EXCLUSIVE! Just might be the single greatest Batman comic book of them all…
DC in September will release a startling seven Facsimile Editions. A lot of them deserve their own spotlight, so make sure you check out the links at the bottom of this post. You will be so glad you did.
One of those issues is a new printing of the Batman #251 Facsimile Edition, featuring the seminal The Joker’s Five-Way Revenge! by Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams.
Dig the solicitation information, which DC will release officially later Thursday:
BATMAN #251 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by DENNY O’NEIL
Art and cover by NEAL ADAMS
Foil variant cover by NEAL ADAMS ($6.99 US)
Blank sketch cover ($4.99 US)
The Clown Prince of Crime once again proves he always gets the last laugh as he permanently pays his old crew their delinquent debts in this classic tale by comics superstars Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams—”The Joker’s Five-Way Revenge!”
$3.99 US | 32 pages
ON SALE 9/9/26
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Buncha thoughts:
— Batman #251 was first released as a Facsimile Edition in October 2019. This re-release is a substantial improvement, because DC now puts the anachronistic UPC symbol on the back, and there will be foil and logo sketch variants.
— Another one that I bet will look great in foil.
— I’ve probably written more about this one comic book than any other. It never, ever, ever gets old.
— Obligatory Price Comparison: The 1973 original just seems to keep climbing in value. An unslabbed, VF+ copy recently sold on eBay for an eye-opening $949. The 2019 Facsimile — one of the earliest in DC’s line — can be found at a range of prices, but often around $20 or so.
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MORE
–– 1942’s Landmark BATMAN #11 to Get Facsimile Edition — Finally! Click here.
— DC COMICS to Offer SEVEN Facsimile Editions in SEPTEMBER. Click here.
— 1960’s SUPERMAN #141: One of the Man of Steel’s Greatest to Be Released as a Facsimile Edition. Click here.
— DC to Salute JOE KUBERT’s CENTENNIAL With a Facsimile Edition and a Special Retrospective Issue. Click here.
June 18, 2026
Nice!! I had bought the previous facsimile of Batman #251 but was very disappointed that they didn’t give us a foil variant.
Glad they are giving us another print of this classic! Definitely a MUST for me!!
June 18, 2026
I just started re-reading this issue now after seeing this article.
Between Neal’s incredible artwork and Denny’s writing, this is such a fun and very re-readable story!! It’s no wonder why it’s a classic.
June 18, 2026
What could you draw on the blank sketch cover that would compare to the Neal Adams masterpiece?
June 18, 2026
@Jim A –
you are absolutely right. It just makes me all the more heartbroken that Neil is no longer with us. This would’ve been the perfect item to bring to him at a convention to commission a head, sketch, or just anything by him for that matter. Rest his soul.
June 18, 2026
I would buy a Neal Adams, pencils-work-in-progress variant.
June 18, 2026
If ever a book deserved a Super Powers variant.