Detective Comics 427 Appraisal

Detective Comics #427 (September 1972)

This is a vintage Bronze Age comic book titled Detective Comics No. 427, published by DC Comics in September 1972. The front cover features dynamic artwork by Mike Kaluta, depicting Batman lying prone on a pile of dolls while a skeletal figure holds a smoking gun, set against a vibrant yellow background. The top left features the classic 'DC' circular logo with a 20-cent price point in the top right. Notable features include the headline story 'A Small Case of Murder!' and a secondary feature titled 'The Master Crime-File of Jason Bard.' Physically, the book displays characteristics consistent with its age, including newsprint interior pages and a glossy paper cover. Regarding condition, the comic shows visible wear along the spine with small stress lines and color breaking. There is moderate rounding and minor blunting on the corners, and the edges show some shelf wear and light creasing. The original 'Comics Code Authority' seal is present on the front cover, indicating it met the industry's moral guidelines of the era. The colors remain relatively bright, though there is general surface wear typical for an ungraded vintage collectible. This issue is a key example of the mystery-focused storytelling prevalent in early 1970s Batman comics.