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Comprehensive List of Batman/DC Bullet Logo UPC Variants
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79 posts in this topic

I'm hoping someone here can help me out with something I found today. I was at a small show and I picked this up in a "10 books for $5" bin:

IMG_3547.thumb.JPG.b517915111606baadfd82f74176ac815.JPG

 

It's Batman 416, but it has a bullet logo sticker affixed over the newsstand UPC. When I got home and took it out of the bag, I opened it to see that it's a third printing. I know there have been other "stickered" books before - I think they were directs with a newsstand sticker? This one is just something I've never seen. The sticker doesn't seem to be an exact rectangle, it almost looks like it was cut off a roll or something.

 

IMG_3548.thumb.JPG.58861f3f9fb535bf2827924465b1a558.JPG

IMG_3549.thumb.JPG.d0c23ee3ecf4450f0e5677739dae6738.JPG

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On 10/24/2021 at 9:01 PM, Jesse-Lee said:

I'm hoping someone here can help me out with something I found today. I was at a small show and I picked this up in a "10 books for $5" bin:

IMG_3547.thumb.JPG.b517915111606baadfd82f74176ac815.JPG

 

It's Batman 416, but it has a bullet logo sticker affixed over the newsstand UPC. When I got home and took it out of the bag, I opened it to see that it's a third printing. I know there have been other "stickered" books before - I think they were directs with a newsstand sticker? This one is just something I've never seen. The sticker doesn't seem to be an exact rectangle, it almost looks like it was cut off a roll or something.

 

IMG_3548.thumb.JPG.58861f3f9fb535bf2827924465b1a558.JPG

IMG_3549.thumb.JPG.d0c23ee3ecf4450f0e5677739dae6738.JPG

@Cpt Kirk

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On 10/25/2021 at 8:31 PM, Cpt Kirk said:

Thanks to @Warlord for this great post.   And yes, @onlyweaknesskryptonite called on the right guy to solve the DC stickered bullet mystery.   

Those stickered DC bullet variants are a different animal than the DC bullet UPC variants from the 1993/1994 era of 20-packs and 2-packs.  The "bullet stickers" were only placed on Batman 414, 415, and 416 to the best of my knowledge, and they were produced in early 1989.  Each of those 3 "bullet sticker" comic books had the words "THIRD PRINTING C 1989 DC COMICS, INC" printed in the indicia and a DC bullet sticker placed over a bar code on the front cover.  They were packaged in the 3-packs that were sold in stores like Kay-bee Toys and Toys-R-Us.  I'm just guessing, but I think the stickers were placed on the comic books so that a sales clerk would not scan the bar code on the comic books instead of the bar code at the top of the backside of the pack. 

Here's some photos of the bulleted Batman 414, 415 and 416 still contained within the pack.

643899673_batman414416packfront.thumb.jpg.9bbe5b193ec47873f8312d51b2dcb5b4.jpg

459197454_batman414416packback.thumb.jpg.1b0d1133fa6d24944a3d26952f6cd33d.jpg

 

 

Thank you. I knew you would have the exact details.  (And the sealed pack to boot!) I was sure they were the toy store 3 packs, but didn't want to cause any confusion if I misstated it.  Thank you again. 

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On 10/25/2021 at 8:31 PM, Cpt Kirk said:

Thanks to @Warlord for this great post.   And yes, @onlyweaknesskryptonite called on the right guy to solve the DC stickered bullet mystery.   

Those stickered DC bullet variants are a different animal than the DC bullet UPC variants from the 1993/1994 era of 20-packs and 2-packs.  The "bullet stickers" were only placed on Batman 414, 415, and 416 to the best of my knowledge, and they were produced in early 1989.  Each of those 3 "bullet sticker" comic books had the words "THIRD PRINTING C 1989 DC COMICS, INC" printed in the indicia and a DC bullet sticker placed over a bar code on the front cover.  They were packaged in the 3-packs that were sold in stores like Kay-bee Toys and Toys-R-Us.  I'm just guessing, but I think the stickers were placed on the comic books so that a sales clerk would not scan the bar code on the comic books instead of the bar code at the top of the backside of the pack. 

