BATVARK ##1
Aardvark-Vanaheim • Batvark (One-Shot)
Writer
Dave Sim
Interior Artist
Dave Sim and Gustave Doré (backgrounds)
Cover Artist
Dave Sim
Publication Date
May 2014
Cover Variant
Regular/A Cover
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
A parody featuring Dave Sim's Cerebus the Aardvark in a costume satirizing Batman. The story involves the Batvark and his sidekick, Jingles, navigating absurdist and meta-tonal scenarios. It serves as a satire of the comic book industry and the superhero genre.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Fine/Near Mint (CGC 9.0)
Condition Details
Minor spine stress/ticks visible; slight corner blunting on the bottom right; minor scuffing on the yellow background; blue price sticker on the protective bag (not the comic itself, assuming no residue).
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $5 - $10; Graded (9.8): $40 - $60
Recent Sales
Recent eBay sales for raw copies range between $4 and $12 depending on condition. No high-volume graded market exists for this specific parody title.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading. The cost of CGC/CBCS grading exceeds the current market value for this issue unless a collector is seeking a personal 'set' completion of Sim's work.
Notable Features
Parody of Batman (Detective Comics #27 cover homage); features Jingles the Rat (Jason Todd parody); includes 'mostly reprints' according to the cover disclaimer, but contains new material from 'The Strange Death of Alex Raymond'.
Authentication Notes
Authentic indie comic. Standard saddle-stitched (stapled) binding. The printing has a matte-to-semi-gloss finish characteristic of Aardvark-Vanaheim's modern self-publishing era to maintain low costs.