DCCGC
Batman
#227 · 1970
8.0
Character
Batman comics
Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27, cover-dated May 1939, from DC Comics, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger.
- First appearance
- Detective Comics #27
- Cover date
- May 1939
- Publisher
- DC Comics
- Creators
- Bob Kane and Bill Finger
Graded Batman books in the vault
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DCCGC
Batman Adventures
#12 · 1993
9.8
DCCGC
Detective Comics (2011)
#20 · 2013
9.8
Key issueLast copy
DC Comics · Modern Age
Detective Comics (2011) #20
CGC 9.8 · Signature Series
(0)
$999
DCCGC
Dark Nights: Metal
#1 · 2017
9.8
Batman guides
First appearance, key issues and what drives the prices.
AuctionsConfirmed
ICv2 estimates 2026 comic shop sales up 19%, graphic novels up 28%
According to The Beat's report from New York Comic Con, ICv2's Milton Greipp estimated at Thursday's ICv2 White Paper that comics sales in comic shops are up 19% so far in 2026, with graphic novels up 28%. The Beat notes this comes against even bigger growth last year.
Oct 9, 2026
NewsConfirmed
DC announces Absolute Justice miniseries for April 2027 at NYCC
At its Absolute DC panel at New York Comic Con, DC announced Absolute Justice, a five-issue event miniseries by writer Jason Aaron and artist Juan Ferreyra, launching in April 2027. Per press reports of the panel, it will not interrupt the ongoing Absolute titles.
Oct 8, 2026
Key issues
1st Harley Quinn Comic: Batman Adventures #12 and What Grade Does
Harley Quinn's first comic is The Batman Adventures #12, cover-dated September 1993 from DC Comics. It was printed in large numbers, so its price depends mostly on grade: 9.8 copies, newsstand copies and the scarcer second printing carry the premium.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Key issues
Batman Quotes vs. Batman Comics: Key Issues Collectors Chase
Most famous Batman quotes come from films, TV and animation rather than the original comics, and no quote makes a comic more valuable. What collectors pay for is a key issue, such as Detective Comics #27, in a high certified grade.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
News
The most expensive comic books ever sold: documented record sales
The record for a single comic is 6 million dollars, paid for a CGC 8.5 copy of Action Comics #1 (1938) at Heritage Auctions in April 2024. Other documented milestone sales include a CGC 7.0 Superman #1 at 5.3 million dollars (private sale, 2022), a CGC 9.6 Amazing Fantasy #15 at 3.6 million dollars (Heritage, September 2021), a CGC 8.5 Action Comics #1 at 3.25 million dollars (ComicConnect, April 2021) and a CGC 9.4 Captain America Comics #1 at 3.12 million dollars (Heritage, April 2022).
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
What is the first appearance of Batman?
Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27, cover-dated May 1939, in a six-page story titled “The Case of the Chemical Syndicate”, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and published by Detective Comics, Inc. (DC). Finger, who wrote the story and shaped the costume, was officially credited by DC as co-creator from 2015. A CGC 8.0 copy sold for 1.5 million dollars at Heritage Auctions in January 2022.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
What is the first appearance of Harley Quinn?
Harley Quinn's first comic-book appearance is The Batman Adventures #12, cover-dated September 1993, by Kelley Puckett, Mike Parobeck and Rick Burchett, in the tie-in series to Batman: The Animated Series. She was created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm for the television episode “Joker's Favor”, first broadcast in September 1992, a year before she reached print.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Key issues
Batman Adventures #12 explained: Harley Quinn's first comic appearance
The Batman Adventures #12 (September 1993) is Harley Quinn's first appearance in comics, a year after her television debut in Batman: The Animated Series. It is the most valuable comic of the 1990s after New Mutants #98 and a standard Modern Age key. Because it was printed in large numbers, the value sits almost entirely in 9.8 copies, newsstand copies and the scarcer second printing.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
History
A short history of DC Comics
DC traces to National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1934, whose New Fun #1 (February 1935) was among the first comics of all-original material. Detective Comics, Inc. (1937) gave the company its initials and, with Action Comics #1 (June 1938), Superman. Sister company All-American Publications added Wonder Woman, the Flash and Green Lantern; the firms merged as National Comics Publications in 1946, became part of Kinney National (later Warner) in 1967, and adopted the name DC Comics officially in 1977.
Updated Oct 11, 2026