Here's some photos of the bulleted Batman 414, 415 and 416 still contained within the pack.

643899673_batman414416packfront.thumb.jpg.9bbe5b193ec47873f8312d51b2dcb5b4.jpg

459197454_batman414416packback.thumb.jpg.1b0d1133fa6d24944a3d26952f6cd33d.jpg

 

 

Thank you! I was aware of the Toys R Us packs - mostly because of the one that has Batman 423 - but I didn't know there were stickered comics in the packs. Thanks for the info!

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On 10/25/2021 at 9:31 PM, Cpt Kirk said:

Thanks to @Warlord for this great post.   And yes, @onlyweaknesskryptonite called on the right guy to solve the DC stickered bullet mystery.   

Those stickered DC bullet variants are a different animal than the DC bullet UPC variants from the 1993/1994 era of 20-packs and 2-packs.  The "bullet stickers" were only placed on Batman 414, 415, and 416 to the best of my knowledge, and they were produced in early 1989.  Each of those 3 "bullet sticker" comic books had the words "THIRD PRINTING C 1989 DC COMICS, INC" printed in the indicia and a DC bullet sticker placed over a bar code on the front cover.  They were packaged in the 3-packs that were sold in stores like Kay-bee Toys and Toys-R-Us.  I'm just guessing, but I think the stickers were placed on the comic books so that a sales clerk would not scan the bar code on the comic books instead of the bar code at the top of the backside of the pack. 

Here's some photos of the bulleted Batman 414, 415 and 416 still contained within the pack.

 

That's the only 3-pack, and therefore those are the only three comics issues, that I've ever spotted that contains issues with the DC bullet sticker placed over the UPCs.

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UPDATED 1/6/2022!   Thanks to @Talapas1 for the War Devil find!

DC issues WITH DC Bullet or Batman Logo UPC Variants

Action    693, 694
Adventures of Superman    507
Batman    502
Batman Adventures    14 1st print, 14 2nd print, 16 1st print, 16 2nd print, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 29 (all with Batman logo)

Batman and Robin Adventures (Batman and Robin silhouette) *new* - I decided to add this one to the list

Batman Forever - The Official Comic Adaptation - Prestige format (Batman logo) *new*
Batman: Riddler - The Riddle Factory  (Batman logo) *new*
Batman: Two-Face - Crime And Punishment  (Batman logo) *new*

Batman-Spawn: War Devil (Batman logo) *new*

Catwoman    4
Detective    669
Flash    85
Justice League America    83
Justice League International    58, 59
Legionnaires    9
Looney Tunes    1
Robin    1, 2
Showcase '93    12
Star Trek    55
Star Trek The Next Generation    55
Superman    84
Superman The Man of Steel    28
Wonder Woman    81

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I was alerted that there was a mistake in my tracking of the Batman Adventures issues because some issues we had previously added to the list had dropped off.  I think this is correct now if I've accurately combined the info from the recent lists.

UPDATED 3/27/2022!   Re-added some Batman Adventures issues that were mistakenly dropped from the list.

DC issues WITH DC Bullet or Batman Logo UPC Variants

Action    693, 6Action    693, 694
Adventures of Superman    507
Batman    502
Batman Adventures    14 1st print, 14 2nd print, 15, 16 1st print, 16 2nd print, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 (all with Batman logo)
Batman and Robin Adventures (Batman and Robin silhouette)
Batman Forever - The Official Comic Adaptation - Prestige format (Batman logo)
Batman: Riddler - The Riddle Factory  (Batman logo)
Batman: Two-Face - Crime And Punishment  (Batman logo)
Batman-Spawn: War Devil (Batman logo)
Catwoman    4
Detective    669
Flash    85
Justice League America    83
Justice League International    58, 59
Legionnaires    9
Looney Tunes    1
Robin    1, 2
Showcase '93    12
Star Trek    55
Star Trek The Next Generation    55
Superman    84
Superman The Man of Steel    28
Wonder Woman    81

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On 3/27/2022 at 4:52 PM, Warlord said:

I was alerted that there was a mistake in my tracking of the Batman Adventures issues because some issues we had previously added to the list had dropped off.  I think this is correct now if I've accurately combined the info from the recent lists.

