Superman No. 286
April 1975
Cover: Superman sending his statue into battle; vignettes of Lex Luthor
and the Parasite //Ernie Chua
Story: “The Parasite’s Power Play” (14 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #445;
next appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #116)
Supporting Characters: Josh Coyle (next appears in ACTION COMICS #447),
Steve Lombard (between ACTION COMICS #444 / 447)
Cameo appearances: Mr. Mxyzptlk, Terra-Man, Brainiac (as statues)
Intro: Cathi, Dan Reed (only appearance for both)
Villains: Lex Luthor (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #443; next appears
in SUPERMAN FAMILY #172), the Parasite (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#361; next appears in issue #398)
Comment: Shortly after this story, Superman helps the Justice League
and Golden Eagle fight the Matter Master and the Equalizer and readmit
Hawkman in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #116-117.
Synopsis: Lex Luthor and Superman find themselves on the same side,
against the Parasite.
Action Comics No. 446
April 1975
Cover: Lois Lane watching Clark Kent change into Superman //Bob Oskner
Story: “Clark Kent Calling Superman, Clark Kent Calling Superman” (13
pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#117; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #170)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #170),
Lola Barnett (between SUPERMAN #285 / 289)
Villains: SU-6 (first appearance; next appears in issue #449), SU-5,
and their superior, a gang of crooks (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Communist spies try to discover the secret of how Clark Kent
summons Superman.
Superman Family No. 170
April-May 1975
Cover: Superman watching Val and Jimmy tear off steel door; recording
engineer, Don Weeder, female voice actor, and Lois Lane; Supergirl and
ant-man (three vignettes) //Kurt Schaffenberger
Story: “The Kid Who Adopted Jimmy Olsen” (14 pages)
Editor: Murray Boltinoff
Writer: Leo Dorfman
Artist: Kurt Schaffenberger
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #443)
GS: Superman (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #446)
Supporting Characters: Perry White (between SUPERMAN #285 / 288), Lois
Lane (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #446; next appears in SUPERMAN #287)
Intro: Val, Lasa, Avar (only appearance for all)
Villains: The Magus (Masters), the Gauntlet, the Black Coven (first
appearance for all; all die in this story), the Rip-Off Gang (first and
only appearance)
Synopsis: Jimmy Olsen finds himself playing babysitter to a child with
magical powers whom a coven of evil sorcerors wishes to control.
Story: “Both Feet In the Grave” (6 pages)
Editor: Murray Boltinoff
Writer: Leo Dorfman
Artist: Kurt Schaffenberger
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (next appears in SUPERMAN #288)
GS: Superman (next appears in SUPERMAN #287)
Villains: Mitch Korba and his goon (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Deprived of his signal-watch, Jimmy Olsen is placed in concrete
galoshes by a gangster and scheduled for a drop into Metropolis Bay.
Superman No. 287
May 1975
Cover: Superman seeing Krypto through window //Dick Giordano
Story: “Who Was That Dog I Saw You With Last Night?” (13 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #170)
GS: Krypto (between ACTION COMICS #440 / 462; also appears in
flashback, chronologically between ADVENTURE COMICS #396 / ACTION COMICS
#440)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#170)
Intro: Chelsea (a dog; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #183)
Villain: Mindbreaker Beast (in flashback), a gang of crooks (first
and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Krypto, who suffered amnesia years ago after battling the
Mindbreaker Beast on another planet, has returned to Earth and begun a
romance with a bitch named Chelsea. But the sight of Superman brings
back his memory, and he returns to his old master, at the cost of his puppy
love.
Story: “Bogus Batman” (5 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: E. Nelson Bridwell
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Clark Kent (Superman; next appears in ACTION COMICS
#447)
Villains: Flint Waller, Lew Mainz (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: A hitman impersonates Batman and accompanies Clark Kent into
a prison interview session, hoping to kill an imprisoned gangster.
Action Comics No. 447
May 1975
Cover: Superman materializing and Joseph J. Jerome falling from canoe
over waterfall //Dick Giordano
Story: “The Man Who Created Superman” (13 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #287; next
appears in Robin story in DETECTIVE COMICS #447)
Supporting Characters: Steve Lombard (between SUPERMAN #286 / 288),
Josh Coyle (between SUPERMAN #286 / 289), Oscar Asherman (last appearance
in issue #443; next appears in SUPERMAN #290)
Intro: Joseph J. Jerome, Brad Jerome, Werner Springer, Lanni (only
appearance for all)
Comments: Joseph J. Jerome is named after Superman’s creators, Joe
Shuster and Jerry Siegel.
Shortly after this story, Clark Kent makes a brief appearance
in the Robin story in DETECTIVE COMICS #447.
Synopsis: An island hermit with second sight helps Superman defuse
a deadly solar energy bomb.
Superman No. 288
June 1975
Cover: Superman //Dick Giordano
Story: “The Computer With a Secret Identity” (18 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Kurt Schaffenberger
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in DETECTIVE COMICS #447;
next appears in WONDER WOMAN #218)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (between ACTION COMICS #441 / 448),
Perry White (between SUPERMAN FAMILY #170 / 172), Steve Lombard (between
ACTION COMICS #447 / 448), Lois Lane (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF
AMERICA #118)
Intro: Compuxo Mark-I (destroyed in this story), Dr. Mitchel (only
appearance)
Villain: Kyle Talbot (first and only appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story, Superman helps the Justice League
monitor Wonder Woman’s battle with Felix Faust in WONDER WOMAN #218 and
fight the Adaptoids in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #118-119.
