BATMAN #411
Jim Aparo cover art on a Ten Nights of the Beast chapter featuring KGBeast
// Unit specification
// Run position
// Condition analysis
The cover appears glossy with strong color and sharp corners; no creases, tears, or spine stress are visible in this photo. The book is protected in a plastic sleeve which may mask minor surface wear. No barcode/UPC box is visible in the photographed area to confirm newsstand vs. direct edition status. Interior pages and back cover were not assessed.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $2 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $5 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $70 |
// Archive commentary
Batman #411 (DC Comics, September 1987) arrived during Jim Starlin's run on the title, with Jim Aparo supplying both interior art and cover, as part of the multi-issue "Ten Nights of the Beast" storyline. The arc introduced the Soviet assassin KGBeast (Anatoli Knyazev), a recurring Batman villain who would go on to appear across various DC media, giving the issue modest historical footing within the character's rogues gallery even though it is not typically cited as his sole first appearance.
The issue trades as a plentiful, late-Copper-Age Batman back issue rather than a scarce or high-demand key. Census figures show dozens of certified copies concentrated in the 9.4-9.8 range, and the FMV curve is notably flat from 8.0 through 9.2, indicating that grade pressure below near-mint has little bearing on price; buyers are almost exclusively paying for top-census condition rather than storyline or character significance. Demand is steady but thin, driven mainly by Aparo cover collectors and Starlin-run completists filling gaps in a long Batman collection.
This is a book most useful as an affordable representative of a well-regarded Aparo/Starlin stretch rather than a speculative hold. Raw copies in low and mid grade circulate cheaply in dollar bins and back-issue bulk lots, while a graded 9.8 commands a real but modest premium reflecting the difficulty of finding pristine copies rather than any intrinsic rarity of the issue itself. Expect this title to remain a stable, low-value cataloging entry with occasional interest tied to KGBeast's broader visibility in adaptations.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-002196 | ~9.2 | — | AVAILABLE |
INQUIRE_ABOUT_THIS_UNIT
Institutional buyers, auction houses, and private collectors — direct line to the archive.
