Publishers / DC / Detective Comics (1937) / #543
543October 1984
$0.75; 0.95 CAD; 0.30 GBP

Detective Comics #543

DC · October 1984 · on sale 1984-07-03

First appearance: NocturnaFirst appearance: Natalia KnightFirst appearance: The Night-SlayerDeath of Nightshade2 variants
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series)
Issue
#543
Publication date
October 1984
Key date
1984-10-00
On-sale date
1984-07-03
Indicia publisher
DC Comics Inc.
Price
$0.75; 0.95 CAD; 0.30 GBP
Pages
36
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Nocturna - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Natalia Knight - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of The Night-Slayer - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Hamilton Hill - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Julia Remarque - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Bad Penny - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Nightshade - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Sturges Hellstrom - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

Death on record for: Nightshade, Sturges Hellstrom.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0-cover1pencils: Gene Colan; inks: Dick Giordano; colors: Anthony Tollin; letters: Gaspar SaladinoBatman, Natalia Knight First, Nocturna First, Bruce Wayne
1Shadows of Vengeancecomic story16script: Doug Moench; pencils: Gene Colan; inks: Alfredo Alcala; colors: Adrienne Roy; letters: Ben OdaAlfred Pennyworth, Batman, Harvey Bullock, Lucius Fox, Commissioner James Gordon, Sturges Hellstrom First, Hamilton Hill First, Anton Knight, Natalia Knight First, The Night-Slayer First, The Night-Thief, Nightshade First, Nocturna First, Julia Remarque First
2-in-house column1script: Dick Giordano, Elliot S. Maggin
3It's No Fair!comic story7script: Joey Cavalieri; pencils: Shawn McManus; inks: Shawn McManus; colors: Jeanine Casey; letters: Bob LappanBad Penny First, Green Arrow, Oliver Queen
4-letters page2script: Bob Greenberger; pencils: José Luis García-López

Printings and variants

EditionHow to tell
Canadianprice 0.95 CAD; barcode 0709893046510
Newsstandprice 0.75 USD; barcode 0709893046510

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Tales of the Batman: Gene Colan #2
ISBN 978-1-4012-7769-7		2018On eBay ›

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Before you buy

  • Check the price box: Marvel ran 30-cent and 35-cent test-market price variants in 1976-77.
  • Canadian and Whitman editions exist for many bronze books; match the barcode area to the plate.
  • Look for Mark Jewelers inserts and date stamps - they affect collector preference, not authenticity.

Series context

‹ #542543 of 883#544 ›

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com