Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, dc, dc comics, entertainment

Walking Around Well Named 'Impossible Collection' Of DC Comic Books

Published Fri, 25 Mar 2016 10:00:44 -0500

Last updated Sun, 18 Jun 2023 10:02:09 -0500

Last night, after seeing the Batman V Superman film in London's Leicester Square, I took a trip up the Northern Line to St Pancras Renaissance Hotel for the one night exhibiting of The Impossible Collection (DC Comics Chapter), a magnificent collection of golden and silver age American superhero comic books, along with an incredible collection of more recent original comic book artwork.

Plenty of comic book glitterati were there, though I arrived a little late. Which gave me less of a crowd to enjoy the collection with.

Though I was joined by a certain movie Flash actor, Ezra Miller, enjoying the first appearance of the character, in Showcase Comics #4.

The exhibition was created with scaffolding and strip lighting which gave the who area an industrial feel, or even a bank vault, these were comic books that weren't going anywhere. Even though minutes after I left the scaffolding started to come down. This was a one night deal.

The lighting also made the comics on display incredibly difficult to photograph, though easy to see with your eyes. You literally had to be there.

This was a collection with key books at its core. The two best quality editions of Action Comics #1 in the world, the first appearance of Superman, which last sold at auction for $3.2 million. And while the place as full of first appearances…

It also had long runs of these most famous of superhero comics on display, all in the best condition available.

With historical documents to match.

The collection has been put together from one Lebanese businessman, Ayman Hariri.

His father was the assassinated Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri – and was present in the exhibits.

He has been aided in this endeavour by Metropolis Comics, who bought many of the items on his behalf – and Stephen Fishler and Vincent Zurzolo, Jr were at the show last night as well.

Stephen talked me through some of his own personal comics he had sold to Hariri. And while he was sad to see them go, he was honoured to see them displayed in such a fashion alongside their brethren.

The big question to ask is – where can other people see this collection? It's unclear. There is the possibility that the collection will be exhibited elsewhere n the world. And just as this is an impressive DC Comics collection, there is a Marvel Chapter yet to be unveiled

On the of chance that it may be coming to a town – or comic convention – near you, you might like to give them your contact details. But this is a collection that comic book experts are going to be dissecting on Bleeding Cool, item by item. For now though, here are a few more glare-y photographs of what was truly a remarkable night.