Posted By Dan Greenfield on Dec 16, 2022 | 4 comments

The ish came out 40 years ago this week!

Such timing!

On Wednesday, we posted our latest RETRO HOT PICKS — covering this week in 1982. Click here to check it out but (spoiler alert) the big book is Batman #357, which featured Jason Todd’s debut.

Well, in a happy coincidence, DC on Friday is slated to announce that the Batman #357 Facsimile Edition will be published in March 2023.

Dig the solicitation info, which will be formally released later in the day:

BATMAN #357 FACSIMILE EDITION

Written by GERRY CONWAY
Art by DON NEWTON and ALFREDO ALCALA
Cover by ED HANNIGAN and DICK GIORDANO

Blank sketch variant
Foil variant cover by ED HANNIGAN and DICK GIORDANO

Batman meets one of his most peculiar foes of all time when he encounters the gangster known as… the Squid! Plus, a trip to the circus gives Dick Grayson an eerie sense of déjà vu when he sees a performance by young acrobat Jason Todd — the boy fated to inherit the mantle of Robin! This facsimile edition reprints the first cameo appearance of Jason Todd and includes all the original ads from the 1983 periodical.

$3.99/32 pages
ON SALE: 3/7/23

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A few thoughts:

— As I pointed out in RETRO HOT PICKS, this is the original, red-headed, pre-Crisis Jason Todd, whose emergence was one of the most exciting things to happen at DC in the early-mid-’80s.

— Didja notice that this issue will have two variant covers — a blank sketch variant and a foil variant? That’s the first time I’ve seen that with Facsimile Editions — and anything that helps drive sales of these is a boon in my book. (Facsimile Editions have become collectibles in their own right so I can’t say I’m entirely surprised by the addition of variants. I mean, just think how cool it’ll be to have a sketch cover with that logo on top. >Swoon<.)

— Obligatory Price Comparison: This is a pricier book than you might realize. A high-grade, unslabbed copy recently sold on eBay for $175. The Facsimile Edition, which includes all the letters, ads and whatnot, is four smackers.

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MORE

— Marvelous! DC to Release WHIZ COMICS #2 As a Facsimile Edition. Click here.

— THE FLASH #123 to Get FACSIMILE EDITION Re-Release. Click here.