Synopsis: Superman gets some help against a villain from a computer
programmed from Clark Kent’s brainwaves.
Action Comics No. 448
June 1975
Cover: Superman and elevator operator on the 13th floor of the Galaxy
Building //Curt Swan? / Tex Blaisdell?
Story: “Don’t Get Off On the 13th Floor” (13 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#119; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #171)
GS: Roy Raymond (last appearance in SUPERMAN #285; next appears in
SUPERMAN FAMILY #195)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge, Steve Lombard (both between SUPERMAN
#288 / 289)
Intro: Rudy Gaffer, Alice Herman, Tybaltians (only appearance for all)
Comment: Shortly after this Superman helps the Justice League, Supergirl,
and Batgirl fight Cleopatra in SUPERMAN FAMILY #171, then helps the Justice
League monitor Wonder Woman’s battle with Mchsm in WONDER WOMAN #219.
Synopsis: Superman becomes involved with aliens who use the Earth as
a vacation spot.
Superman No. 289
July 1975
Cover: Superman tackling phantom cavalry officer //Curt Swan / Tex
Blaisdell and photomontage
Story: “The Phantom Horseman of Metropolis” (13 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in WONDER WOMAN #219)
Supporting Characters: Prof. Pepperwinkle (last appearance in ACTION
COMICS #442; next appears in issue #297), Inspector Henderson (last appearance
in ACTION COMICS #442; next appears in issue #291), Elaine Pepperwinkle
(first and only appearance), Steve Lombard (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#448), Morgan Edge (between ACTION COMICS #448 / 449), Jimmy Olsen (last
appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #170)
Intro: Candy Chapin, Big Bertha (only appearance for both)
Villains: The Metropolitan Revolutionary Army (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: An invention of Professor Pepperwinkle’s creates tangible
silhouettes of images on his TV, and Superman has to deal with them.
Story: “Right Down My Alley” (5 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: E. Nelson Bridwell
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Feature Character: Clark Kent (Superman; next appears in ACTION COMICS
#449)
Supporting Characters: Jimmy Olsen, Steve Lombard (both next appear
in ACTION COMICS #449), Dave Stevens (last appearance in SUPERMAN’S PAL,
JIMMY OLSEN #253; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #187), Lois Lane (last
appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #118; next appears in ACTION COMICS
#449), Lola Barnett (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #446; next appears
in SUPERMAN FAMILY #172), Laura Conway (between ACTION COMICS #441 / 449),
Melba Manton (last appearance in issue #280; next appears in ACTION COMICS
#464)
Villain: A mad bomber (no appearance; name only mentioned; first and
only appearance)
Synopsis: During a bowling tournament, Clark Kent hypnotizes himself
into not being able to use his super-powers so that he will have no advantage...and
is pinned under a ceiling beam when a terrorist’s bomb goes off.
Action Comics No. 449
July 1975
Cover: Superman vs. disassembled android parts; vignettes of Green
Arrow and Atom //Dick Giordano
Story: “My Best Friend, the Super-Spy” (25 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (between SUPERMAN #289 / 290)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Steve Lombard, Morgan
Edge (all between SUPERMAN #289 / 290), Laura Conway (last appearance in
SUPERMAN #289; next appears in issue #452)
Cameo: Lola Barnett, Perry White (as androids)
Intro: Lance Holloway (only appearance)
Villains: SU-6 (last appearance in issue #446; behind the scenes),
various androids (first appearance for all; all destroyed in this story)
Synopsis: The enemy agent inside Galaxy Communications uses androids
against Superman.
Superman No. 290
August 1975
Cover: Superman trying to save people from anti-gravity beam //Ernie
Chua
Story: “The Man Who Cried Super-’Wolf’” (13 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Jim Shooter
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #449)
Supporting Characters: Jimmy Olsen, Morgan Edge (last appearance for
both in ACTION COMICS #449; both next appear in SUPERMAN FAMILY #172),
Lois Lane (between ACTION COMICS #449 / 450), Josh Coyle (last appearance
in ACTION COMICS #447)
Intro: Sam Stearn, Mac (only appearance for both)
Villains: Michael J. Coram, Tommy Woodrow (last appearance for both
in ACTION COMICS #440; last appearance for both)
Synopsis: A street-sweeper with a penchant for practical jokes must
convince Superman he’s not kidding when he learns of a plot to kill the
Kryptonian Crusader.
Story: “Babble, Babble, Toil and Trouble” (5 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#120)
Supporting Characters: Steve Lombard, Oscar Asherman (last appearance
for both in ACTION COMICS #447; both next appear in SUPERMAN FAMILY #172),
Josh Coyle (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #447)
Villain: Mr. Mxyzptlk (between issues #283 / 298)
Comment: Shortly after this story, Superman helps the Justice League
and Adam Strange fight Kanjar Ro in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #120-121.
Synopsis: Mr. Mxyzptlk takes an idea from the Bible by making all Metropolitans
speak in different languages.
Action Comics No. 450
August 1975
Cover: Superman causing earthquake with laughter //Ernie Chua
Story: “The Laugh Heard Round the World” (13 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#121; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #172)
Supporting Characters: Johnny Nevada (last appearance in issue #442;
next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #172), Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN
#290; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #172)
Intro: Freddy (only appearance)
Villains: Two muggers (only appearance)
Synopsis: Comedian and TV host Johnny Nevada is transformed into a
sand-monster, and the only way Superman can return him to normalcy is with
a super-laugh.