UPDATED 3/27/2022!   Re-added some Batman Adventures issues that were mistakenly dropped from the list.

DC issues WITH DC Bullet or Batman Logo UPC Variants
Batman Adventures    14 1st print, 14 2nd print, 15, 16 1st print, 16 2nd print, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 (all with Batman logo)
Batman and Robin Adventures (Batman and Robin silhouette)

Thanks for this list!  I can confirm there is a Batman Adventures #18 with Bat Signal Logo.  I know that one is on the main DCU list but it's been a subject of debate on this thread before.  There is some conflicting anecdotal evidence; in particular there is listing for a DCU version posted at Comic Book Realm with covert art posted by user T.I.A. but I would love it if any boardie who has a DCU logo version of #18 in hand to confirm.  I have a copy in hand of the Bat Signal Logo version, which I purchased off ebay recently (photo is from the listing, I haven't had a chance to check indicia yet):

batmanadventures_18_logo.thumb.jpg.db76156fa58c5d2437c2917a4aa1495a.jpg

 

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You guys are making it rough on us collectors of these dratted variants!  Particular with the back-cover variations, those are the worst!  :cry:

UPDATED 3/30/2022!   Added Batman Adventures #18 thanks to L.E. Gill and Batman: Mask of the Phantasm thanks to Parallax2025

DC issues WITH DC Bullet or Batman Logo UPC Variants

Action    693, 6Action    693, 694
Adventures of Superman    507
Batman    502
Batman Adventures    14 1st print, 14 2nd print, 15, 16 1st print, 16 2nd print, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 (all with Batman logo)
Batman and Robin Adventures (Batman and Robin silhouette)
Batman Forever - The Official Comic Adaptation - Prestige format (Batman logo)
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm - The Animated Movie  (Batman logo)
Batman: Riddler - The Riddle Factory  (Batman logo)
Batman: Two-Face - Crime And Punishment  (Batman logo)
Batman-Spawn: War Devil (Batman logo)
Catwoman    4
Detective    669
Flash    85
Justice League America    83
Justice League International    58, 59
Legionnaires    9
Looney Tunes    1
Robin    1, 2
Showcase '93    12
Star Trek    55
Star Trek The Next Generation    55
Superman    84
Superman The Man of Steel    28
Wonder Woman    81

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I am simultaneously tremendously excited and full of dread every time someone finds a new variant!  I am down to about 60 of the DCUs and a chunk of these other multipack variants. The ones on the back cover are the worst!  If it helps, almost every single known bullet logo can be found in the December 1993 20 pack (along with, so far as I can tell, the very first physically issued DCU logos even if there were reprints of earlier cover dates released later).  A handful of remaining bullet logos can be found in the November 1993 pack, and of course some of them come in various 2 packs.

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Recently on eBay someone sold a DC Collector's 2-Pack with the DCU logo version of Where in the World is Carmen San Diego #1 (link).  But of possible interest to this thread was the comic on the reverse, a multi-pack non-DCU logo variant of Where in the World is Carmen San Diego #2.  Not one I had known about before, so I did some checking and confirmed that there are also direct and newsstand versions of the title.  Here are some photos (not mine):

CSD_1_LOGO.jpg.de6bc4327f87beb966957aea1538aae2.jpg  CSD_2_LOGO.jpg.ca29326ce8134aa4feb0e150995b65a9.jpg  

Logo Variant (Link to Source Auction/Image on eBay)

CSD_2_DS.jpg.e52fb79f4882c28fa4286c09cb5c4e1d.jpg

Direct Sales Edition (Link to Source Auction/Image on Ebay)

CSD_2_NS.jpg.1c2cf1f49234d95d97ad88cc8c427c94.jpg

Newsstand (Link to Source Auction/Image on Ebay)

 

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