"DETECTIVE COMICS" #27 MAY 1939 CGC 5.0 VG/FINE (FIRST BATMAN).
Item Description
DC. First appearance of Batman (Bruce Wayne), initially referred to as "The Bat-Man" before quickly dropping the hyphen. First appearance of Commissioner James "Jim" Gordon. Bill Finger, Jerry Siegel and Jim Chambers stories. Bob Kane cover. Bob Kane, Joe Shuster, Jim Chambers and Fred Guardineer art. Cream to off-white pages.
This example really delivers when it comes to eye appeal, with its historic Bob Kane cover instantly grabbing one's attention. The issue's solid yellow background is ordinarily very prone to smudging, yet it is minimally affected here. The red "Detective Comics" logo block is also prone to fading and discoloration, but the crimson color remains bold and bright. And while there is a 1" spine split at the bottom of the book and some mild spine creasing, these issues are much lesser in severity than typically seen. To top it off, this is a superb original state example, with no restoration of any kind.
This comic is part of a recently discovered Golden Age comic book collection, of which all issues were obtained directly from the original owner who purchased them new off of the rack during the 1930s and 1940s. This issue is fresh to the market, the first time it has been offered to the public.
In any collecting focus, there are certain items that are chased after by collectors. Whether it be baseball fans chasing a Honus Wagner 1909 T206 baseball card or numismatic aficionados searching for a 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar coin, there are similar quests in the realm of comic book collecting; pieces that are universally coveted by the collecting community. Most of these sought after issues tend to correlate with the first appearances of beloved superhero characters that have been with us since the Golden Age of Comics.
The top comic book in the eyes of most collectors has always been "Action Comics" #1, featuring the first appearance of Superman, one of the first big superheroes and certainly among the most revered. Auction sales of this historic issue continue to climb, with mainstream media taking note each time one of these coveted issues come to market.
But Superman isn't the only hero that debuted during the Golden Age that has collectors taking notice. The first appearance of Batman in May 1939's "Detective Comics" #27 is just a step behind the Man of Steel in terms of sales, with many fans feeling that given the extreme popularity the Dark Knight enjoys, it's only a matter of time before he eclipses his fellow DC Comics colleague. In fact, there are more Universal (Blue Label) copies in the CGC Census of "Action Comics" #1 than there are of "Detective Comics" #27.
When first released in May of 1939, Superman and a few other now obscure heroes were the only competition Batman had. In an era that was just coming out of the Great Depression and predated superhero blockbusters by decades, comic books were just beginning to lay the groundwork for the juggernaut of media entertainment they have become today. This issue, has staked its place as one of the most important comics of all time, with Bob Kane and Bill Finger (finally credited as the character's co-creator after decades of obscurity) producing a character that took the science-fiction and wonder of Superman and flipped it, giving the world a hero more grounded in reality, with a healthy dose of noir-tinged mystery.
Inspired by Douglas Fairbanks' portrayal of Zorro, Lee Falk's comic strip "The Phantom," Leonardo DaVinci glider designs (which featured bat-like wings), mystery film "The Bat Whispers" and mystery novel "The Circular Staircase," Batman quickly became one of the most widely appreciated superhero characters throughout the world and has retained that claim for over 75 years now, being featured in countless comic books, TV shows, cartoons, movies (appearing on the Silver Screen more times than any other superhero), video games and more toys and collectibles than can be mentioned here.
This comic, in any grade (both certified and uncertified) is the crown jewel of any serious comic collection and examples of this issue with this level of eye appeal rarely surface on the market. There simply are not enough copies of "Detective Comics" #27 on the market at any given time that chances to acquire a complete, unrestored example do not often present themselves. This copy represents a rare opportunity for collectors and investors to add this "holy grail" to their collection. Once sold, the opportunity to obtain an example in this grade may not arise again for many years, and when it does, it will likely at a considerably higher price point.
"Detective Comics" #27 is one of the most desirable and among the most valuable comic books to own, befitting its status as an important part of American pop culture history.
The consignor has set a very conservative opening bid.
For this listing, Hake's Americana offers a 6 month time payment plan with a 25% non-refundable deposit due within two weeks after the close of the auction. Payment methods accepted are check, money order, wire transfer, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Regardless of the method of payment, the buyer's premium discount is not applicable for invoices utilizing this payment option.
