The Flash ##305
DC Comics • The Flash Vol. 1
Writer
Cary Bates
Interior Artist
Carmine Infantino
Cover Artist
Dick Giordano
Publication Date
January 1982
Cover Variant
Regular Edition (Direct Market - identified by the DC Bullet in the bottom left UPC box)
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Features a team-up between Barry Allen (Silver Age Flash) and Jay Garrick (Golden Age Flash). The story involves the Mirror Master and parallels the tragic deaths of their respective wives, Iris West-Allen and Joan Garrick (later revealed as a ruse or alternate timeline event).
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Fine- (7.5)
Condition Details
Minor spine stress lines visible along the left edge. Slight blunting on the top and bottom left corners. Minor surface wear on the black ink of the cover. Appears relatively flat with good color retention.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $5 - $12; Graded (CGC 9.0+): $40 - $65
Recent Sales
Recent raw sales for this issue typically fall between $4 and $10 depending on the platform. High-grade slabbed copies (9.8) have reached $100+, but mid-grades remain common and affordable.
Grading Recommendation
Not generally worth professional grading unless it is a personal favorite or part of a registry set. The cost of grading ($30+) exceeds the current market value of a mid-to-high grade raw copy. A 'press and clean' might improve the spine stress, but it is not a high-value key issue.
Notable Features
Direct Market edition (DC logo in UPC box). Notable for its 'Tragedy Repeats Itself' cover theme. Includes a back-up story featuring 'The New Adventures of Supergirl'.
Authentication Notes
Authentic 1982 DC publication. Correct 60-cent price point for the era. Standard newsprint interior and semi-gloss cover stock typical of early 80s DC books.