Issue cover. Verify the exact issue, printing, and cover before buying.
DC · Copper Age · 1988
Batman: The Killing Joke
DC · 1988
Noted for: Landmark Joker graphic novel
KEY ISSUEShop this issue
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What is Batman: The Killing Joke worth?
The Batman: The Killing Joke is a DC 1988 graded comic. Based on 6 verified eBay sold listings from the last 90 days, recent graded examples have sold for $95 to $250. CGC 9 examples are the most actively traded grade in this sample, with a recent median around $184.
Before you buy
Verify the issue and printing, check the grader certification, review restoration notes, and compare recent sold examples in the same grade.
The Batman: The Killing Joke in context
Why collectors care
Batman: The Killing Joke (1988) is the landmark Alan Moore and Brian Bolland one-shot exploring the Joker, one of the most celebrated and influential Batman stories ever told.
How to identify it
The 1988 first printing is the key; the book went through many later printings, distinguishable by the indicia and interior printing notes. First printings have a specific price and no additional printing statement.
Common mistakes
Later printings are frequently sold at first-printing prices; check the indicia for the printing number. There are many.
Grade considerations
The prestige-format cover shows corner and spine wear, so high-grade first-printing copies are scarcer than the print run suggests and carry the premium.
Sold price summary
6 verified eBay sales from the last 90 days, grouped by grade.
- Source
- eBay sold listings
- Sample
- 6 sales
- Window
- Last 90 days
- Last checked
- Jul 1, 2026
| Grade | Sales | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 9 | 4 | $184 | $130 to $250 |
| CGC 8.5 | 1 | $95 | N/A |
How this summary is built+
Inclusion
All 6 eBay sold (completed) listings we have for this item from the last 90 days, grouped by grader and grade. Asking prices and active listings are never counted.
Outlier handling
Within any grade that has four or more sales, a price below one-third of, or above three times, the within-grade median is set aside before the median is taken. For this item, 1 of 6 sales were set aside.
| Grade | Sales | Included | Set aside |
|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 9 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| CGC 8.5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Shipping and fees
Figures are the sale prices as recorded by the marketplace. They are not adjusted for shipping, taxes, or seller fees, so treat them as sale-price reference points, not net-to-seller or all-in buyer costs.
Provenance
Every sale in this summary traces to an individual eBay listing, shown in the sold-listings table lower on this page. Methodology version 2026.1. Read the full methodology.
Batman: The Killing Joke value FAQ
What is Batman: The Killing Joke worth?+
Based on 6 verified eBay sold listings from the last 90 days, graded examples have recently sold for $95 to $250.
What grade sells most often for Batman: The Killing Joke?+
CGC 9 is the most actively traded grade in the current sample, with 4 sales and a recent median around $184.
What is the highest median grade for Batman: The Killing Joke?+
CGC 9 has the highest median in the current sample at about $184. Treat this as a sold-comp snapshot, not a guaranteed sale price.
Is Batman: The Killing Joke worth grading?+
For this comic, compare the likely raw value, grading fees, shipping, and the median for the grade you realistically expect. Grading usually makes sense only when the expected graded value clears those costs.
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