Detective Comics #27 Value & Price Guide (2026)
A year after Superman proved that superheroes could sell comics, DC needed another one. Bob Kane delivered. Detective Comics #27 hit newsstands in May 1939 with a six-page story called "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate." It introduced a wealthy socialite named Bruce Wayne who dressed as a bat to fight crime. No superpowers. No alien origin. Just a man with a grudge, a costume, and a lot of money. That six-page story created a billion-dollar franchise - and the comic itself last sold for $1,825,088 in 2024.
Quick Value Summary
| Item | Detective Comics #27 |
| Year | 1939 |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Category | Comic Books - Golden Age |
| Creator | Bob Kane (with Bill Finger, uncredited) |
| Condition Range | |
| Fine (CGC 5.0–6.5) | $650,000 – $700,000 |
| Very Fine (CGC 7.0–8.0) | ~$1,350,000 |
| Near Mint (CGC 9.0+) | $3,000,000 – $3,500,000 |
| Record Sale | $1,825,088 (CGC 6.5, ComicConnect, 2024) |
| Previous Records | $1,740,000 (CGC 6.5, Goldin Auctions, 2022); $1,100,000 (CGC VF 8.0, 2010) |
| Rarity | Extremely Rare |
The Story
Batman's origin is rooted in tragedy. Bruce Wayne watched his parents murdered in a dark alley as a child. He devoted his life - and his fortune - to fighting crime. Unlike Superman, Batman had no powers. He relied on intelligence, physical training, gadgets, and sheer will. That vulnerability made him compelling. Readers could imagine being Batman in a way they couldn't be Superman.
The character was created by Bob Kane, though history has since recognized the enormous contributions of writer Bill Finger, who went uncredited for decades. Finger developed much of what makes Batman iconic - the dark tone, the detective angle, the visual design of the cowl and cape. DC officially credited Finger as a Batman co-creator in 2015.
Detective Comics #27 wasn't just another superhero debut. It established that the genre could work in a darker register. Superman was bright and optimistic. Batman was shadows and violence. That contrast created the foundation for DC's entire publishing identity - and for decades of cultural impact spanning TV, film, and beyond.
The issue is one of the rarest Golden Age comics in existence. Exact survival numbers aren't known, but far fewer copies exist than Action Comics #1. Every sale makes headlines.
How to Identify It
Key Visual Markers
Cover: Batman swinging on a rope, carrying a man, with a city skyline behind them. The title "Detective Comics" runs across the top in yellow.
Cover price: 10 cents.
Interior pages: Newsprint, 64 pages including covers.
The Batman story is only 6 pages within the anthology issue.
What Makes It Authentic
Original newsprint paper stock, yellowed and brittle with age
Period-correct printing techniques (visible dot-matrix pattern under magnification)
Original staples showing appropriate age and rust
No reprint markings or modern barcodes
Reprints to Watch For
Multiple reprints exist, including anniversary editions, facsimile reprints, and collection volumes. None are worth more than a few dollars. The original is identified by its 10-cent cover price, newsprint interiors, and absence of any reprint notation.
Value by Condition
Detective Comics #27 trades so rarely that each sale effectively sets a new market. Recent sales paint a clear picture of the trajectory:
2010: A CGC VF 8.0 copy sold for $1,100,000 - the first comic besides Action Comics #1 to break seven figures.
2022: A CGC 6.5 copy sold for $1,740,000 at Goldin Auctions.
2024: The same grade sold for $1,825,088 at ComicConnect's Event Auction 57.
The trend is unmistakable: values are climbing. A Fine-condition copy now commands well over half a million dollars. Higher grades are multi-million-dollar territory.
Given the extreme rarity, condition grading is everything. A single point on the CGC scale can represent hundreds of thousands of dollars. Professional authentication isn't just recommended - it's the only way to transact at this level.
Authentication & Fakes
The Stakes
With individual copies selling for nearly $2 million, the incentive to create fakes or misrepresent restored copies is enormous.
What to Watch For
Restoration: The most common issue. Many surviving copies have been restored over the decades - color touch-ups, spine reinforcement, cleaned pages. CGC identifies restoration and assigns a purple (restored) label. Unrestored copies command massive premiums.
Counterfeit copies: Rare but they exist. Paper stock, printing method, and staple composition are the primary tells. Professional authentication catches what the eye can't.
Trimmed pages: Cutting edges to make pages appear crisper. CGC detects this through precise measurements.
Professional Grading
CGC certification is absolutely essential for any potential Detective Comics #27. There is no legitimate market for ungraded copies at this price level. The grading fee is irrelevant compared to the value - and the peace of mind - it provides to both buyer and seller.
Where to Sell
If you have a genuine copy of Detective Comics #27:
ComicConnect - Holds the current record sale ($1,825,088 in 2024). Strong track record with Golden Age keys.
Heritage Auctions - The largest comics auction house. Global buyer reach.
Goldin Auctions - Held the previous record ($1,740,000 in 2022). Strong in high-profile collectibles.
Do not sell privately without professional appraisal and CGC grading. The difference between a knowledgeable sale and a naive one can be hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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Common Questions
How much is Detective Comics #27 worth?
Recent sales put it between $650,000 and $1,825,088 depending on condition - and that's for mid-grade copies. Higher-graded examples, if they ever surface, would likely exceed $3 million. This is one of the three most valuable American comic books in existence.
Is Detective Comics #27 rarer than Action Comics #1?
Yes, by most estimates. Fewer copies of Detective Comics #27 are known to survive. Action Comics #1 had a larger print run and more copies have surfaced over the years. Both are extraordinarily rare.
Who really created Batman?
Bob Kane is credited as the creator and was for decades. However, writer Bill Finger made enormous contributions to the character's design, origin story, and tone. DC officially recognized Finger as a co-creator in 2015, and modern printings credit "Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger."
What's the highest-graded copy?
The highest-graded sale recorded is a CGC VF 8.0 that sold for $1,100,000 in 2010. The CGC census for this book is extremely small. Higher-graded copies may exist in private collections but haven't surfaced publicly.
Should I get my copy graded before selling?
Absolutely. At this price level, CGC grading is non-negotiable. It authenticates the book, establishes the condition, and gives buyers the confidence to pay fair market value. An ungraded copy would sell for a fraction of its potential.
Related Items
Action Comics #1 - Superman's debut, 1938. The only comic book consistently more valuable. Up to $6,000,000.
Amazing Fantasy #15 - Spider-Man's first appearance, 1962. The Silver Age's most valuable book. $7,500 to $3,600,000.
Batman: The Killing Joke First Print - The definitive Joker story by Alan Moore, 1988. An accessible Batman key at $10 to $250.
Fantastic Four #1 - The book that launched Marvel's Silver Age. $4,500 to $2,040,000.
Incredible Hulk #1 - The Hulk's debut, 1962. Up to $750,000.
X-Men #1 (1963) - The original mutant team. $1,000 to $807,300.
Part of our guide: Are My Old Comic Books Worth Anything? →
Last updated: February 2026. Prices based on recent CGC census data, ComicConnect, Goldin Auctions, and Heritage Auctions results. For a current estimate on your specific comic, upload a photo to Curio Comp.
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