Superman Family No. 172
August-September 1975
Cover: Superman and Jimmy Olsen at wedding of Lois Lane and Lex Luthor
//Kurt Schaffenberger
Story: “The Cheat the Whole World Cheered” (Part 1; 8 pages)
Part 2: “Lex Luthor, Champion of the World” (9 pages)
Part 3: “Wedding Day of Disaster” (8 pages)
Editor: Murray Boltinoff
Writer: Cary Bates
Artist: Kurt Schaffenberger
Feature Character: Lois Lane (between ACTION COMICS #450 / 452)
GS: Superman (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #450; next appears in
SUPERMAN #291)
GA: Green Lantern (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #121;
next appears in FLASH #236)
Supporting Characters: Johnny Nevada (between ACTION COMICS #450 /
474), Perry White (between SUPERMAN #288 / 292), Jimmy Olsen (last appearance
in SUPERMAN #290), Oscar Asherman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #290; next
appears in ACTION COMICS #452), Lola Barnett (last appearance in SUPERMAN
#289; next appears in ACTION COMICS #458), Steve Lombard (between SUPERMAN
#290 / 291), Morgan Edge (between SUPERMAN #290 / 292)
Other character: President Gerald Ford
Intro: Matt, Pop
Villain: Lex Luthor (between SUPERMAN #286 / 292) and his gang (first
and only appearance)
Synopsis: Lex Luthor appears to save the world from a deadly menace
and, as a reward, is pardoned for his crimes. He also appears to
win the hand of Lois Lane, and intends to marry her on television with
Superman acting as best man.
Superman No. 291
September 1975
Cover: Sylvester Wyatt knocking Superman through wall //Jose-Luis Garcia
Lopez?
Story: “The Time-Powered Peril” (20 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #172;
next appears in ACTION COMICS #451)
Supporting Characters: Steve Lombard (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#172; next appears in ACTION COMICS #451), Josh Coyle (next appears in
issue #293), Inspector Henderson (between issues #289 / 293)
Intro: Fredricks, Harold (only appearance for both)
Villains: Sylvester Wyatt, Pernel Roland, and various crooks (first
and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: A crook gains control of a watch Superman has charged with
super-energy.
Action Comics No. 451
September 1975
Cover: Superman, Melody, and Ben Aldain //Bob Oskner
Story: “The Great Super-Hero Contest” (13 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Jim Shooter
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #291; next
appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #232)
Supporting Character: Steve Lombard (last appearance in SUPERMAN #291)
Intro: Ben Aldain, Melody, Amy, Holstan, the Sentinel Tree (only appearance
for all)
Villains: Louie, a giant (first and only appearance for both)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman teams with Batman to fight
Chang-Shi in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #232.
Synopsis: Superman encounters a super-powered prince from another world
and the prince’s intended, the latter of whom falls for the Man of Steel
and sparks trouble.
Superman No. 292
October 1975
Cover: Lex Luthor and Superboy; Lex Luthor vs. Superman //Bob Oskner
Story: “The Luthor Nobody Knows” (13 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#232; also appears in flashbacks as Superboy, first between flashback in
issue #173 (2) and ADVENTURE COMICS #271, pg. 4, panel 5, second between
SUPERBOY #212 / 213)
Supporting Characters: Chief Parker (in flashback; chronologically
between SUPERBOY #180 / ADVENTURE COMICS #466), Perry White (between SUPERMAN
FAMILY #172 / 178)
Intro: Mr. Hales (only appearance)
Cameo: Lena Thorul, Jules Thorul, Arlene Thorul (in flashback)
Villain: Lex Luthor (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #172; next
appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #128; also appears in flashbacks,
first between flashback in issue #173 (2) / ADVENTURE COMICS #271, pg.
4, panel 5; second between SUPERBOY #179 / ADVENTURE COMICS #454)
Synopsis: Lex Luthor attempts to defeat Superman again with a muscle-decoordinating
ray that causes him to wreck Metropolis Airport, but the Man of Steel triumphs
again. Later, putting the airport back together again, Superman remembers
Luthor’s origins and that he once had a lot going for him, but now has
only hate.
Story: “I Don’t Like Your Face” (5 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Al Milgrom
Feature Character: Clark Kent (Superman; next appears in ACTION COMICS
#452)
Supporting Character: Morgan Edge (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#172; next appears in ACTION COMICS #452)
Villains: Fishbait Flotsky, Duke Calvert (first and only appearance
for both)
Synopsis: Assigned to grill an underworld informant in a tough bar,
Clark Kent is challenged by a bully who wants to pick a fight.
Action Comics No. 452
October 1975
Cover: Superman and Rick Lawrence //Ernie Chua
Story: “The Loser and New Champion” (13 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Jim Shooter
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #292; next
appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #173)
GA: Wonder Woman (between WONDER WOMAN #220 / 221)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#172; next appears in SUPERMAN #293), Oscar Asherman (last appearance in
SUPERMAN FAMILY #172; next appears in SUPERMAN #301), Steve Lombard (next
appears in SUPERMAN #293), Laura Conway (last appearance in issue #449;
next appears in SUPERMAN #297), Morgan Edge (between SUPERMAN #292 / 293)
Intro: Howard Carson, Bull Storski (only appearance for both)
Villains: Sunder, Rick Lawrence, various thugs (first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: Superman faces a crook who has been genetially altered to
gain the power of anyone who fights him.
