The Classics - Detective Comics #438

In this time of $3.99 and $4.99 comic prices, it's fun to look back at Detective Comics #438 and remember how I had to deliberate a while before convincing myself that it was worth the hefty price.

For the then-staggering sum of 50 cents, you got 100 pages of comics (the issue is dated December 1973 / January 1974).

Even better, you got a comic with two new stories and four top-of-the-line reprints!

But then, you can expect quality when you have one of the all-time great editors at the helm. This was the second issue with Archie Goodwin in control, and it is one fantastic package.

How's this:
- a cover by Mike Kaluta;
- a new Batman story written by Goodwin and drawn with amazing detail and power by Jim Aparo;
- a classic adventure of The Atom, guest-starring Zatanna, written by Gardener Fox and drawn by Gil Kane;
- a classic Silver Age Hawkman story by Fox and Joe Kubert;
- a classic Batman story by Bill Finger and "Bob Kane," featuring the shocking fate of Alfred;
- a Green Lantern reprint by Fox and Kane;
- and saving the best for last, the premiere of a new character - Manhunter, by Goodwin and some new kid named Walt Simonson.

I should admit that, at the time, I was very much in the Marvel camp when it came to buying comics, and there were only a handful of DC Comics that I followed - but with this issue, Detective leaped to the top of my "must buy" list.

It was an incredible value, and Goodwin brought in some amazing creators in the months ahead, all anchored by the amazing Manhunter serial! And, it was something extremely rare at the time - it was a finite series.

It's always a treat to see creators working at the top of their game. This was Goodwin at his best and Simonson blazing new trails - it was just amazing to see this kind of quality month after month!

Ah, Archie, how we miss you.

Grade: A+