The points of issue
Prestige format (squarebound, cardstock cover), cover-dated 1986, the printed price. The first printing carries no printing notation; later printings (DC ran several) state 'Second Printing,' 'Third Printing,' and so on, on the cover or in the indicia. First-print interior paper and cover gloss differ subtly from reprints.
Is this the true first?
First appearance of Carrie Kelley (the new Robin) and the aged Batman of this continuity. First-print #1 is the key issue; firsts of #2-4 are also collected. The Prestige format means there is no newsstand/direct split.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. The trap is later printings of #1 marked with a printing number; only the unmarked first printing carries first-print standing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 (comic) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Prestige format (squarebound, cardstock cover), cover-dated 1986, the printed price. The first printing carries no printing notation; later printings (DC ran several) state 'Second Printing,' 'Third Printing,' and so on, on the cover or in the indicia. First-print interior paper and cover gloss differ subtly from reprints.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. First appearance of Carrie Kelley (the new Robin) and the aged Batman of this continuity. First-print #1 is the key issue; firsts of #2-4 are also collected. The Prestige format means there is no newsstand/direct split.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. The trap is later printings of #1 marked with a printing number; only the unmarked first printing carries first-print standing.
I have a first edition of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 (comic) — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.