Gotham's protector, The Dark Knight, has been around for a very long time, and he's perhaps the most interesting of all superheroes. After Bruce Wayne's parents were killed in front of him as a child, he swore he'd avenge them by becoming a figurehead for other victims of crime. He did so by turning the fear he felt as a child into his greatest weapon, becoming Batman.

Related: 10 Villains Only Batman Can Defeat

Over the years, Batman has fought many foes, including the infamous Joker, Penguin, Hush, and Killer Croc, giving Gotham City citizens hope in the war against crime. Many of Batman's stories are worth a lot of money, but there are several rare Batman comics people are willing to invest in, from his first appearance to famous issues featuring remarkable cover art and popular stories.

Updated by Jodi Nicholls on 17 October 2022. Prices change and tastes shift, which is why we regularly update this list to reflect the latest information.

10 Batman #9

Worth: $28,680

Batman and Robin in Batman #9 in DC Comics

The highest known sale of a Batman comic was in 2013 when Batman #9 sold for $28,680 with a CGC grade of 9.4. It features the iconic cover with a colorful Batman and Robin caught in a yellow spotlight. The story features four criminals who steal a ruby from a man known as Jaffeer, who then places a curse on them.

As the Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder hunt down the four fugitives, they witness the curses slowly consume the thieves. Lightning strikes one down, air chokes another, metal punctures a heart, and the final fugitive dies of dehydration. It's an odd story, but one that could make any comic collector a nice sum of money for a near-mint issue.

9 Batman #5

Worth: $33,333

Iconic DC comic cover of Batman #5

There are some dark versions of the Joker in his storied history. He's a sadistic murderer and psychopath with no regard for anything or anyone. However, back when he was first introduced, he was more into stealing jewels than killing people. In Batman #5, he launches a gambling ship for the wealthy people of Gotham.

In this highly-valuable story, The Joker tries to get the wealthy shipmates drunk so they reveal the whereabouts of their valuable gems; however, Batman intervenes and manages to foil his plans. They play cards together and get involved in a high-speed boat chase, leading to a lighthouse where Robin throws the Joker off the very top of the tower and into the whirling sea below.

8 Batman #11

Worth: $65,725

DC Comics Batman #11. Batman and Robin fight the joker on some playing cards.

These days, fans couldn't imagine seeing Batman chasing after Joker on a tandem bicycle as he escapes on a horse-drawn carriage. However, in Batman #11, this unlikely scenario happens. The Joker advertised all his crimes in the local newspaper, leading Batman and Robin to try and stop him from causing mischief on the streets of Gotham.

Robin almost dies from being poisoned by gas, and Batman isn't too pleased with the near murder of his best friend and ally. He finds the Joker and punches him through a window, foiling his master plan once more. With one of the finest Batman covers of all time, its record sale came in 2016 when sold for $65,725 with a CGC grade of 9.4.

7 Detective Comics #29

Worth: $95,600

Detective Comics #29 comic cover - expensive and rare DC Comics

Whilst two other copies of Detective Comics #29 sold for much less with a higher CGC grade, it was in May 2018 when a 5.0 CGC-graded copy sold for $95,600. The story includes the first appearance of Doctor Death, as well as the first official naming of one of Batman's enemies.

The story focuses on Doctor Death, who completes his experiment to use poisonous pollen extract to receive tributes from the wealthy and rich of the world. Times have certainly changed since then, as Doctor Death tries to contact Batman through the personal notice column in the daily newspaper, which isn't the most fiendish of ideas.

6 Batman #3

Worth: $125,000

Batman #3 shows the dynamic duo running towards to reader with a black background

The first appearance of the Puppet Master goes for a fair penny. It's also a comic where fans see Catwoman in her costume for the first time. Batman #3 sold for $40,331 with a CGC grade of 9.2 in 2013. However, a newly discovered copy with a Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) of NM+ 9.6 is currently worth $100,000 to $125,000.

