BATMAN ##281
DC Comics • Batman Vol. 1
Writer
David Vern Reed
Interior Artist
Ernie Chan
Cover Artist
Ernie Chan
Publication Date
November 1976
Cover Variant
Regular/Direct Edition (Newsstand/UPC barcode present)
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Features the story 'Murder Comes in Black Boxes!'. Batman travels to a foreign country to investigate the murder of a friend and gets entangled in a plot involving secret police and international espionage. Key characters: Batman, Commissioner Gordon.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Good (CGC 2.0)
Condition Details
Heavy wear including color-breaking spine stress, significant corner blunting and creasing in top left and right corners, visible edge wear and chipping on the left spine edge, significant soiling/surface staining, and multiple creases across the cover surface.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $10 - $20; Graded (CGC 2.0): $35 - $50
Recent Sales
High-grade copies (NM) sell for $100+, but lower-grade copies in the 2.0-4.0 range frequently sell for between $12 and $18 on platforms like eBay.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading. The cost of the grading service (approx. $30-50) would exceed the final market value of a 2.0 copy.
Notable Features
Bronze Age DC title, Ernie Chan cover art, UPC barcode in bottom left corner indicating newsstand distribution.
Authentication Notes
Authentic Bronze Age comic. Paper aging (browning) on the edges is consistent with 1970s low-grade newsprint; staple placement and ink saturation match DC production standards for 1976.