Brave and the Bold #28 (1960) Value & Price Guide

DC Comics had a problem in 1960. They had a roster of heroes selling well individually, but nobody had put them together in a team book since the Justice Society of America faded out in 1951. Editor Julius Schwartz had been reviving Golden Age heroes with modern makeovers, and the results had been strong. A new Flash. A new Green Lantern. So when the idea came to create a superteam, the question wasn't whether to do it, but where to debut them.

The answer was The Brave and the Bold #28, a try-out title DC used to test new concepts. In February-March 1960, the Justice League of America made its first appearance: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and the Martian Manhunter, together for the first time. The villain was Starro the Conqueror, a giant alien starfish. It sounds absurd. It sold enormous numbers of copies. And it changed comics forever.

Quick Value Summary

• Item: The Brave and the Bold #28

• Year: February-March 1960

• Publisher: DC Comics

• Category: Comic Books

• Condition Range:

  • CGC 1.0 (Fair): $2,000 - $4,000
  • CGC 2.0 (Good): $4,000 - $8,000
  • CGC 4.0 (Very Good): $10,000 - $20,000
  • CGC 6.0 (Fine): $30,000 - $55,000
  • CGC 8.0 (Very Fine): $80,000 - $130,000
  • CGC 9.0+ (Very Fine/Near Mint): $150,000 - $250,000+

• Record Sale: A CGC 9.4 copy sold for approximately $200,000 in 2022

• Rarity: Rare in high grades, moderately available in lower grades

The Story

The Justice Society of America had last appeared in All Star Comics #57 in 1951. For nearly a decade, DC's heroes operated solo. Writer Gardner Fox, who had written the original Justice Society stories in the 1940s, was brought back to create the new team. He kept the core concept but updated the name from "Society" to "League," giving it a sportier, more modern feel.

The cover by Mike Sekowsky shows the Justice League battling Starro, with a giant starfish creature dominating the scene. Inside, Fox's script brought together heroes who had never shared panel space before. Superman and Batman had appeared together in World's Finest Comics, but adding the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and the Martian Manhunter created something entirely new.

The JLA proved so successful that Marvel's publisher, Martin Goodman, reportedly noticed the sales numbers and told Stan Lee to create a competing team. Lee and Jack Kirby responded with Fantastic Four #1 in November 1961. Without Brave and the Bold #28, there might be no Fantastic Four. Without the Fantastic Four, there might be no Marvel Universe as we know it.

How to Identify It

• Cover: Multiple heroes battling a giant starfish (Starro). "Justice League of America" banner. Art by Mike Sekowsky and Murphy Anderson

• Issue Number: #28 in the Brave and the Bold series

• Cover Price: 10 cents

• Interior Story: "Starro the Conqueror" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky pencils, Murphy Anderson inks

Common Confusions:

• Do not confuse with Justice League of America #1 (October 1960), which launched the team's ongoing series

• Modern reprints and facsimile editions exist. Check for the 10-cent cover price

Value by Condition

CGC 1.0 to 2.0 (Fair to Good) - $2,000 to $8,000 Well-worn copies with significant cover wear. Even in this range, the first JLA appearance commands strong prices. Affordable entry points for collectors who want the real thing.

CGC 4.0 (Very Good) - $10,000 to $20,000 Complete and presents reasonably well. Cover colors visible, structure sound, but wear obvious. Most collector-grade copies sit here.

CGC 6.0 (Fine) - $30,000 to $55,000 Solid, attractive copy. Minor wear on corners and spine, but cover image is clean and colors bright. Best balance of eye appeal and affordability.

CGC 8.0 (Very Fine) - $80,000 to $130,000 Sharp corners, minimal spine stress, vibrant colors. Looks close to how it appeared on the newsstand in 1960.

CGC 9.0+ (Very Fine/Near Mint and above) - $150,000 to $250,000+ Near-perfect copies. Flat, clean, with almost no visible wear. These drive headline auction results.

Authentication and Fakes

• Professional Grading: Essential for any copy above $1,000. CGC is the industry standard

• Restoration: Common in Silver Age keys. CGC identifies and labels restored copies. A restored 8.0 might sell for 40% to 60% of unrestored

• Reprints: Multiple reprint editions exist. Always verify the original 10-cent cover price and paper stock

Where to Sell

• Heritage Auctions: Top destination for Silver Age key issues

• ComicConnect: Competitive platform with strong results

• eBay: Viable for CGC-graded copies, especially below $50,000

Estimated Selling Costs:

• CGC grading: $40 to $150

• Auction commission: 10% to 15%

• Insurance and shipping: $50 to $200

Not sure about the condition of yours? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a quick AI-powered estimate.

Explore More

Brave and the Bold #28 is the moment DC's heroes became more than the sum of their parts. It launched the Justice League, inspired Marvel's team books, and established the superhero team concept that still drives billion-dollar movie franchises today. Browse all Comic Books items ->

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