American Update: Batmania/DC Debuts: 1st Man-Bat in Detective Comics #400
*DC: Detective Comics celebrated its ground-breaking 400th issue with a lead tale drawn by the superlative Neal Adams – treat enough – but it also introduced a new arch-nemesis for the Caped Crusader in the shape of Kirk Langstrom, tormented scientist who became a half-human, half-bat hybrid in his quest for knowledge. Langstrom’s Jekyll & Hyde persona made him a sympathetic antagonist, and brought him back for many subsequent appearances in multiple media, making him, ironically, the best-known creation of veteran scripter Frank Robbins. Our latest pence-stamped copy is a bit of a train wreck, lots of small creases, and one long colour-breaking crease across the top quarter of the cover from centre top to centre right. Also the vestige of a subscription crease. Off top staple with a tear in that area with no loss. Small tear at top edge too and blunted, well-rubbed corners with very worn spine. Label removal scuff over Comics Code box. Central cover image relatively intact with, amazingly, some residual gloss and pages that aren’t too bad. It might fill a gap for you until you can find a better copy.
PICTURED: DETECTIVE COMICS #400 FA+ p £60