Related: 10 Best Batman Crossovers In DC Comics

Back in the late thirties and early forties, both Batman and Superman were, directly and indirectly, responsible for stopping villains from using military weaponry. In Batman #3, Puppet Master wanted to steal the Voss rifle, which was a brand new, top-secret weapon being developed by the army. Using hypnosis to control Batman for his own means, the Puppet Master is eventually stopped. However, he couldn't have done it without the help of Robin, who manages to slap some sense into The Dark Knight.

5 Detective Comics #38

Worth: $126,500

Robin jumps through a white paper ring Batman holds up on the cover of Detective Comics #38

Some people love him and some people don't, but there's no denying Robin is a huge part of the Batman universe. Several characters have taken up the mantle over the years, but none are more famous than Dick Grayson. This is why Detective Comics #38 is so popular. It introduces him to readers for the very first time and shows how he became Batman's sidekick.

Related: 10 Comics Where Batman Acted Out Of Character

Detective Comics #38 tells the story of how Bruce Wayne was at the circus the night Grayson's parents died during a performance. As a result, Bruce took Dick in and trained him to become the most famous sidekick of all time. Its biggest sale came over ten years ago; it sold for $126,500 in May 2009 with a CGC grade of 9.4.

4 Detective Comics #31

Worth: $175,000

Detective Comics #31 features Batman and the Monk on the front cover

When a villain is described as "possessing the powers of Satan," and "whose powers are uncanny," it's fair for readers to assume they'd become one of Batman's most feared enemies. However, the Monk hasn't been featured in many of the biggest storylines across comics and movies featuring The Dark Knight.

Monk isn't a big name when compared to the likes of the Penguin or the Riddler, but Detective Comics #31 is known for featuring the first appearance of the Batplane and Batarang ever used. It also features Bruce Wayne's very first love interest, Julie Madison; so, the staggering $175,000 sale from 2017 proves it meant a lot to someone.

3 Batman #2

Worth: $350,000

DC Comics, Batman #2 broke records as one of the most expensive and rare comics

Whist Catwoman is known for wearing black leather, this wasn't the case when she popped up in Batman #2. Instead of the familiar look fans are used to, Selina Kyle wears a green dress with a yellow cape. In the issue, a crime syndicate plans on breaking the Joker out of the hospital to help steal some valuable jewels.

Catwoman tries to steal them instead, but in the end, Batman manages to take them from the jewel cask after fighting the Joker, who once again pummels the Clown Prince of Crime. Batman #2 sold for $43,000 back in 2010, which is the highest sale to date. However, a copy with a CGC grade of 9.6+ is almost guaranteed to sell between $300,000 to $350,000.

2 Batman #1

Worth: $2,220,000

Batman #1 is one of the most expensive and rarest DC Comics in the world

Batman received his own comic book series in 1940. Since then, the Caped Crusader has become the most identifiable comic book character, facing countless enemies as well as struggling with the death of his parents. Batman #1 featured the first appearance of both the Joker and Catwoman, and as expected, is worth a helluva lot of money.

The comic also tells the story of Bruce's parent's death and how he came to be Batman. It recently broke records as one of the most expensive Batman comics ever sold, reaching a whopping at $2,220,000. It's the second-rarest comic to feature Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego, but with his famous origin story at its core, it's easy to see why.

1 Detective Comics #27

Worth: $3,000,000

Expensive and rare DC Comics #27

It took twenty-seven issues of Detective Comics until they finally introduced Batman, but it was certainly worth the wait. Although the world already had Superman, he was an alien, whereas Bruce Wayne was relatable (at least his struggles were). He was a normal man who used his pain to overcome his darkest days and fight those who wanted to watch the world suffer.

In 2010, Detective Comics #27 sold for $1,075,500, making it the second most expensive comic book to feature Batman. Other sales of the issue range from $200,000 to $750,000; however, if you're lucky enough to find an issue with a CGC of 9.2+ in the back of your attic, the sale price will exceed $3 million.

Next: 10 Rare DC Comics You'll Never Own (Because They're Too Expensive)