Superman Family No. 173
October-November 1975
Cover: Fallen Superman and Kandorians, Sarna, and Jimmy Olsen as Flamebird;
Lois Lane as Bug Belle with Superman; Supergirl vs. Viperie (three vignettes)
//Kurt Schaffenberger
Story: “Menace of the Micro-Monster” (1 page)
Part 1: “Prisoners Under Glass” (8 pages)
Part 2: “The Dynamic Duo of Kandor” (9 pages)
Editor: Murray Boltinoff
Writer: Cary Bates
Artist: Kurt Schaffenberger
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (becomes Flamebird in this story; next
appears in ACTION COMICS #454)
GS: Superman (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #452; next appears in
SUPERMAN #293; becomes Nightwing in this story), Kandorians
Intro: Dev-Re (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #240)
Villains: Sarna Dev-Re, Matt Moran, Kandorian radicals (first and only
appearance for all)
Comment: Kandor’s population is given as ten million in this story.
Synopsis: Superman and Jimmy Olsen become Nightwing and Flamebird in
Kandor again to deal with a group of radicals.
Superman No. 293
November 1975
Cover: Superman guarding fire hydrant from Lois Lane and other people
//Ernie Chan
Story: “The Miracle of Thirsty Thursday” (18 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #173;
next appears in ACTION COMICS #453)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane, Morgan Edge (both between ACTION
COMICS #452 / 454), Steve Lombard (between ACTION COMICS #453 / 454), Dr.
Wilson Farr (last appearance in issue #253; last appearance), Inspector
Henderson (last appearance in issue #291; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#185), Josh Coyle (between issues #291 / 295)
Intro: Joann Jaime, Director of Time-Continuum Control, Debbie and
her mother, Stan
Villain: Larry Ishmael (first and only appearance)
Comment: The present-day portion of this story takes place on August
20, 1975, while the future portion takes place on August 20, 3475.
Synopsis: A historian from the 35th Century comes back to 1975 to learn
how Superman coped with the miracle of “Thirsty Thursday”.
Action Comics No. 453
November 1975
Cover: Superman with changed face and Superman mask, phoney Clark Kent
unconscious
Story: “Superman’s Fantastic Face-Saving Feat” (13 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (between SUPERMAN #293 / 294)
GA: Batman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #124; next
appears in DETECTIVE COMICS #452)
Supporting Character: Steve Lombard (last appearance in SUPERMAN #293;
next appears in issue #457)
Intro: Pete, Fenster, Fritz
Villain: A Clark Kent impostor (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: A vengeful gangster switches faces with Clark Kent to put
in motion a plot to kill Superman.
Superman No. 294
December 1975
Cover: Superman in deserted Metropolis //Ernie Chua (signed)
Story: “The Man Who Slept the World Away” (13 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #453)
Villain: Brain Storm (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#36; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #219)
Synopsis: Superman is left as the only inhabitant of Earth except for
Brain Storm, who has dreamed all others away.
Story: “The Tattoo Switcheroo” (5 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Jose Luis Garcia Lopez
Inker: Vince Colletta
Feature Character: Clark Kent (Superman; next appears in ACTION COMICS
#454)
Villains: Snake-Eyes Sullivan, Louie (first and only appearance for
both)
Synopsis: Clark Kent gets kidnapped by a crook who impersonates him,
but turns the tables by impersonating the crook.
Action Comics No. 454
December 1975
Cover: Superman devouring a mountain of hamburgers //Bob Oskner
Story: “Superman’s Energy-Crisis” (13 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #294; next
appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #234)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (last appearance in SUPERMAN #293;
next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #234), Lois Lane (last appearance
in SUPERMAN #293), Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #173),
Frank Jackson (Franklin Pierce Jackson; full name revealed in SUPERMAN
FAMILY #215; first appearance; next appears in issue #296)
Villain: Toyman II (last appearance in issue #432; next appears in
SUPERMAN #299)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman teams with Batman to fight
Krakon in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #234.
Synopsis: A strange energy-drain causes Superman to consume mass quantities
of food while the Toyman runs rampant.
Superman No. 295
January 1976
Cover: Superman in torn uniform fighting Xenofobe (as “Father Time”)
//Ernie Chua
Story: “Costume, Costume--Who’s Got the Costume?” (18 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#234; next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #125)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (next appears in ACTION COMICS #455),
Jimmy Olsen (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #176), Josh Coyle (next appears
in issue #301)
Intro: Jaxon, Xenofobe (Green Lantern of the 30th Century), Madame
Olga (only appearance for all)
Cameo: Mon-El, Duo Damsel, Invisible Kid, Element Lad, Saturn Girl,
Cosmic Boy
Villain: The Time-Trapper (in flashback; last appearance in ?; next
appears in ?)
Comments: This story is a sequel to KAMANDI #29.
Shortly after this story, Superman helps the Justice League of
America battle Two-Face and the Weaponers of Qward in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF
AMERICA #125-126.
Synopsis: Superman loses his costume in a battle with “Father Time”
and must travel 1,000 years into the future to fight for it with a caveman
who has claimed it and who has all Superman’s powers.
Action Comics No. 455
January 1976
Cover: Superman, Green Arrow, and Atom vs. Junk-Man //Ernie Chan?
