Action Comics (1938) #491

DC 1938–2011 series Vol. 1 Cover date Jan 1979

EditionsStandard / direct Newsstand Whitman

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 #491 (1938) is issue #491 of DC's Action Comics (1938–2011), with a cover date of January 1979. Written by Cary Bates and Fred Hembeck and drawn by Fred Hembeck and Curt Swan.

Creators

Writers: Cary Bates, Fred Hembeck
Pencillers: Fred Hembeck, Curt Swan
Inkers: Frank Chiaramonte, Fred Hembeck
Colorist: Gene D'Angelo
Letterer: Karin Kish
Cover artists: Ross Andru, Dick Giordano

Characters

The story

“A Matter of Light and Death!”

Diverted by Hawkman, Superman lands in northern Oregon where he hatches a plan. He engages Brainiac's ship, then drags it to the location of a supernova, where he powers up enough to penetrate Brainiac's force shield, enter his spacecraft, and knock him out.

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