{"product_id":"detective-comics-433-dc-comics-march-1973-batman-killer-in-the-smog-raw-vf-jason-bard","title":"Detective Comics #433 — DC Comics (March 1973) — Batman — “Killer in the Smog” — Raw VF+ — Jason Bard","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDetective Comics #433 — Raw\/Ungraded Copy\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e DC Comics\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIssue:\u003c\/strong\u003e #433\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCover Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 1973\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Raw\/Ungraded — estimated VF to VF+ (8.0–8.5 range) — see photos\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCover Price:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20¢\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComics Code Authority:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approved — stamp visible on cover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStorage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bagged and boarded\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCover Banner:\u003c\/strong\u003e \"Thrilling Mystery Tales\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCreative Team\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStory (Batman):\u003c\/strong\u003e Denny O’Neil\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArt (Batman):\u003c\/strong\u003e Dick Giordano\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStory (Jason Bard):\u003c\/strong\u003e Frank Robbins\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArt (Jason Bard):\u003c\/strong\u003e Don Heck\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCover Details — “Killer in the Smog”\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of the most atmospheric and visually striking Batman covers of the Bronze Age. The cover depicts a massive, shadowy figure in a wide-brimmed hat and cape — the mysterious \"Killer in the Smog\" — looming over a helpless Batman, who is pinned and gasping in the villain’s grip amid swirling green smog clouds. Gas lamps glow eerily in the foggy background, evoking a Victorian London atmosphere. The left sidebar features Batman’s head portrait, story blurbs, and a Jason Bard portrait inset. Cover blurbs read:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Batman challenges the reader to guess who is… ‘The Killer in the Smog!’\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"The Master Crime-File of Jason Bard\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Case of the Forged Face!\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe DC bullet logo appears upper left with \"Detective Comics\" text. Issue number, date, and distributor code (No. 433, Mar., 30465) are visible upper right alongside the Comics Code Authority stamp.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFeatured Characters \u0026amp; Stories\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBatman (Bruce Wayne)\u003c\/strong\u003e — lead story: \u003cem\u003e\"Killer in the Smog\"\u003c\/em\u003e — a classic mystery-format Batman tale with a reader challenge to identify the killer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJason Bard\u003c\/strong\u003e — backup story: \u003cem\u003e\"The Master Crime-File of Jason Bard\"\u003c\/em\u003e \/ \u003cem\u003e\"Case of the Forged Face!\"\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDenny O’Neil \u0026amp; Dick Giordano — The Bronze Age Batman Dream Team\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis issue features the celebrated creative pairing of \u003cstrong\u003eDenny O’Neil\u003c\/strong\u003e (story) and \u003cstrong\u003eDick Giordano\u003c\/strong\u003e (art) — one of the most acclaimed Batman creative teams of the Bronze Age. O’Neil’s run on Detective Comics and Batman in the early 1970s is widely credited with returning Batman to his dark, detective roots after the campy 1960s TV era. Giordano’s elegant, atmospheric inking perfectly complemented O’Neil’s noir-influenced scripts. Their collaboration produced some of the most beloved Batman stories ever told.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSeries Context\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDetective Comics\u003c\/em\u003e is the longest-running comic book series in American history and the title that gave DC Comics its name. Issue #433 from March 1973 falls squarely in the heart of the Bronze Age Batman renaissance — a period when the character was being redefined as a serious, dark detective by O’Neil, Giordano, Neal Adams, and others. The \"Thrilling Mystery Tales\" banner across the top reflects the mystery\/detective emphasis of this era.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBack Cover — American Seed Co. — Classic Bronze Age Ad\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeatures the beloved \u003cstrong\u003eAmerican Seed Co.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e\"Make Money — Get Prizes with Fast Selling American Seeds\"\u003c\/em\u003e advertisement — American Seed Co., Dept. 331, Lancaster, Pa. 17604, \"Our 55th Year.\" Prizes include: Flash Camera Outfits, Basketball \u0026amp; Goal, Complete Archery Sets, Wrist Watches, Transistor Radio, Chemistry Sets, Complete Fishing Outfits, Cassette Tape Recorder, Croquet Set, Sleeping Bags, Bicycles, Volleyball Set, Model Rocketry, Swim Set, Magic Set, Microscope Sets, Girl’s Travel Case, Ecology [books], 4-Player Badminton, Environmental Test Kits, Baseball Gloves, Pitch Back, Flying Models, Baseball Shoes, and more. Features testimonials from Mike Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania) and Brenda Jackson (Ohio). Two mail-in coupons included — \u003cem\u003e\"Mail One Coupon Today — Give the Other to a Friend.\"\u003c\/em\u003e One of the most iconic and nostalgic Bronze Age back cover advertisements.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a \u003cstrong\u003eraw (ungraded) copy\u003c\/strong\u003e estimated in the \u003cstrong\u003eVF to VF+ (8.0–8.5) range\u003c\/strong\u003e based on photo review. The cover displays with strong, vibrant colors, sharp corners, and minimal visible wear. The book appears flat and unrestored with no major defects visible. Please review all provided photos carefully before purchasing. If you have specific condition questions, please message us before buying.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePricing Note\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eRaw VF\/VF+ copies of Detective Comics #433 typically sell in the \u003cstrong\u003e$35–$60 range\u003c\/strong\u003e on the secondary market. CGC 8.0 copies have sold for $55–75; CGC 9.0+ copies command $100+. This copy is priced competitively for its estimated grade.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eShipping\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eShipped as an 8 oz. package in a rigid comic mailer with additional protective packaging. Fully insured and tracked. Ships within 1–2 business days of payment.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"E-TICKET CARDS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44098742976577,"sku":null,"price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0734\/2437\/1777\/files\/vm0rwapu1qgyazqpjkbtpr2qupgu.jpg?v=1782758493","url":"https:\/\/eticketcards.com\/products\/detective-comics-433-dc-comics-march-1973-batman-killer-in-the-smog-raw-vf-jason-bard","provider":"E-TICKET CARDS","version":"1.0","type":"link"}