Story: “Junkman, the Recycled Superstar” (18 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#126; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #235)
GS: Green Arrow (between JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #124 / 127), Atom
(last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #126; next appears in WORLD’S
FINEST COMICS #236)
Supporting Character: Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN #295)
Intro: Morty Rivers, Rad-Zee (only appearance for both)
Villain: Junk-Man (a robot; first and only appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story, Superman teams up with Batman to
battle Sagittarius in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #235, then teams with the Justice
League to combat the Anarchist in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #127.
Synopsis: A freak accident in Kandor transmits super-power to a junkpile
robot, and Superman, the Atom, and Green Arrow must find a way to stop
it before it destroys the bottle city.
Action Comics No. 456
February 1976
Cover: Superman vs. The Shark //Mike Grell
Story: “Jaws of the Killer Shark” (13 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#127; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #175)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #175),
Captain Strong (last appearance in issue #439; next appears in SUPERMAN
#361)
Intro: Jayson (only appearance)
Villain: The Shark (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #40;
next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #443)
Synopsis: The Shark, Green Lantern’s old foe, regains his humanoid
form and battles Superman.
Superman Family No. 175
February-March 1976
Cover: Superman, X-Ray Man, Lois Lane, and bystanders; Biff Rigger
and Supergirl; Jimmy Olsen making Clark Kent walk the plank //Kurt Schaffenberger
Story: “Fadeout For Lois” (1 page)
Part 1: “Origin of the X-Ray Man” (5 pages)
Part 2: “The Man Who Stole Superman” (6 pages)
Part 3: “Wipe-Out For Washington” (6 pages)
Editor: Murray Boltinoff
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Kurt Schaffenberger
Feature Character: Lois Lane (between ACTION COMICS #456 / 457)
GS: Superman (between ACTION COMICS #456 / 457)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST
COMICS #234), Stephanie Edge (first appearance; next appears in issue #208)
Villain: The X-Ray Man (Dr. Fredrik Schlaus; first and only appearance)
Synopsis: While Lois Lane is burdened by Morgan Edge’s niece, who tags
along with her, Superman faces the threat of the X-Ray Man, an intangible
villain bent on destroying Washington, D.C.
Action Comics No. 457
March 1976
Cover: Jon Ross crying as Clark Kent changes into Superman //Bob Oskner
Story: “Superman, You’re Not Clark Kent, and I Can Prove It” (13 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #175;
next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #236)
Supporting Characters: Pete Ross (last appearance in SUPERMAN #284;
next appears in issue #460), Jonathan Ross (his son; first appearance;
next appears in issue #460), Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#175; next appears in SUPERMAN #296), Steve Lombard (last appearance in
issue #453; next appears in SUPERMAN #296)
Villains: The Whirlicane (Emilio Storm; first appearance; next appears
in SUPERMAN #303) and his gang (first and only appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman teams with Batman and the
Atom to oppose Lisa Faraday in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #236, then helps the
Justice League reinduct Wonder Woman in WONDER WOMAN #220-222 and fight
Nekron, Lex Luthor, and Captain Cold in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #128-129.
Synopsis: Pete Ross’s son is endangered by a disease and the lack of
his will to live, so Superman tries to give Jon Ross what he most wants
to know, the revelation of his secret identity...but Jon won’t believe
that the Man of Steel is really Clark Kent.
Superman Family No. 176
April-May 1976
Cover: Superman trying to save Jimmy Olsen from giant guitar; Lois
Lane as Delilah cutting Superman’s hair; Supergirl vs. giant snake (three
vignettes) //Kurt Schaffenberger
Story: “Jimmy Olsen, Nashville Super-Star” (18 pages)
Editor: Murray Boltinoff
Writer: Cary Bates
Artist: Kurt Schaffenberger
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (between SUPERMAN #295 / 298)
GS: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #129; next
appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #237)
Supporting Character: Morgan Edge (next appears in SUPERMAN #297)
Intro: Marsha Tucker, Max Larch, Clams Baker, Bonnie Lou Parker, Jim
Brody (only appearance for all), Marty Parker (dies in this story)
Villains: Red Tucker and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman teams with Batman to deal
with alien insects in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #237.
Synopsis: The strange “death” of a Nashville country singer leads Jimmy
Olsen to investigate, disguised as a country-star wannabe.
Superman No. 296
February 1976
Cover: Superman saying goodbye to Clark Kent //Bob Oskner
Story: “Who Took the Super Out of Superman?” (18 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writers: Cary Bates, Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#237; also appears, in flashback, as Superboy, between NEW ADVENTURES OF
SUPERBOY #23 (2) / ADVENTURE COMICS #123)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent (in flashback; see
Comment under MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology), Steve Lombard, Lois
Lane (last appearance for both in ACTION COMICS #457), Mrs. Goldstein (between
issues #254 / 339), April Marigold (last appearance in issue #262), May
Marigold (last appearance in issue #273), Frank Jackson (last appearance
in issue #294)
GA: President John F. Kennedy (in flashback)
Villains: Xviar (Mr. Xavier; last appearance in issue #258; appears
in flashback, his first chronological appearance, preceding his first appearance
in issue #258), Inter-Gang (last appearance in SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN
#153)
Comment: This is the first of a four-part story.
Synopsis: Mr. Xavier, Clark Kent’s mysterious neighbor, is an alien
named Xviar who changes Superman into only being able to use his powers
when in costume. Superman believes that his body is trying to tell
him to choose either Superman or Clark, and reject his other persona.
