L.E. Gill

Our only consolation is that there should have been enough of these packs opened that if some other DCU printing existed among the various contents someone would have found it by now. I am so bummed for missing not only an actual sale of GG: W #28 DCU but also TWO listings of Impulse Annual #1 DCU back in January. I've been quietly looking for GG:W #28 ever since I realized it had to exist unless DC screwed us over à la Aquaman: Time & Tide #4. In a side note, dear boardies, I have an extensive want list for DCUs and ridiculous stacks of extras if you need something less rare. I am also offering a bounty of $100+ for Legionnaires #20 DCU. My base offer is $100+ for an intact, decent looking copy and will go higher for high grade.

I feel like this was already discussed on the board, but don't want to trawl through 50 plus pages to double check-- might have been the Doomsday set that I remember from before. Anyway, here's photo confirmation that there are at least 2 different Funeral for a Friend Collector's Sets. One has the 3rd printing on top (printings on other comics in the box unknown) and the other has the 4th print/ DCU version shown (on the right). One presumes that means they had to go back to print at some point when making these particular sets to make the DCU. They appear identical to me otherwise.

Oh man, I knew that one had to exist! On my want list too if anyone finds it!

There are two (slightly) different releases of Batman Legacy Collector's Set #1. One version was released with a trading card and another with a phone card. I've opened the trading card version set before and it contained a card from the 1996 SkyBox Batman Master Series. I haven't opened the phone card set, but it presumably contains this Catwoman Phone Card (picture off eBay): A couple of the other box sets contain phone cards too; the phone cards were also released as perks with DC comic subscriptions for a while (picture off eBay): So far as I know there aren't indicia variants for any of the issues contained in this set so I think it is just the insert that's different. The phone card by subscription offer expired April 30, 1996. The Skybox Masters set came out in January 1996... guess they ran out of one or the other for these sets?

That's great news, thank you! I just realized I do have one more question, sorry. I entered a group of comics and created a submission the other day (but haven't shipped it yet). Since I upgraded to Elite will I have the pricing on that packing slip adjusted by CGC (for the grading discount, not just the credit) or would I be better off to scrap that one and re-enter that batch of comics as a new submission/packing slip. Appreciate the info when you have a moment :).

What if you have not used you $150 grading credit yet and you upgrade? Do you still get the additional $150 credit? And to clarify, say my membership is in June but I upgrade now, does that mean my new renewal date will be in April and I would technically 'lose' those months of membership. Thanks in advance for the information, I'm trying to decide if I should upgrade right now or not.

If we are lucky, it selling at such nosebleed prices will bring more 2 packs out into the market!

Maybe it'll come down to something attainable after a few months. Actually, does anyone know if the Platinum Edition of Worlds Collide Rift was released like the retailer Platinum DCU of Detective Comics #675? Because I wouldn't have considered it before seeing these Milestone UPC variants but now I wonder.

I've been scouring the eBay listings since I saw these. It probably flew under the radar because there are a few dire t editions that did use that Milestone UPC but all three of these definitely have direct and newsstand versions. What a slew of two packs.... Someone got a sealed pack with Adventures 499 third print SCU too, I hope it was a boardie! Given these three, it's possible there could be some other Milestone multi packs from the Worlds' Collide storyline. I'm thinking maybe Blood Sydicate and Static from the June to August time frame? Possibly another Hardware issue. There's a few other known DCUs from Worlds' Collide that could have been paired with them. Exciting to see a source for Green Lantern #62 DCU too, but seems so odd we haven't seen more copies of this if it was consistently paired with that particular Wonder Woman issue.

Another way DCU/multipack variants were distributed, though you won't find anything rare here: The contents were listed on the outside, including the phone card similar to some released in DCU box sets. 2 of the comics were direct sales editions and the others DCUs. Based on the timing and artwork, this was probably released around the same time as the JC Penny wish book box set posted by @onlyweaknesskryptonite here.

The project to visually document the contents of each known DC 20 pack is about as complete as I can get it at the moment, if you happened to check it out previously when I only had a few months visible. For those who would prefer to just have a (very long) text list, it is below the cut. Keep in mind that DCUs and other multipack UPC variants didn't get included until November 1993, though there are months previous with a variety of second printings. If anyone can confirm which Superman poster(s) were included in the December 1992 and February 1993 bricks, I would very much appreciate it! If you have any corrections, can confirm any of my speculation, or have additional info, please do let me know! I don't think it was long after I commented here about how consistent and predictable the 20 pack brick contents are based on the month and the sticker outside that I ran across a brick that did not follow the rules! This is a mispacked July 1994 brick with some fairly recognizable covers. I finally realized the reason it doesn't match is that it's got 23 books inside instead of 20, and that must have rejiggered the order. I think I decided there were 3 copies of Superman #91 in there. Currently I am working on similar visual documentation for contents of all the Collector Sets. Batman is partially finished/visible but sill a work in progress. I am missing a few photos if anyone is willing to share. I need pictures of: Trading Card example from Batman Collector Set w/ Detective Comics #688 on the front Trading Card example from Batman Collector Set w/ Batman, Annual #20 on the front Detective Comics, Annual #9 DCU Cover & Indicia pictures of the Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #50 from the Batman's Greatest Foes Collector's Set w/ Catwoman, Annual #2 on Front CD Single and Trading Card from the Batman's Greatest Foes Collector's Set w/ Catwoman, Annual #2 on Front (I know there are at least two different versions of that CD single; I suspect which one is from this set, but would still like real confirmation).

