the Wolf #1. This is a blind bagged cartoon with 75 different variations by Spears, much less rare than the others. Apparently these are extremely popular and prove the eternal appeal of boldly rendered Halloween art.
I’m said that more publishers have even more blind bagging campaigns with their works. Paying attention to early sales, at least until blind bags become inevitable, will become yet another issue for already taxed industry officials to be vigilant.
This story touches on a lot. Return of sales mechanisms for comics. Continuing popularity of opening packages in search of rare collectibles. And the rise of what is as a retail and collecting force of cartoons. Also, the current Wild West is located west of the manga, with multiple platforms and some players bending and breaking rules, and building a unified power of once unified diamonds. The cat has come off the poly bag on this.
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