Heritage’s Comics & Comic Art Signature Auction on September 8-11, 2022, contains many high value offerings, including Batman’s first appearance and early Steve Ditko Spider-Man art.

Detective Comics #27 CGC Apparent 7.0 features Bruce Wayne/Batman’s debut and is considered the second most valuable comic book in the market. The key issue also introduces Commissioner Gordon, has a story by Bill Finger, cover by Bob Kane, and interior art by Kane, Joe Shuster, Jim Chambers, and Fred Guardineer.

The art section is led by Steve Ditko’s Amazing Spider-Man #18 splash page 1, which marks the earliest appearance of Green Goblin original art that Heritage has seen. The splash shows J. Jonah Jameson pointing out to the audience with Green Goblin chasing Spider-Man.

A pair of major Marvel keys are also offered, starting with Marvel’s first family in Fantastic Four #1 CGC 9.0. The issue contains the origin and first appearance of the team containing Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, the Thing, and the Human Torch. Stan Lee wrote the story for this issue and Jack Kirby provided the cover and art.

Another important Marvel team is introduced in X-Men #1 CGC 9.2, including Professor X, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel, Beast, and Iceman, as well as Magneto. Lee and Kirby also partnered on this issue with Lee on the story and Kirby on the cover and art.

Batman is also represented in the original art section with Frank Miller and Klaus Janson’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #4 story page 11. The page captures Batman’s silhouette on horseback in striking contrast to the white background. The effect is reversed on the bottom half with a black background outside of the panels.