Congratulations, those are great pickups! That AOS #523 still eludes me....

Some months back, I shared an exhaustive list of the possible DCU/ multipack variants from the second half of 1996 that have yet to be discovered by month and title along with my notes on why a particular book might or might not exist. In the time since then, I was excited to actually find one of those previously undiscovered variants in the form of Batman & Robin Adventures #11 Bat Symbol UPC. Here’s a follow up with the first half of 1996 for your perusal. Behind the cut is a list of potentially undiscovered DCUs based on speculation and several assumptions, namely, I have eliminated any titles published by DC in which there has not already been a DCU (e.g. no Teen Titans, min-series titles, etc.). I have also eliminated any established DCU series in which the only occurrence(s) of a DCU was specific to a box set storyline (e.g. things like Sovereign Seven #1, Green Arrow, LOTDK, or Batman Chronicles #4 in the Contagion Storyline). I included non-DCU UPC variants such as the WB Reading and other miscellaneous multipack logos in my monthly counts. As before, I am including all Legends of the Dead Earth Annuals just because. Dates are based upon cover date, not publication date, which usually runs 2 months prior to the cover date. In conclusion, although there are a number of potential ‘missing’ DCUs from the first half of 1996, realistically there are probably extremely few, if any, that actually exist that haven’t been found yet. I do think it may be worth keeping an eye out for a few specific titles in particular, especially in Batman & Robin Adventures, Animaniacs, Justice League-related, and Superman-related titles. If you’re interested in previous speculation regarding July to December 1996, you can find it here.

That one is from the Green Lantern Collector's Set with the Final Night storyline.

I am almost positive, but obviously can't confirm without someone opening one of these packs, that the poster is that really awesome lightning bolt shaped one you see sometimes on eBay (though it does not match the listed dimensions): https://www.ebay.com/itm/294958472575?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=uCJJwQI7Sae&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=vkVEJz9NT3G&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY There are at least 2 other Power of Shazam poster from.that time frame, but one of them was the retailer promo, that could be candidates so I am not sure? https://www.ebay.com/itm/402841607166?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=246r-n6sTG6&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=vkVEJz9NT3G&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=MORE

Yes, and it's occurred to me that the presence of cover art with a DCU in one of these tpb might fuel rumors of some of those DCUs we have no evidence exists, understandably so. @archivist and I have been discussing Impulse issues like #10 so I decided to check on the Impulse: Reckless Youth TPB to see if there might be covert art, but it looks like that book only collects through Impulse #8. A few kind souls on eBay have been answering my questions and providing images on some of the TPBs on my list to check So far I haven't discovered any more with DCUs but I've managed to confirm some that do not. We need a boardie with an extensive TPB collection to be our expert on this! Findings So Far: Aquaman: Time & Tide TPB - No DCUs, has a two page splash with small pictures of covers without a UPC box Batman: Legacy TPB - No DCUs, has a two page splash with small pictures of covers without a UPC box Wonder Woman: Challenge of Artemis TPB: No DCUs, each cover is included at the back of the book with a blank UPC box Flash: Terminal Velocity TPB: Has DCU UPC cover arts embedded Flash: Race Against Time TPB: Reported that there is no cover art included (need secondary confirmation as I've previously been told the same about Wonder Woman: The Challenge of Artemis) Batman:Knightsend TPB: Has DCU UPC cover arts embedded (there might be later releases from DC that do not?) Green Lantern: Baptism of Fire TPB: No DCUs, each cover is included at the back of the book with a blank UPC box Catwoman: Catfile TPB: Reported that there is no cover art included (need secondary confirmation) and of course we knew previously about Wonder Woman: The Contest having the DCU covers. My notes show that Catfile was published in April 96, GL: Baptism of Fire in May 99, The Contest February 95 (there apparently are 1st and later printings?), Terminal Velocity in January 1995 (reprinted in 2003, unknown if later reprints have the DCUs), Challenge of Artemis in April 96. So I think if anyone else is interested/ checking, it's more likely to occur in TPBs released in early 95 or thereabouts.

Looks like a Flash Terminal Velocity TPB and a Batman KnightsEnd TPB have DCU covers embedded (like the Contest, the Flash TPB uses a DCU UPC logo in place of the Zero Hour logo for Flash #0). I suspect there are probably a few other collected storyline TPBs printed during that time frame that have the same (ones I think are possible but can't confirm yet included Bizzaro's World, Trial of Superman, Catfiles, things like that): Not my photos, I got these off eBay.

