SUPERMAN #76

This Golden Age key (first Superman/Batman team-up) shows significant overall wear typical of the era: heavy tanning and foxing across the cover, a visible tape repair/reinforcement strip in the upper right and along the spine area, soft/rounded corners, and a vertical crease near the left edge affecting the logo. There is also water staining or discoloration in the lower portion of the cover and general surface wear consistent with handling. The book is in a protective sleeve, and interior pages and the back cover were not visible for assessment.

Superman #76 (DC Comics, cover-dated May 1952) contains "The Mightiest Team in the World," the story that first paired Superman and Batman as active partners within a single narrative, with each hero learning the other's secret identity. Written by Edmond Hamilton with pencils by Curt Swan, the issue predates the long-running World's Finest team-up format that would define the characters' pairing for decades and is widely cited by collectors and price guides as the origin point of the Superman/Batman dynamic duo concept in DC continuity. The cover, rendered in the clean house style of the period, depicts the two heroes side by side, reinforcing the historical significance of the interior story.

Market data shows a book with substantial submission volume (356 Universal copies across 394 total graded) and steady demand across the full grading spectrum, reflecting both its status as a foundational Golden Age crossover issue and ordinary attrition typical of newsstand comics from 1952. Pricing climbs sharply above the 8.0 grade, with a pronounced gap opening between 8.5 and 9.0-plus copies, and an especially steep premium attached to the single certified 9.6, the finest copy currently on record. This curve shape is consistent with a scarce high-grade population for a mid-century DC title where white, supple paper stock and sharp corners are difficult to find.

The book draws a mixed collector base: Superman and Batman crossover specialists, DC key-issue collectors building runs around character-team origins, and general Golden Age investors seeking recognized keys below the Action Comics/Detective Comics price tier. Lower and mid grades trade actively and affordably, making the title accessible as an entry-level Golden Age key, while top-census copies are rare enough that any future 9.8 discovery would likely command a significant premium over the current 9.6 benchmark given the total absence of a higher-grade population.