Detective Comics ##471
DC Comics • Detective Comics Vol. 1
Writer
Steve Englehart
Interior Artist
Marshall Rogers
Cover Artist
Marshall Rogers
Publication Date
August 1977
Cover Variant
Regular/Direct Edition (Whitman/UPC variant variant type)
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Features the 2nd modern appearance and revival of Hugo Strange. This issue is part of the legendary Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers run, often cited as the definitive late-1970s Batman era. Strange returns from the dead to frame Batman and blackmail Gotham's elite.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Fine/Very Fine (CGC 7.0)
Condition Details
Moderate spine stress with color-breaking ticks; visible diagonal crease across the upper right corner; edge wear along the top and right margins; slight blunting on the bottom left corner; visible waviness suggesting possible minor moisture exposure or storage pressure.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $30.00 - $55.00; Graded (CGC 7.0): $120.00 - $160.00
Recent Sales
Recent eBay sales for raw copies in mid-grade range from $35 to $60. CGC 9.8 copies have reached over $1,200, but lower grades remain affordable.
Grading Recommendation
Only worth grading if part of a complete collection or if a professional press and clean could elevate it to an 8.0+. In its current 7.0 state, the cost of grading may outweigh the immediate profit margin.
Notable Features
Second appearance of Hugo Strange in the Bronze Age. Includes the 35-cent price point. Features the 'You could be in the Superman Movie' banner. Notable for the UPC logo appearing in the corner (Newsstand/early Direct distribution).
Authentication Notes
Authentic 1977 DC stock. Paper quality shows expected light off-white aging. Staple placement is correct for the era. Printing registration is sharp, typical of the Rogers/Austin production quality.