Detective Comics ##298
DC Comics • Detective Comics Vol. 1
Writer
Bill Finger
Interior Artist
Sheldon Moldoff
Cover Artist
Sheldon Moldoff
Publication Date
December 1961
Cover Variant
Regular
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Batman and Robin face off against Matt Hagen, the second Clayface. This issue features the story 'The Menace of Clay-Face!' where the shapeshifter returns to plague Gotham City.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Good/Very Good (CGC 3.0)
Condition Details
Moderate to heavy spine wear with visible stress lines and color breaks; significant corner blunting at all corners; circular ink stamp '8d' on front cover near top right; edge wear and minor chipping on left edge; some surface soiling and minor creasing; page tanning likely given age.
Estimated Market Value
Raw $80 - $120; Graded CGC 3.0 $130 - $160
Recent Sales
Copies in mid-grade (6.0) sell for approximately $250; low-grade copies (2.0-3.5) consistently sell between $70 and $130 depending on eye appeal.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading in this condition unless intended for personal preservation. The cost of grading plus shipping would represent a large percentage of the total value. A press might improve the creases but won't remove the ink stamp or spine damage.
Notable Features
Silver Age Key. Early appearance of the second Clayface (Matt Hagen). UK price variant '8d' stamp present on cover. Features Batman and Robin.
Authentication Notes
The coloring, paper aging, and presence of the character-specific Silver Age artwork are consistent with DC publication practices from 1961. The '8d' stamp indicates it was distributed in the UK market.