Detective Comics #27

DC · 1939

Noted for: Batman

KEY ISSUE

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CGC 9.8 CGC 9.6 CGC 9.4 CBCS 9.8

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Before you buy

Verify the issue and printing, check the grader certification, review restoration notes, and compare recent sold examples in the same grade.

Grading guides

The Detective Comics #27 in context

Why collectors care

Detective Comics #27 (1939) is the first appearance of Batman and one of the two or three most important comics ever published. Alongside Action Comics #1 it sits at the very top of the hobby, and any unrestored copy is a museum-grade rarity.

How to identify it

A genuine 1939 first printing, not one of the many later reprints, facsimiles, and the 1984 oversized Famous First Edition replica. Confirm the DC Golden Age indicia and, at this level, insist on third-party grading with documented provenance.

Common mistakes

Reprints and the Famous First Edition are routinely mistaken for, or misrepresented as, the original. Restoration (trimming, color touch, married pages) is common on Golden Age keys and must be disclosed; buy graded only.

Grade considerations

Almost every surviving copy shows heavy wear, so mid and low grades are the market and the census in high grade is tiny. Restoration detection and provenance matter more than chasing a high number.

Sold comps

No graded sold listings in the last 90 days. Check the Raw tab for ungraded sales.