Publishers / DC / Batman (1940) / #81
81February 1954
$0.10

Batman #81

DC · February 1954 · on sale 1953-11-30

First appearance: Alfred Pennyworth
How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
  • Buy links are eBay affiliate links. They never change what the record says.

Identification plate

Series
Batman (DC, 1940 series)
Issue
#81
Publication date
February 1954
Key date
1954-02-00
On-sale date
1953-11-30
Indicia publisher
National Comics Publications Inc.
Price
$0.10
Pages
44

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Alfred Pennyworth - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0Two-Face Strikes Again!cover1pencils: Win Mortimer; inks: Win Mortimer; letters: Ira SchnappBatman, Harvey Dent, Dick Grayson, Robin, Two-Face, Bruce Wayne
2Two-Face Strikes Again!comic story10script: David Vern; pencils: Dick Sprang; inks: Charles ParisBatman, Harvey Dent, Commissioner James Gordon, Dick Grayson, Robin, Two-Face, Bruce Wayne
4-comic story0.5script: Henry Boltinoff; pencils: Henry Boltinoff; inks: Henry Boltinoff; letters: Henry BoltinoffShorty
5The Best Present of All!public service announcement1script: Jack Schiff; pencils: Win Mortimer; inks: Win Mortimer; letters: Ira SchnappBinky Biggs; Allergy
6-comic story2script: Henry Boltinoff; pencils: Henry Boltinoff; inks: Henry Boltinoff; letters: Henry BoltinoffVarsity Vic; Herby
7The Boy Wonder Confesses!comic story9.67script: David Vern; pencils: Sheldon Moldoff; inks: Stan Kaye; letters: Pat GordonBatman, Commissioner James Gordon, Dick Grayson, Alfred Pennyworth First, Robin, Bruce Wayne
9Three Smashing Adventures of Superboypromo (ad from the publisher)1Clark Kent, Superboy
10-activity0.5script: Horace Elmo; pencils: Horace Elmo; inks: Horace Elmo; letters: Horace Elmo
11Editorial Advisory Boardpromo (ad from the publisher)0.5letters: typeset
12The Cruelest Racket in the Worldtext article2script: Jack Miller; pencils: Raymond Perry; inks: Raymond Perry; colors: Raymond PerryHenrietta Ford
13-comic story1script: Henry Boltinoff; pencils: Henry Boltinoff; inks: Henry Boltinoff; letters: Henry BoltinoffCasey the Cop
14The Phantom Bandit of Gotham City!comic story9.67script: Bill Woolfolk; pencils: Dick Sprang; inks: Dick SprangBatman, Commissioner James Gordon, Dick Grayson, Robin, Vicki Vale, Bruce Wayne
15-statement of ownership0.33letters: typeset

Plus 4.83 pages of advertisements and other matter across 6 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Mr. District Attorney #661958On eBay ›
Adventure Comics #2631959On eBay ›
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #301962On eBay ›
Superboy #1171964On eBay ›
Batman #1851966On eBay ›
Batman from the 30s to the 70s #[nn]1972On eBay ›
Comix: A History of Comic Books in America #[nn]1971On eBay ›
The Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told #[nn]
ISBN 0930289803
1991On eBay ›
The Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told #[nn]
ISBN 0930289838
1992On eBay ›
Batman in the Fifties #[nn]
ISBN 1-56389-810-1
2002On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Golden-age paper is brittle. Ask about page suppleness and check edges for chips in the photos.
  • Check for trimmed edges, married covers, and clipped coupons - all common on books this old.
  • Confirm the indicia matches this plate; many golden-age titles changed names mid-run.

Series context

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com