Superman No. 297
March 1976
Cover: Superman watching Clark Kent beaten up by thugs //Bob Oskner
Story: “Clark Kent Forever--Superman Never” (18 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writers: Cary Bates, Elliot S! Maggin
Pecniller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane, Steve Lombard, Morgan Edge (last
appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #176), April Marigold (next appears in ACTION
COMICS #508), May Marigold (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #197), Prof.
Pepperwinkle (between issues #289 / 308), Gregory Reed (last appearance
in SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS #7; next appears in ACTION COMICS #468),
Laura Conway (between ACTION COMICS #452 / 459)
Intro: Web-Nu and his assistant, Prof. Milius (only appearance)
Villains: Xviar, Inter-Gang
Comment: This is part 2 of a four-part story.
In this story, Clark Kent and Lois Lane make love for the first
time.
Synopsis: Superman decides to remain as Clark Kent, becomes more aggressive,
tells off Morgan Edge, and romances Lois Lane. He also tracks down
Inter-Gang and defeats them. But Xviar, unknown to him, plans to destroy
Earth with Superman’s powers.
Superman No. 298
April 1976
Cover: Superman and Lois Lane walking together and ignoring disasters
//Bob Oskner
Story: “Clark Kent, Get Out of My Life” (18 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writers: Cary Bates, Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane, Morgan Edge, Steve Lombard, Frank
Jackson (next appears in ACTION COMICS #458), Jimmy Olsen (between SUPERMAN
FAMILY #176 / 179)
Villains: Solarman (first and only appearance), Xviar, Inter-Gang (one
member dies in this story; next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #12), Max
Danner (first and only appearance)
Comment: This is part 3 of a four-part story.
Synopsis: Superman decides to live without Clark Kent, and battles
Solarman, a sun-powered villain, while Xviar robs Clark Kent’s apartment.
Superman No. 299
May 1976
Cover: Superman’s empty costume surrounded by Mr. Mxyzptlk, Lex Luthor,
Prankster, Brainiac, Terra-Man, Toyman II, Kryptonite Man, Amalak, and
Parasite //Ernie Chua
Story: “The Double-Or-Nothing Life of Superman” (18 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writers: Cary Bates, Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in ACTION COMICS #458)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (next appears in WONDER WOMAN #224),
Steve Lombard, Morgan Edge (both next appear in ACTION COMICS #458)
Cameo appearance: Solarman (in flashback)
Villains: Xviar (last appearance), Amalak (between issues #195 / 311),
Parasite (between issues #286 / 304), Mr. Mxyzptlk (last appearance in
issue #290; next appears in ACTION COMICS #460), the Prankster (last appearance
in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #159; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #184), Terra-Man
(last appearance in issue #278; next appears in ACTION COMICS #468), Toyman
II (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #454; next appears in issue #305),
Lex Luthor (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #128; next appears
in Green Arrow story in ACTION COMICS #457), Brainiac (last appearance
in ACTION COMICS #443; next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #137),
Kryptonite Man (last appearance, as Kryptonite Kid, in ADVENTURE COMICS
#454; last appearance)
Comment: This is part 4 of a four-part story.
Synopsis: Xviar pits Superman against nine of his old villains, but
if Superman defeats the last of the nine, the alien will gain the needed
power to destroy Earth.
Action Comics No. 458
April 1976
Cover: Blackrock vs. Superman //Ernie Chua
Story: “Make Me a Super-Hero” (13 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #299)
Supporting Characters: Steve Lombard, Morgan Edge (last appearance
for both in SUPERMAN #299), Lola Barnett (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#172), Frank Jackson (between SUPERMAN #298 / 303)
Intro: Arthur, Barbara (only appearance for both)
Villains: Blackrock I (Samuel Tanner), Dr. Peter Silverstone, Newton
Rockwell (first appearance for all)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: In order to boost his network’s ratings, UBC president Samuel
Tanner orders Dr. Peter Silverstone to create a new super-hero for them
to feature, and is rewarded with Blackrock, who becomes a foe of Superman.
Action Comics No. 459
May 1976
Cover: Superman vs. Blackrock //Bob Oskner
Story: “Superman’s Big Crack-Up” (12 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman
Supporting Characters: Lola Barnett (next appears in SUPERMAN #315),
Morgan Edge, Steve Lombard
Villain: Blackrock I (next appears, as Samuel Tanner, in SUPERMAN #312),
Dr. Peter Silverstone (next appears in SUPERMAN #315), Newton Rockwell
(last appearance)
Comment: This story continues from last issue.
Synopsis: Superman continues his battle against Blackrock, and Samuel
Tanner does not suspect that Silverstone has turned him into the super-villain.
Story: “Two For the Taxi” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: E. Nelson Bridwell
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Clark Kent (Superman; next appears in BATMAN
FAMILY #5)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (next appears in SUPERMAN #302),
Steve Lombard (next appears in SUPERMAN #301), Laura Conway (last appearance
in SUPERMAN #297; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #181)
Intro: Wade Armstrong, Martin Taine (only appearance for both)
Villain: A kidnapper (first and only appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story Clark Kent makes a brief appearance
in the Batgirl and Robin story in BATMAN FAMILY #5.
Synopsis: Clark Kent investigates the kidnapping of a champion boxer.
