Abell Auction Co. is set to open the doors to Hollywood history with its upcoming Mark Canton Collection sale, a landmark event showcasing iconic props, rare scripts, and museum-worthy artworks assembled over the course of one of the most influential careers in modern entertainment. While the collection spans decades of film and television, one item rises above the rest for collectors of comic book history, cinematic memorabilia, and superhero culture: the Bob Kane signed original Batman script, personally inscribed to producer and studio executive Mark Canton.
The live auction will take place on Wednesday, December 3 at 9:00 a.m. PST at Abell Auction Company in Los Angeles, with online, absentee, and phone bidding available.
A Historic Script from the Birth of the Modern Superhero Era
The script—the fifth draft of Batman, dated October 5, 1988—comes from the crucial developmental phase of Tim Burton’s 1989 blockbuster, the film widely credited with reshaping the superhero movie landscape. Before Michael Keaton donned the cape and cowl, before Jack Nicholson’s Joker redefined villainy for a new generation, Batman’s transition from comic pages to a darker, cinematic Gotham was still being forged behind studio doors. At that moment, Mark Canton, then a key executive at Warner Bros., was one of the individuals steering the project toward fruition.
What makes this piece extraordinary is not simply its connection to a pivotal film—it is the signature that adorns its pages. Bob Kane, the legendary co-creator of Batman (alongside Bill Finger), personally signed and inscribed the script to Canton. In doing so, he bridged two eras of the mythos: the Golden Age beginnings of the Caped Crusader and the revolutionary cinematic rebirth that would ignite decades of modern superhero storytelling.
For collectors, Kane’s signature on a working production script is more than a mark of authenticity—it is an irreplaceable piece of provenance. It signifies the direct participation of one of Batman’s original creators in the cultural moment that propelled the character from comic icon to international film phenomenon. The personalized dedication underscores the collaboration between one of the creative originators and the studio forces who brought Gotham City to life for millions.
A Centerpiece in a Collection of Hollywood History
The Bob Kane-signed Batman script is just one highlight of the expansive Mark Canton Collection, which reflects the producer’s long and storied career at Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, and his own Canton Entertainment. The auction also includes:
Yet even among these rarities, the Batman script stands uniquely positioned at the crossroads of comic lore and Hollywood transformation—a once-in-a-lifetime acquisition for any serious collector.
Auction Details
When: Wednesday, December 3 | 9:00 a.m. PST
Where: Abell Auction Co., 2613 Yates Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90040
Bidding is available in person, online, by absentee, or by phone.
Online bidding available HERE or call 310-858-3073 to bid by phone or direct absentee bid.
Catalog access, bidding registration, and additional sale information are available through Abell Auction Co.
About Abell Auction Co.
Celebrating over 110 years as a family-owned auction house, Abell has long been a trusted steward of significant private collections, celebrity estates, and cultural artifacts. Blending its historic in-person model with global online reach, Abell continues to pair world-class offerings with a uniquely personal touch.
As the gavel prepares to fall on the Mark Canton Collection, the Bob Kane–signed Batman script emerges as a crown jewel—an enduring symbol of creativity, legacy, and the enduring shadow cast by the Dark Knight.
