Detective Comics #27 hit the newsstands in March 1939 with the first appearance of Batman — just 11 months after the debut of Superman in Action Comics #1. Both issues would become major works of pop culture, and still continually set new records at auction.
The contents of this classic Detective are just as notable. “The Case of the Chemical Syndicate” introduces readers to both the Dark Knight and wealthy playboy Bruce Wayne, as co-creators Bob Kane and Bill Finger also establish the crimefighter’s relationship with Commissioner Jim Gordon. The story is notable as a time capsule of Batman’s debt to pulp heroes, with Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego happy to throw thugs from rooftops or grimly approve of a murderer’s demise in an acid bath. The seemingly carefree socialite is even revealed as our hero in the final panels, continuing a tradition going back to Zorro and the Scarlet Pimpernel.
Most notably this copy being a CGC 6.5 Unrestored makes it very rare in this grade, with only 8 higher graded copies in the world! This purchase also set a new World Record as the highest sold copy for Batman's 1st Appearance just shy of $2m, at $1.825m!