Why Batman #357 Is Not A Key Issue
Updated: Sep 7, 2019
If you've been a fan of Key Collector Comics on YouTube for over the past year or have looked up Batman #357 on the Key Collector Comics app, then this information is old news to you.
Many consider Batman #357 to be the first full appearance of Killer Croc, including CGC:
As a collector, I like my first full appearances to fully reveal the character which does not occur in Batman #357.
A shadow, a hand, a villain obscured by a trenchcoat - these partial appearances don't make me feel like I own a significant piece of comic book history. For this reason, the use of the term cameo to make this distinction is of critical importance to comic collecting.
Now, why is Batman #357 a crock? Even though CGC considers Detective Comics #523 the first cameo appearance of Killer Crock.
There is no difference between the appearance in Batman #357.
The first time we actually see Killer Croc depicted as a human with crocodile-like features is in Detective Comics #524.
CGC makes no reference to Killer Croc on the label of Detective Comics #524.
This isn't meant to be an attack on CGC. Every comic book resource that I checked while writing this article does not give Detective Comics #524 it's rightful credit as the first full appearance of Killer Croc, including Overstreet...and that's not an attack on Overstreet.
Do you have an example of a mislabeled cameo or full appearance? please send an email to nick@keycollectorcomics.com. Please reach out if you spot any incorrect info in the Key Collector Comics database including misspellings, typos, out-of-order issues or anything that can be corrected,
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