Superman No. 301
July 1976
Cover: Superman //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez / Bob Oskner
Story: “Solomon Grundy Wins On a Monday” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in BATMAN FAMILY #5; next
appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #239)
Supporting Characters: Terri Cross (first appearance; next appears
in issue #307), Steve Lombard (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #459),
Oscar Asherman (between ACTION COMICS #452 / 482), Josh Coyle (between
issues #295 / 305)
Villains: Solomon Grundy (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#92; next appears in ALL-STAR COMICS #63), SKULL (first appearance; next
appear in SUPERMAN FAMILY #182), Samuel Simeon (first and only appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story, Superman teams with Batman and Gold
of the Metal Men to deal with aliens from Beta Zar in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#239.
Synopsis: Solomon Grundy travels to Earth-One, beats Superman in battle,
and goes searching for an other-Earth version of himself.
Superman No. 302
August 1976
Cover: Lex Luthor vs. giant Superman //Ernie Chua?
Story: “Seven-Foot-Two, and Still Growing” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #178)
GS: The Atom (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #129; next
appears in WONDER WOMAN #226)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (between ACTION COMICS #459 / 461),
Steve Lombard
Intro: Sandi (only appearance)
Villain: Lex Luthor (last appearance in THE JOKER #7; next appears
in ACTION COMICS #465) and his gang, various crooks (first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: Lex Luthor makes Superman grow to nine feet tall, impairing
his control over his own body, but the Atom lends the Man of Steel a hand
to set things right.
Superman Family No. 178
August-September 1976
Cover: Superman with engagement ring, robotic Lois Lane hiding; Supergirl
playing “fairy godmother” for children; Elastic Lad and Clark Kent changing
into Superman //Kurt Schaffenberger (signed)
Story: “The Girl With the Heart of Steel” (17 pages)
Editor: Murray Boltinoff
Writer: Cary Bates
Artist: Kurt Schaffenberger
Feature Character: Lois Lane (last appearance in WONDER WOMAN #224;
next appears in SUPERMAN #303)
GS: Superman (between SUPERMAN #302 / 303)
Supporting Character: Perry White (last appearance in SUPERMAN #292;
next appears in ACTION COMICS #461)
Intro: Prof. Mathers, aliens (only appearance for all)
Villains: Assorted crooks (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Lois Lane agrees to have a scientist convert part of her
to a bionic counterpart, not knowing she will soon become all-bionic as
a result.
Superman No. 303
September 1976
Cover: Superman vs. Thunder and Lightning //Ernie Chua
Story: “When Lightning Strikes, Thunder Kills” (2 pages)
Chapter One: “Thunder and Lightning” (9 pages)
Chapter Two: “When Storm Clouds Gather” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #178;
next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #131)
Supporting Characters: Steve Lombard (next appears in ACTION COMICS
#460), Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #178; next appears
in ACTION COMICS #461), Frank Jackson (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#458; next appears in issue #308)
Villains: Thunder / Lightning (first appearance; destroyed in this
story), Whirlicane (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #457; dies in this
story), Dr. Albert Michaels (first appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman helps the Justice League
of America and Supergirl fight the Queen Bee, Sonar, and Despero in JUSTICE
LEAGUE OF AMERICA #131-134.
Synopsis: Whirlicane attacks Superman again with an android who can
morph into two deadly beings, Thunder and Lightning.
Action Comics No. 460
June 1976
Cover: Karb-Brak threatening Steve Lombard in front of Superman poster
as Clark Kent runs towards them //Bob Oskner
Story: “Superman, You’ll Be the Death of Me Yet!” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#134)
Supporting Character: Steve Lombard (last appearance in SUPERMAN #303)
Intro: Andromedans (only appearance)
Villain: Karb-Brak (alias “Andrew Meda”; first appearance)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Karb-Brak, an alien from Andromeda who has assumed human
form to live on Earth, the only world that can cure him of a fatal allergy,
discovers that Superman’s presence causes him to assume his alien form
again. Thus, to save his life, he reasons that he must destroy the
Man of Steel...whom he mistakenly believes to be Steve Lombard.
Story: “Welcome Home To Myxopolis” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Artist: Kurt Schaffenberger
Feature Character: Mr. Mxyzptlk (last appearance in SUPERMAN #299;
next appears in issue #467)
Supporting Character: Jonathan Ross (last appearance in issue #457;
next appears in SUPERMAN #304), Pete Ross (last appearance in issue #457;
next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #182)
Synopsis: Mr. Mxyzptlk comes to Earth just as Superman leaves, and
tries to impress Jon Ross with his powers.
Action Comics No. 461
July 1976
Cover: Clark Kent hailed by crowds who throw tomatoes at Superman poster
//Bob Oskner
Story: “Kill Me Or Leave Me” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman
Supporting Characters: Steve Lombard (next appears in SUPERMAN #305),
Lois Lane (between SUPERMAN #303 / 304), Morgan Edge (last appearance in
SUPERMAN #302)
Cameo appearances: Andromedans, Jimmy Olsen
Villain: Karb-Brak
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Karb-Brak psychologically manipulates Earth people to think
of Clark Kent as a great hero.
