The Man of Steel #No. 3
DC Comics • The Man of Steel (1986)
Writer
John Byrne
Interior Artist
John Byrne (pencils), Dick Giordano (inks)
Cover Artist
John Byrne
Publication Date
November 1986
Cover Variant
Regular/Direct Edition (denoted by DC logo in UPC box)
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Post-Crisis re-imagining of the first meeting between Superman and Batman. Superman travels to Gotham City to arrest Batman, but they eventually team up to stop Magpie.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Fine / Near Mint (CGC 9.0)
Condition Details
Minor spine stress visible; corners appear sharp under plastic but show slight softening on the bottom left. Cover gloss is excellent. Some minor bag-induced warping or slight bending on the left edge.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $5 - $15. Graded (9.8): $60 - $90.
Recent Sales
Raw copies typically sell for $5-10 at local comic shops. CGC 9.8 copies have recently sold for approximately $75-80.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading unless a 9.8 is guaranteed. Grading costs often exceed the value of mid-to-high grade raw copies of this issue.
Notable Features
First Post-Crisis meeting of Batman and Superman. First appearance of Magpie (Margaret Pye). Modern age origin of the Batman/Superman relationship. Features Batman and Magpie on the cover.
Authentication Notes
Authentic 1980s DC Direct Edition. Correct trade dress for the era, including the '75c' price point and 'Space Clusters is coming!' advertisement box where the barcode would be.