Dates
- Cover date
- December 1939
- On sale
- October 24, 1939
- Pages
- 68
Editions and covers
- Original editionSource ↗
Creators
Stories
- The Purple Plague · 12.87 pages
A purple plaque sweeps Metropolis killing citizens left and right. Only Dr. Travers has discovered an antidote, and Superman must stop the Ultra-Humanite from killing the good doctor and prevent that cure from being used.
- The Train Robbery · 6 pages
Driving towards his home place, Pep spots an iron bar across the railroad tracks. When lifting it off a gang of thugs appear and knock him out. The oncoming train stops for the obstruction and the crooks attempt a robbery, which is foiled by Pep, but they all get on the train as it pulls away. Pep alerts the station man by note as they pass through the next small stop, and the police are waiting at Green City. While visiting his folks, pals of three criminals recently arrested by Pep kidnap him, but he is recognized by a traffic cop who knows him, which allows Pep to overpower his kidnappers.
- The Boot Thieves · 4 pages
Chuck is robbed of his boots and the outlaw throws him a brand new pair as replacements. Riding into a nearby town, a storekeeper identifies him as one of the men who robbed him, by the boots that were stolen. Chuck disarms both sheriff and deputy and rides off to capture the real robbers.
- The Ivory Safari, Part 1 · 6 pages
In Kenye [sic] Clip is approached by Colton, a dealer in ivory, whose shipments have failed to get to the coast. Notorious bandit "Wolf" Lupo has been identified as the leader of the raiders. Daredevil adventurer that he is, Clip agrees to head up the next safari of ivory. An attempt is made on Clip's life, but he manages to shoot the cobra. The safari is later surrounded by cannibals, but Clip has thoughtfully packed a bag with harmonicas, and distributes them to the natives, who are entranced by the music.
- Forest Fire · 1.33 pages
- The Zombies [Part 1] · 10 pages
Famous actor John Barryless asks Tex to find his son Bart, who has disappeared in the Sudan. Tex and Bob sail for north Africa and when they reach the place he was last seen, find a note which reads, "I am being attacked by zombies Bar---". Pushing into the interior they fall into a pit where they find Bart. The chief of the natives has been injecting a chemical into captives which saps their will and gives the appearance of being a zombie. Tex, Bob and Bart are about to be injected...
- Murder in the Air · 6 pages
- Values and Colors Change; Changes and Additions · 0.5 pages
- The Gorilla King · 11 pages
Characters
Reprinted in
Superman: The Action Comics Archives (1997), The Superman Chronicles (2006), Superman: The Golden Age Omnibus (2013), Superman: The Golden Age (2016), DC Finest: Superman: The First Superhero (2024)