Batman's Detective Comics ##479
DC Comics • Detective Comics Vol. 1
Writer
Len Wein
Interior Artist
Marshall Rogers
Cover Artist
Marshall Rogers and Dick Giordano
Publication Date
October 1978
Cover Variant
Regular (Newsstand Edition with UPC)
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
The issue features the 'Full-Length Finale' of Batman's battle with Preston Payne (the third Clayface). It also contains a Hawkman backup story titled 'The Case of the Cosmic Courtship' by Jack C. Harris and Al Milgrom.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Fine+ (CGC 8.5)
Condition Details
Visible minor spine stress ticks that do not appear to break color significantly. Slight corner blunting on the top right. Minor surface wear and some edge wear along the right side of the cover. Generally flat and well-preserved within the poly bag. Cover gloss remains high.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $25–$45; Graded (9.8): $250–$350; Graded (8.5): $60–$80
Recent Sales
Recent eBay sales for raw mid-to-high grade copies range from $30 to $50. CGC 9.6 copies have recently sold for approximately $150-$180.
Grading Recommendation
Conditional. If a professional press and clean could push this to a 9.4 or 9.6, it is worth grading. At an estimated 8.5, the cost of grading plus shipping may exceed the immediate value gain. It is a desirable late-Bronze Age issue due to the Marshall Rogers art.
Notable Features
Features the conclusion of the Preston Payne (Clayface III) storyline. Notable for the iconic art of Marshall Rogers. Contains Newsstand UPC barcode. 44-page 'Dollar Comics' era style pricing (50 cents).
Authentication Notes
Authentic Bronze Age DC publication. Standard newsstand pricing, period-correct trade dress, and expected paper aging/distress patterns for 1978 newsprint stock.