Set Description:
Synopsis: This is a complete set of all 162 books with a minimum grade of 9.6, with none of our books restored or qualified. The set consists of 150 9.8s, and 12 9.6s. Of the 162 books, 152 of our books are highest graded examples with seven of those books, down from a high of 11 a couple of years ago, single highest graded copies.
Highlights of the set are our #1 9.6 and our #7 9.6, which comes from the Pacific Coast Collection.
Background: Daredevil was created by Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby. He first appeared April 1964 in Daredevil #1 after the 1963 Marvel entrants of Avengers and X-Men. Writer/artist Frank Miller's influential tenure on the title in the early 1980s cemented the character as a popular and influential part of the Marvel Universe.
Daredevil is the alias of Matthew Michael "Matt" Murdock, a blind lawyer. While growing up in Hell's Kitchen in New York City, Matt is blinded by a radioactive substance that falls from an out-of-control truck after he pushes a man out of the path of the oncoming vehicle. While he loses his sight in the accident, his exposure to the radioactive material heightens his remaining senses beyond normal human ability, and gives him a "radar sense." His father, a boxer named Jack Murdock, is a single man raising his now blind son, who despite his rough upbringing, unconditionally loves his son and tries to teach him to form a better life for himself. Jack is later killed by gangsters after refusing to throw a fight, leaving Matt an orphan. To protect himself, Matt began training to hone his physical abilities and superhuman senses under the tutelage of a mysterious blind stranger named Stick, eventually becoming a highly skilled and expert martial artist.
Some years later, after graduating from law school with high grades, Matt seeks out the criminal element in Hell's Kitchen and starts his crime-fighting activities. Matt targets the local gangsters who murdered his father and succeeds in bringing them to justice. Eventually, donning a costumed attire modeled after a devil, Matt took up a dual life of fighting against the criminal underworld in New York City as the masked vigilante Daredevil, which put him in conflict with many super-villains, including his arch-enemies Bullseye and the Kingpin. He also becomes a skilled and respected lawyer after graduating from Columbia Law School with his best friend and roommate, Franklin "Foggy" Nelson, with whom he becomes law partners, forming the law firm Nelson & Murdock.
Daredevil has appeared in various forms of media, including several animated series, video games and merchandise. The character was first portrayed in live action by Rex Smith in the 1989 television film The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, and then by Ben Affleck in the 2003 film Daredevil. Charlie Cox portrays the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise, appearing thus far in the Marvel Television series Daredevil (2015–2018), the miniseries The Defenders (2017), the Marvel Studios film Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) and the Disney Plus television series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, while being set to appear in the upcoming series Echo (2023), and Daredevil: Born Again (2024).
Our Collection: I can remember buying a copy of Daredevil #1 at the local drugstore in Oxford, MS. I still own a number of raw copies from those days and Daredevil was one of the 12 titles I started collecting again in the early 2000s. It is without doubt the easiest 60s Marvel title to collect, although a couple of issues, #1 and #7, have doubled in value or more over the past couple of years. It’s also somewhat of a strange set, as most 9.6s are relatively inexpensive, while 9.8s can be ridiculously pricey, which I guess signifies a thin market comprised of high-end collectors.
While our set has topped the registry for five years, I really don’t know if it’s the best DD set out there or not? Contrary to the case with many DC titles where we top the census, the books are out there to blow this set away registry points-wise, as we would lose about 70,000 points to anyone owning 9.8 copies of Issues #1 and #2. But at least unlike the situation with Flash where the Showcase #4 9.6 alone is accorded more points than our entire 251 book set, a DD #1 9.8 alone does not assure anyone of topping the registry. And while there are now three 9.8 copies of both Issues #1 and #2, I am not sure if any of them are in the hands of collectors. My guess is that the people who own them probably just buy keys. That being said, we did consider making a run at the #1 9.8, which was auctioned off in Heritage in April, and actually bid it up to $200k before dropping out, but if we had got it at that, which was never a real possibility, there would have been a lot of high-grade X-Men on the market LOL. To me, that book was not worth the $360,000 that it sold for, but to each his own. I am sure many would say the same about a number of books we own.
While we did recently upgrade our 9.6 Suscha News copy of Issue #124 to a 9.8, our set is basically done, we are not out there scouring the internet for upgrades. For now at least, we are satisfied with our 9.8/9.6 set and have moved on to other collecting goals.
All 162 books are pictured and described below.
