Our review
Batman #404 is one of the picks we point people to most often in the DC space. It sits in our key issues shortlist because it does the obvious thing well: year one part one — miller and mazzucchelli's definitive origin.
Across 8 reviews it holds a 4.9 average, and the complaints that do show up are consistent and minor rather than deal-breaking. We compared it against the other comics in this price bracket and it stayed on the list every time.
At from $14 it lands in our beginner tier — a very low-risk first purchase if you're just getting into the hobby.
Pros
- Complete story in one volume
- Reprint quality is excellent
- Ages well on a shelf
Cons
- Paper stock is thinner than a premium omnibus
- Goes out of print in waves
Who should buy it
Anyone starting out, or shopping for a gift under $50.
Price check
Typically from $14 — we've seen it dip roughly 15-20% during major sale events, and rise when stock gets thin.
