Detective Comics #38

DC · 1940

Noted for: Robin the Boy Wonder

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 #38 in context

Why collectors care

The first appearance of Robin, cover-dated April 1940 and billed on the cover as "The Sensational Character Find of 1940." Robin created the template for the teen sidekick across the entire industry, making this a foundational Golden Age book.

How to identify it

Detective Comics #38, April 1940, 10 cents. The cover shows Robin bursting through a circular emblem beside Batman, which is the fastest visual confirmation.

Common mistakes

As with all Golden Age keys, restoration, trimming, and married pages are the real risks. Facsimile and reprint editions of this cover also circulate widely.

Grade considerations

Surviving copies are overwhelmingly low grade with brittle pages. Certification is essential, and page quality and restoration status often matter more to price than the numeric grade.

Sold comps

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