Action Comics (1938) #81

DC 1938–2011 series Vol. 1 Cover date Feb 1945

Fair market value

Grade	CGC slab	Raw
9.8 NM/M	$480 $408–$552	$210 $179–$242
9.6 NM+	$374 $318–$431	$168 $143–$193
9.4 NM	$292 $248–$336	$134 $114–$155
9.2 NM-	$228 $194–$262	$108 $91.39–$124
9.0 VF/NM	$178 $151–$204	$86.02 $73.12–$98.92
8.5 VF+	$139 $118–$159	$68.81 $58.49–$79.13
8.0 VF	$108 $91.89–$124	$55.05 $46.79–$63.31
7.0 FN/VF	$84.31 $71.66–$96.96	$44.04 $37.43–$50.65
6.0 FN	$65.77 $55.90–$75.64	$35.23 $29.95–$40.51
5.0 VG/FN	$51.30 $43.61–$58.99	$28.19 $23.96–$32.42
4.0 VG	$40.01 $34.01–$46.01	$22.55 $19.17–$25.93
2.0 GD	$31.21 $26.53–$35.89	$18.04 $15.33–$20.75
Raw, ungraded	—	$65.00 $55.25–$74.75

Value history

grailworth's fair market value: what a copy at each grade is worth today, from this issue's market and how value moves with grade across every comic we track. Bold: our firmest values. ^*Rough: a looser estimate. +$: worth grading, a raw copy at that grade gains this much slabbed by CGC, after the fee and shipping. Pick a grade for its value history and the most to pay for a raw copy you'd send to CGC.

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About this issue

Action Comics #81 (1938) is issue #81 of DC's Action Comics (1938–2011), with a cover date of February 1945. Written by Whitney Ellsworth and Joe Samachson and drawn by John Daly, Thurston Harper, Mort Meskin and others.

Creators

Writers: Whitney Ellsworth, Joe Samachson
Pencillers: John Daly, Thurston Harper, Mort Meskin, Ira Yarbrough
Inkers: John Daly, Thurston Harper, Mort Meskin, Ira Yarbrough
Cover artists: Wayne Boring, Stan Kaye

The stories

“Fairyland Isle!”

John Nicholas' dream of building "Fairyland Isle", whose admission is absolutely free to poor kids, seems not to be ready for the Christmas season opening until Santa 'Superman' Claus steps in to make it a reality. Open it does, but the dis-inherited heirs of the man who provided their playland provide their share of sabotage.

“The Man Who Stole Time!”

“Nemesis of the Northland!”

Bill pursues a diamond thief into wilderness country.

“The Chinatown Kid, Magician!”

Stuff is learning magic tricks. Greg takes him to the Hall of the Future, to see future 'magic' tricks such as photoelectric cells and prefabricated houses. When Mingo and his men try to steal artifacts, Vigilante and Stuff pursue them, and are captured. Stuff distracts the goon guarding them with magic tricks while Vigilante escapes his bonds.

Credits, characters and story details from the Grand Comics Database, CC BY-SA 4.0.