DC · Copper Age · 1986
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1
DC · 1986
Noted for: Miller Dark Knight Returns begins
KEY ISSUERecorded sales · CGC 9 median
$375
3 CGC 9 sales of 6 recorded on eBay · newest Sep 28, 2026
As an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Shop this issue
We may earn a commission from these links, at no extra cost to you. As an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Disclosure.
What is Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 worth?
The Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 is a DC 1986 graded comic. Based on 6 verified eBay sold listings in the stored historical sample, graded examples sold for $179 to $375. CGC 9 examples are the most actively traded grade in this sample, with a recorded median around $375.
Before you buy
Verify the issue and printing, check the grader certification, review restoration notes, and compare recorded sales and current asking prices in the same grade.
As an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Listed now on eBay
Search current eBay listingsLast recorded sales
Historical graded comic sales on eBay. Newest recorded sale: 2026-09-28. These records do not reflect current asking prices.
| Date | Grade | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-28 | CGC 9 | $1,450 |
| 2026-09-26 | CGC 9 | $375 |
| 2026-09-25 | CGC 9 | $238 |
| 2026-09-22 | CGC 8 | $179 |
| 2026-09-22 | CGC 9 | $2,000 |
| 2026-09-20 | CGC 9 | $375 |
The Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 in context
Why collectors care
The opening issue of Frank Miller's four-issue 1986 miniseries, with Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley. Alongside Watchmen it reset what mainstream superhero comics could be, and it remains one of the most reprinted and most influential Batman stories ever told.
How to identify it
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1, 1986, prestige format. The series was originally titled simply "Batman: The Dark Knight." Multiple printings exist, and later printings are common; confirm the first printing in the indicia.
Common mistakes
Second and later printings sold at first-printing prices is the dominant trap on this book, because the covers are near-identical. Check the printing statement before you buy.
Grade considerations
The prestige format's squarebound spine shows creasing and stress readily, and the cover stock scuffs. Spine and corner condition dominate the grade, and high-grade first printings are much scarcer than raw availability suggests.
Recorded sales by grade
6 recorded eBay sales, grouped by grade. Historical prices, not current asking prices.
- Source
- eBay sold listings
- Sample
- 6 sales
- Record
- Historical sale sample
- Newest recorded sale
- Sep 28, 2026
| Grade | Sales | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 9 | 3 | $375 | $238 to $375 |
| CGC 8 | 1 | $179 | One sale |
Recorded sales by grade · how this summary is built+
Newest recorded sale: 2026-09-28. This summary describes stored history.
Inclusion
All 6 recorded eBay sold (completed) listings in this historical sample, 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, 2 of 6 sales were set aside on this rule.
A comic sale that sold for under a third of the median of this issue's lower-grade sales is also set aside as a probable reprint, facsimile, later printing or restored copy, since a higher grade of the same book should not sell for less. No sales were set aside on this rule for this item.
| Grade | Sales | Included | Set aside |
|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 9 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| CGC 8 | 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 was a completed eBay sale, listed by date, grade and price in the sales table lower on this page. Individual listings are not linked. Methodology version 2026.4. Read the full methodology.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 value FAQ
What is Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 worth?+
Based on 6 verified eBay sold listings in the stored historical sample, graded examples sold for $179 to $375.
What grade sells most often for Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1?+
CGC 9 is the most actively traded grade in the recorded sample, with 3 sales and a recent median around $375.
What is the highest median grade for Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1?+
CGC 9 has the highest median in the recorded sample at about $375. Treat this as a sold-comp snapshot, not a guaranteed sale price.
Is Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 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.
Part of these hubs
Batman: The Killing Joke
DC · 1988
1st: Landmark Joker graphic novel
Batman #404
DC · 1987
1st: Batman: Year One begins
