Early this year, there was a furious tussle between superheroes as comic book legends Superman and Batman wrestled for the title of the most valuable comic book.
The Man of Steel struck first, as the highest graded Action Comics #1 (Superman's first appearance) became the first seven-figure comic book. But it was the Caped Crusader who was left standing as the best copy of Detective Comics #27 in which he arrived crept past it to be the most expensive ever.
That copy is actually graded just 8.0 by the CGC - not exceptional for many issues, but the best that has survived from the easily smudged edition, and few other copies in even reasonable condition exist.
Currently, Heritage are offering what they describe as "easily the second-nicest unrestored copy [they've] ever offered", graded at 7.5.
 The 8.0 grade Detective Comics #27 which sold for $1,075,000 in February |
It has been owned by just two people since its initial newsstand appearance, and has never left Hawaii until now. The seller, an anonymous lifelong Hawaii resident, bought the comic for $1,200 whilst a college student in 1974 from the original (and only other) owner.
With 13 comic book collectors/investors already having placed bids, the price currently stands at an impressive $500,000, and there are still two days left to bid before the live auction on Thursday August 5.
As we've reported, a copy of Batman #1 (issued in 1940, the year after his first appearance) will also be appearing in the sale. There is also an unusual Carl Banks oil painting depicting Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck and two of their younger kin: An Embarrassment of Riches.
Currently carrying a bid of $45,000, the 1983 classic was created for Disney and is one of Banks's personal favourites. Watch this space for the results of the sale.
Collectors interested in collectibles from Batman's more recent incarnations may wish to take a look at this signed photograph of Katie Holmes, who starred in Batman Begins
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