Flash Comics #86, DC Comics, August 1947
It’s been a while since we visited the Golden Age. It was Undervalued Spotlight #172 to be precise, not that I’m trying to plug that post or anything.
The seeds for this post were planted a short time ago while I was visiting my friends at the Silver Snail in Toronto. On my way out Snail owner George Zotti treated me to a coffee from the Black Canary coffee shop located conveniently right in the Snail. Good coffee.
I actually started thinking about the Black Canary on the way home (I know what you’re thinking). I was certain her 1st appearance was within the Flash title but in my mind I had that white cover image where’s she’s popping out at us like from a birthday cake (actually that turned out to be Flash Comics #92, 1st solo Black Canary).
Checking at home I realized it was Flash #86 that featured the 1st Black Canary; she appeared in the Johnny Thunder back up story. Black Canary back up stories actually ended up replacing the Johnny Thunder back up stories within Flash Comics (Johnny Thunder 1st appeared in Flash Comics #1). A little while later the Justice Society of America superhero team replaced Johnny Thunder with the Black Canary. Note to Johnny Thunder, stay away from Black Canaries.
Just so you know, this is not some random Golden Age 1st appearance I just dug out of the coal mine, I really think Black Canary has the goods to stay in the pop culture mix for years to come and in a prominent way. She is part of a great stable of female heroes DC is doing wonders with.
She’s belonged to the JSA, the JLA, she’s lead the Outsiders and is currently the leader of the covert ops team Birds of Prey. She’s associated with Green Arrow, sometimes crime fighting partner and sometimes romantic interest, she’s even had a history with Ra’s Al Ghul, having once been saved by the Lazarus Pit.
The Black Canary has turned out to be a very versatile and marketable character for DC, she is all over other media especially TV, showing up, in 2002, in the television series Birds of Prey, in 2008 in the Smallville series and most recently in the Green Arrow inspired series Arrow.
Currently fans are a buzz for the upcoming “Black Canary and Zatanna: Bloodspell” graphic novel by Paul Dini.
Through the years it was established that the Black Canary was in fact two characters, mother and daughter Dinah Drake and Dinah Laurel Lance. This was a formula often used for other the Golden Age to Silver Age transition but I’m glad it didn’t stick.
In 2011, when DC Comics re-launched its continuity it was re-established that Black Canary is indeed a singular super powered heroine, Dinah Lance (née Drake). This way is better and I think the alter ego continuity for Golden Age characters is a plus. The Flash went from Jay Garrick to Barry Allen, Jay who? It’s a small point but it helps, think Clark Kent, Diana Prince.
Black Canary was created by the writer-artist team of Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino.
Robert Kanigher is one of the most important DC writers not many people know about. He took over Wonder Woman from creator William M. Marston and stayed 20 more years. Kanigher also ran much of DC’s war titles, he helped create Sgt. Rock for Pete’s sake. Yes and Kanigher also wrote the “Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt!” which introduced Barry Allen as Flash in Showcase #4 (Oct. 1956).
Carmine Infantino of course is synonymous with Silver Age DC comics.
Though it’s hard to find copies it is not impossible. The Mile High copy, a CGC 9.6 sold for over $10,000 in 2010, while the most recent sale, a CGC 3.5 in Oct 2013, fetched $913, a 74% premium of Guide.
Only 19 copies have been graded but many are still out there, ungraded. I remember having one of these maybe a decade ago and I seem to recall it being a tough sell. I wish I still had it because things are different now.
The 43rd edition of the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide shows $2010/$3505/$5000 as the 8.0/9.0/9.2 price splits.
Strengths that make this comic book a good long-term investment are:
- 1st appearance Black Canary
- Still a strong and viable character and should continue to be so
- Within the very popular Flash run (better than say All-American)
- Reasonable priced at the moment with room to appreciate
Hi, just curious why this is undervalued and not appropriately valued? Also, could you surmise on why #92 is listed at a higher value in the Overstreet guide than #86? This has always stumped me. Thanks!
Both of these books look pretty cool. My question is who is going to buy them once the current 55-75 plus generation moves on to the other side of the sod. I think golden age books that are not Superman, Batman or Captain America are going to require significant discounts to sell in the future. I don’t know if the interest or money will be there to support this age of books at todays levels in the future.
The key is the viability of the character. I think Black Canary can continue to play an important roll in the DCU. Also, like I say in the post, the fact that her alter ego has stayed the same helps this book.
You can be a 30 year old fan of Black Canary and see the value of owning her 1st appearance. Her 1st appearance could have been 1947, 1967 or 1987 as long as the character stays viable to the next generation I don’t think it makes a difference when the 1st appearance was published (obviously, the older and rarer the more expensive).
I disagree with the guide pricing #92 higher. No way. A character’s 1st appearance should always be the key book. Again, in my view Black Canary is a currently viable character that looks to have a bright future in the DCU and I think her 1st appearance could be a book that commands more than it is at the moment.
Hulk 180 shoulf have a much greater value by this logic