DETECTIVE COMICS #276

Pre-1977 book so no direct/newsstand distinction applies. Cover shows notable spine wear with a visible crease/split near the top left staple area and some fraying along the left edge; corners are moderately rounded/blunted especially at bottom right. There is a small tear/chip along the top edge and light surface wear and handling creases across the cover art, with slight color rub at the spine. Interior and back cover were not assessed, and the book is in a protective sleeve which may obscure some fine surface defects.

Detective Comics #276 (February 1959) arrived during DC's late-1950s Batman run, a period marked by whimsical science-fiction plotting that predated the 1964 "New Look" overhaul of the character. The issue carries a lead Batman and Robin story alongside a back-up Martian Manhunter tale, reflecting the dual-feature format Detective Comics maintained through much of the decade while J'onn J'onzz's own series built toward greater prominence. Cover work from this era is customarily credited to Bob Kane, though ghost art by Sheldon Moldoff was standard studio practice at the time. No first appearance, death, or other landmark event is associated with this specific issue.

The certified population is substantial for a book of this vintage, with 145 Universal copies recorded against 151 total graded, indicating steady survival and submission activity typical of a well-collected but non-key Silver Age title. Pricing across low and mid grades is modest and consistent with bulk Silver Age Batman back issues, while the curve steepens noticeably above 7.0 as the pool of surviving high-grade copies thins. The complete absence of any 9.4 or higher certified copy underscores that top-grade examples are genuinely scarce, even though collector demand is driven more by run-completion than by speculative key-issue interest.

This issue suits collectors assembling a complete 1950s Detective Comics run or those focused on the Martian Manhunter's early back-up appearances rather than buyers chasing a marquee key. Low- and mid-grade copies move readily and affordably, making the book an accessible entry point for Silver Age Batman collections. Because no CGC 9.8 has ever been certified, a top-grade example would represent an unprecedented census entry, and any such copy would likely draw outsized interest from registry-focused collectors despite the title's otherwise modest key status.