Collectors should be aware that there was an EXACT REPRINT of BATMAN
COMICS # 1, published in 1974 (but Dated 1940) under DC Comics'
FAMOUS FIRST
EDITION
line. Originally, the comic had a stiff outer cover identifying
it as a reprint. When the outer cover is removed, it is IDENTICAL
to the original book, except that it is OVERSIZED 10" long and 13 1/2
inches tall. There have been many instances over the years where
a non-comic collector has been fooled by one of these reprints.
When I owned a comic book store, I got at least one call per month from
someone with an oversized reprint of either Action Comics # 1 (1st
Superman), Detective Comics # 27 (1st Batman), Sensation Comics # 1
(1st Wonder Woman title), Whiz Comics # 2 (# 1) (not identical to the
original, but not identified as a reprint either), Batman # 1, or
Superman # 1.
A genuine Batman Comics # 1 will be the same size as a normal Golden Age comic book, which is slightly smaller than a normal sized magazine
On eBay, you can sometimes spot the Famous First Edition version by the cover design. An original Batman # 1 has a red building in the background of the lower left corner, and several red buildings on the lower right corner. A Famous First Edition has a red building on the right hand side only. The lower left corner of the reprint is yellow.
A genuine Batman Comics # 1 will be the same size as a normal Golden Age comic book, which is slightly smaller than a normal sized magazine
On eBay, you can sometimes spot the Famous First Edition version by the cover design. An original Batman # 1 has a red building in the background of the lower left corner, and several red buildings on the lower right corner. A Famous First Edition has a red building on the right hand side only. The lower left corner of the reprint is yellow.
Guide created: 12/02/05 (updated 10/03/08)


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