Current Stats:
162/162 Books
150 9.8s-148 Highest Graded
12 9.6s-4 Highest Graded
112 WP
45 OW/W
5 OW
7 Single Highest Graded
152 Highest Graded
10 Second Highest Graded
49 Pedigrees
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| The gallery tab shows only items with images. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. |
| Slot: |
Daredevil 1 |
| Item: |
Daredevil 1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2065130014
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Owner Comments
Issue #1 features the Origin and first appearance of Daredevil, (Matt Murdock). It also features the first appearance of sidekicks, Karen Page and Foggy Nelson. Our book is a very solid 9.6 of Daredevil’s entry into the Marvel universe. As such, it is tied for second highest graded trailing a pair of 9.8s, one of which sold in March 2021 for $250,000, which now looks like a relative bargain-if something that initially cost 12 cents could ever be considered a bargain at over a million times face value LOL.
For many years, Daredevil #1s in 9.6 could be acquired for $30,000-$40,000, but they have skyrocketed in value since COVID with sales topping out at as much as $150,000. Recent sales have come down a bit, so it will be interesting to see whether that decline will continue or is just a pause is the market.
We acquired our book in the 10/25/2011 CL Auction.*
2024 Update: In April last year, CGC gave a third Issue #1 a 9.8, which book hit the market in April 2024 selling for $360,000. I actually thought that was too much for an OW/W book, but as we have seen, keys like that can fluctuate wildly in value as the number of people who are interested in comics and can afford prices like that is not a deep pool. And most of those type people seem to prefer GA books or original art. My guess is that is pretty much top of the market, at least for now.
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| Slot: |
Daredevil 2 |
| Item: |
Daredevil 2 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1108461003
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Owner Comments
Issue #2 features the second appearance of Daredevil and Electro, as well as a Fantastic Four appearance. Our 9.6 is tied for second highest graded, trailing a pair of 9.8s, a WP one from the Pacific Coast Collection and an OW/W page copy from the Western Penn Collection. I was the second highest bidder for the Pacific Coast copy at a recent CL auction. I also negotiated to buy the Western Penn copy, but when I offered the owner his original counter, he not only rejected it, but raised the price $20,000. So somewhat of necessity I decided to settle for this 9.6, which was acquired in the 4/1/2021 CC Auction.
Greed has certainly run rampant during this pandemic, as sellers have sometimes doubled the prices of books that have sat unsold for years. As my son said to me, it’s a good thing we acquired most of our books many years ago, we could never put together our collection today at these prices. No truer words were ever spoken, it has become a market of speculators rather than collectors.
2022 Update: I usually hate to see an expansion of the census at the top, but in this case since I don’t own a 9.8, I really don’t mind. In that vein, it’s noteworthy that there are now three 9.8s, so maybe I will get another shot at upgrading this book in the future.
2024 Update: I just checked and the same DD #2 9.8 Western Penn book is still listed on the CL Exchange, but the ask is now $75,000. Of course the listing is wrong, as there are now three 9.8s, but as anyone who collects comics should know, CL does not update listings and that book has been listed for at least three years now. I would guess it’s about a $40k book in the current market; however, I have no issue with someone who wants to list a book at an exaggerated price just to see if someone with more money than knowledge hits the ask. In truth, the book isn’t really for sale, but the owner wouldn’t turn down an over-market offer. I feel that way about a lot of our books.
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| Slot: |
Daredevil 3 |
| Item: |
Daredevil 3 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2087158003
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Owner Comments
Issue #3 features the Origin and first appearance of, the Owl (Leland Owlsley), who becomes a recurring villain in the Daredevil series. Our 9.8 is one of just two topping the census. We at one time owned both 9.8s, but made the mistake of selling the other when we needed to raise money for other purchases. We acquired the book in the 12/3/2019 CL Auction.*
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| Slot: |
Daredevil 4 |
| Item: |
Daredevil 4 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2087158010
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Owner Comments
Issue #4 introduces the Purple Man, Zebediah Killgrave-how did they come up with some of these names LOL? This copy hails from the great Western Penn collection, which is probably the only one to rival the Pacific Coast pedigree. It is one of the four highest graded ever certified by CGC. It was also part of the Doug Schmell Collection auctioned off by Heritage in July 2012.*
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| Slot: |
Daredevil 5 |
| Item: |
Daredevil 5 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0010133002
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Owner Comments
Issue #5 features the Origin and first appearance of the Matador, Manuel Eloganto. Our 9.8 comes from the Pacific Coast Collection and is one of just two highest graded copies as of June 2024. It was also part of the Doug Schmell Collection, which was auctioned off by Heritage in July 2012. We acquired the book from the December 2019 CL Auction.
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| Slot: |
Daredevil 6 |
| Item: |
Daredevil 6 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1026145006
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Owner Comments
Daredevil battles the Fellowship of Fear in DD #6, which marks Daredevil’s last appearance in his yellow costume. Our WP 9.8 comes with a Curator pedigree and is the single highest graded copy as of 12/2019. It was also part of the Doug Schmell Collection auctioned off by Heritage in July 2012. We acquired the book in the December 2019 CL Auction.