Here's a start on the promised list of each collector's pack contents. I've published some of the sheets in my DCU database as I've checked them and dumped photos in. Please let me know through PM if there are any access issues or corrections; it should automatically refresh any changes and additional sheets as I finish up with them. Eventually I should have everything from October 1992 on (obviously not all of those months have DCUs-- multipack variants generally didn't start until the November 1993 pack). If there is a particular month you want me to prioritize, just let me know, I've been doing them as I find the right set of photos. Generally, I've posted the front and back of each pack next to the list of either confirmed or unconfirmed contents. If they are unconfirmed, it's not because I am not pretty confident in the list, it's because I haven't personally opened one and documented it. Some of my photos are rough, because when I first started it was for quick personal reference and not with the idea of sharing them, so sorry about that. The photos are presented in the order the comics were packed from the back to the middle cardboard spacer, then from the front down to the middle. If there were stickers or inserts, I tried to include those as well. If I've noted Check Indicia, it's because I think it might have some kind of difference in the indicia such as 'Collector's Pack First Printing', etc. but is not confirmed because I generally wasn't checking indicia back then. All the source images are from my personal collection unless I've specifically labeled it otherwise.

@onlyweaknesskryptonite once posted about a JC Penny WIshbook comic set that included DCUs from 1994. For whatever it is worth, the poster included in that set appears identical to the poster included in the September 1994 collector's pack (had a mix of Zero Hour and DCU variants).

With apologies in advance to any Batman Spawn: War Devil completionists out there, not only is there a second print Direct Edition, Newsstand Edition, yadda yadda, there are both first and second printings of the Bat Signal multipack variant: I can't find any noticeable differences beyond indicia. The larger 2 pack contains a poster and Bugs Bunny Monthly #3 along with the Spawn Batman from 1994. I've seen this item listed on Mycomicshop.Com as having been released in 2006 but published in 2000. Perhaps the second printing was released much later than the first? Indicia and UPCs on the Bugs Bunny and Spawn Batman are identical to Direct Editions so far as I can tell. The second 2 pack has a sticker on it proclaiming 'Clash of the Decade' and is the one with the second print Bat Signal multipack variant. Edited to add more information, photos, and speculation:

I've wondered that too, but haven't had the means to check. I asked an eBay seller once if the Wonder Woman TPB The Challenge (with Artemis issues following from the Contest) had cover art inside and they said no. I believe at some point the TPBs might have been printed without the cover art in between each story but I don't have confirmation of that. Maybe if any boardies have some of the TPBs collecting the common storylines that came out with DCU covers they could check. I think The Contest was published in February 1995 so perhaps TPBs from early to mid 1995 would be the best place to start. Most of the Batman Collector Sets with DCUs in them were copyrighted 1996 so I am guessing DC was feeling out the merits of a TPB versus collector sets.

It's been a while since I've managed to post here, but I'll have a few interesting things to share soon. I've picked up a lot of random DCUs lately, mostly cheap, and mostly common or lower grade. But recently I ran into a few harder ones. @onlyweaknesskryptonite had previously hooked me up with a great copy of Power of Shazam #12, but when I ran across these I had to get them. I am most excited about the Justice League Task Force since it was one I didn't have yet, and the Animaniacs #4 as an upgrade to my low grade copy. But the most exciting was finding this little surprise: I posted more about this Batman & Robin Adventures #11 Bat multipack variant in the other thread. Anyone ever found it in the wild before?

Early in this thread, @Warlord posted about this Bat Silhouette variant of Batman & Robin Adventures #9 as a potential multi-pack edition. It is found paired with Batman & Robin Adventures DCU Variant in the 1996 Back to School Set: I'm excited to report another Bat Silhouette variant, presumably also from some yet-to-be identified multi-pack. I've confirmed the existence of regular Direct Edition, Newsstand, and checked the polybagged version that was packaged with On the Edge magazine (it's a Direct Edition with normal indicia). The indicia in the Bat Silhouette variant is the same as Direct. Pictures of #9 & #11 side by side and a close up of UPCs behind the cut:

I have a pretty comprehensive list of this, almost all of which I have personally confirmed. It absolutely can be inferred, the contents are very consistent within the month published and the outer neon sticker/ paper listing titles. I keep my info in a spreadsheet, but I am happy to share with the board in either a list format or in spreadsheet form. It's still a bit of a work in progress so I haven't finished error checking it yet, but maybe I can get something up for the board this weekend.

If you can't find a loose copy trawling through the eBay listings (not everyone scans the backside) you can find that DC bullet in different ERTL Batman sets (with a toy, Batman Adventures Coloring Book, etc.). I've found a couple copies but most of them have some dings or flaws.