2022 Update: Our book was knocked out of being the single highest graded example in 2022 by a far inferior book to this collector’s eyes, which admittedly aren’t great LOL. The other one lacked both a pedigree and WP and was poorly cut. At least it actually went for more than we paid for this one.
2024 Update: Talk about grade inflation, our book has gone from single highest graded when we acquired it five years ago to one of four 9.8s in the census. If this were a DC, I would have lost 75% of my investment. The more ai look at it, if those books are 9.8s, maybe this book should be a 9.9. It looks absolutely perfect to me.
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| Slot: |
Daredevil 7 |
| Item: |
Daredevil 7 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0705528012
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Owner Comments
Issue #7 features Daredevil battling Sub-Mariner. There are no 9.8s of this key issue, which marks the first appearance of DD’s new uniform. This book is the Pacific Coast copy and one of three highest graded, as of 12/2019. It was part of the Doug Schmell Collection, which was auctioned off by Heritage in July 2012. We acquired it in a CL auction on December 15, 2019.
Issue #7 has always demanded a premium over every other DD issue, except #1, probably because of the appearance of DD’s new uniform, along with the appearance by iconic hero/villain Sub-Mariner. We initially overpaid for our book in one of those crazy CL auctions when all of the serious bids are made in the final 10 seconds. However, the market has done us a favor in this case, as the last 9.6 to sell was a non-pedigree copy without white pages, which nonetheless still sold for a premium over what we paid for this one. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose....
2024 Update: I have not checked the census on these books in awhile and all I can say is that grade inflation has run rampant on these books, as there are now five 9.6s topping the census.
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| Slot: |
Daredevil 8 |
| Item: |
Daredevil 8 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0996840004
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Owner Comments
Issue #8 introduces the unique Stilt Man, alias Wilbur Day, who will be a recurring DD adversary. This book is one of seven highest graded and was part of the Doug Schmell Collection auctioned off by Heritage in July 2012. We acquired the book over seven years later in the December 2019 CL auction.
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| Slot: |
Daredevil 9 |
| Item: |
Daredevil 9 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0102380001
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Owner Comments
Issue #9 features the first appearance of the Organizer. This copy was also part of the Doug Schmell Collection auctioned off by Heritage in July 2012. It is currently one of four highest graded. Acquired in the 12/15/2019 CL auction.
2024 Update: Again, grade inflation has run wild, as there are now seven 9.8s.
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| Slot: |
Daredevil 10 |
| Item: |
Daredevil 10 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1479687011
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Owner Comments
Issue #10 features the first appearance of the Ani-Men. This copy is one of just three 9.8s and was acquired in a ComicConnect auction ending on May 2, 2017.
2024 Update: Still just three 9.8s of this one, nice to see a little grade stability with respect to some issues.
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| Slot: |
Daredevil 11 |
| Item: |
Daredevil 11 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1449929004
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Owner Comments
Issue #11 features an Ani-Men appearance and Abner Jonas’s reveal as the Organizer. Our WP 9.8 is one of two highest graded. We acquired the book in the 2/24/2021 CL Auction.
2024 Update: There are now three 9.8s in the census.
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| Slot: |
Daredevil 12 |
| Item: |
Daredevil 12 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4242420009
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Owner Comments
Kazar makes another appearance in Issue #12. Our book comes from the Twin Cities Collection and is the sole 9.8 in the census-and it even has white pages to boot. We acquired the book in the March 2017 ComicConnect Auction.*
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| Slot: |
Daredevil 13 |
| Item: |
Daredevil 13 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0101379003
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Owner Comments
Issue #13 features the first appearance of vibranium and appearances by Ka-Zar, Zabu and the Plunderer. This issue also explores the Origins of Ka-Zar and the Plunderer. While there are lots of 9.6s in the census, I like to think this is the second nicest copy in existence as it has white pages and comes from the Pacific Coast Collection. It is tied for second highest graded trailing a single 9.8. We acquired the book in the April 2021 ComicConnect Auction.
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| Slot: |
Daredevil 14 |
| Item: |
Daredevil 14 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1971908004
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Owner Comments
Issue #14 features Kazar and Plunderer appearances. Our 9.8 is tied with four others for highest graded. We acquired the book in the 11/19/2020 Heritage auction.
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| Slot: |
Daredevil 15 |
| Item: |
Daredevil 15 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0016834018
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Owner Comments
Daredevil faces the Ox in Issue #15. Our 9.8 is one of two highest graded copies. We acquired it in the March 2017 ComicConnect auction.
2024: Wow, the census of 9.8s has doubled on this one from two to four 9.8s. Not good…..
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