Story: “The Toughest Newsboy In Town” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Bob Rozakis
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Perry White (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#178; next appears in issue #465; also appears in flashback, to indeterminate
time)
Supporting Characters: Alice White (last appearance in SUPERMAN’S PAL,
JIMMY OLSEN #100; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #252), Perry White,
Jr. (between SUPERMAN #108 / 376), Hank White (last appearance in SUPERMAN’S
PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #84; next appears in SUPERMAN #376), Will White (of Earth-One;
first appearance; next appears in SUPERMAN #376), Mrs. Perry White, Jr.,
Mrs. Will White, Mrs. Hank White, Perry White III, Matthew White, Jeremy
White, Gretchen White, and Perry White’s other two grandchildren
(first appearance for all; Matthew, Jeremy, and Gretchen named in issue
#568; all next appear in SUPERMAN #376)
Intro: Arnie, Dr. Norton, editor of the Daily Planet (all in flashback;
only appearance for all)
Villain: Victor Larsen (first and only appearance; in flashback)
Comment: This story is at variance with other stories of how Perry
White became a Daily Planet reporter. It is possible that Perry is
embellishing the tale by saying he was rewarded with becoming a reporter
at this time.
This story takes place on Easter Sunday.
Synopsis: Perry White regales his grandchildren with the story of how,
as a newsboy, he saved a scientist from a kidnapper and thus apparently
gained a cub reporter’s job with the Daily Planet.
Action Comics No. 462
August 1976
Cover: Superman vs. Karb-Brak //Bob Oskner
Story: “Super-War of Independence” (11 pages)
Editor: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman
Supporting Character: Morgan Edge (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#240)
GA: Benjamin Franklin
Villain: Karb-Brak
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: To save his own life, Karb-Brak tricks Superman into going
into the past and emerging in the year 1776.
Story: “This Is a Job For Superdog” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: E. Nelson Bridwell
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Al Milgrom
Feature Character: Krypto (last appearance in SUPERMAN #257; next appears
in issue #467)
GA: Superman (in flashback to indeterminate time)
Supporting Character: Danny Victor (last appearance in SUPERMAN #274;
last appearance)
Intro: Zip (only appearance)
Villains: Two hitmen (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Krypto foils a gangland assassination attempt and is talked
by Danny Victor into doing a dog food commercial on the Johnny Nevada show.
Action Comics No. 463
September 1976
Cover: Karb-Brak knocking Superman into 1776, where he appears in colonial
dress //Bob Oskner
Story: “Die Now--Live Later” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#240)
Other Characters: Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, George Washington,
Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams (of Earth-One; see Comment below)
Villain: Karb-Brak (next appears in issue #475), Tory spies (first
and only appearance)
Comments: This story continues from last issue.
Since research is not complete on the appearances of “real” historical
figures on Earth-One, their appearances in this issue cannot be tracked.
Shortly after this story, Superman and Batman team up for a mission
in Kandor in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #240.
Synopsis: Clark Kent finds himself a reporter for Benjamin Franklin’s
newspaper in 1776, but soon remembers that he is Superman and that Karb-Brak
has used his psi-machine to brainwash him.
Superman No. 304
October 1976
Cover: Jon Ross vs. Superman //Bob Oskner?
Story: “The Parasite’s Prism of Peril” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#240; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #179)
Supporting Characters: Dr. Jenet Klyburn (first appearance; next appears
in issue #315), Jonathan Ross (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #460; next
appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #182), Lois Lane (last appearance in ACTION
COMICS #461; next appears in issue #306)
Intro: Eddie Foil, Moose MacElroy (only appearance for both)
Villains: The Parasite (last appearance in issue #299; next appears
in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #246), Dr. Albert Michaels (next appears in issue
#310)
Synopsis: The Parasite creates a power-prism that gives other people
super-powers and turns them against Superman.
Superman Family No. 179
September-October 1976
Cover: Jimmy Olsen and Superman before fire, as Quazar woman looks
on; vignettes of Lois Lane and Supergirl //Kurt Schaffenberger (signed)
Story: “I Scared Superman To Death” (1 page)
Part 1: “The Day Metropolis Became Fear City” (9 pages)
Part 2: “Flamebird Flies Again” (7 pages)
Editor: Murray Boltinoff
Writer: Cary Bates
Artist: Kurt Schaffenberger
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (between SUPERMAN #298 / 305; becomes
Flamebird in this story)
GS: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #304; next appears in WORLD’S
FINEST COMICS #241)
Supporting Characters: Lucy Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN’S PAL,
JIMMY OLSEN #161; next appears in issue #186)
Intro: Quazar men (in flashback; only appearance)
Villains: A Quazar woman, various crooks (first and only appearance
for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman teams with Batman on a voyage
to another planet in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #241.
Synopsis: The Quazars, a race of Amazons from space, use Superman as
a broadcast agent to instill phobias in all males so that they may be easily
subjugated, and Jimmy Olsen and Lucy Lane must find a way of defeating
them.
Superman No. 305
November 1976
Cover: Superman smashing Toyman’s Robotoy with Superman statue //Ernie
Chan
Story: “The Man Who Toyed With Death” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Martin Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#241)
GS: Bizarro No. 1 (last appearance in SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND, LOIS
LANE #74)
Supporting Characters: Josh Coyle (last appearance in issue #301),
Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #179), Steve Lombard (last
appearance in ACTION COMICS #461)
Villains: The Toyman (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #432), Toyman
II (last appearance in issue #299; dies in this story)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: The original Toyman becomes a criminal again, kills the new
Toyman, then attacks Superman. Bizarro No. 1 appears, and Toyman
makes him a deal: he will fix the imperfect duplicator machine which creates
Bizarros if the Idiot of Steel will kill Superman.
Superman No. 306
December 1976
Cover: Superman and Lois Lane vs. Bizarro //Ernie Chua / Bob Oskner
(signed)
Story: “Backward Battle For the Bizarro World” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#135)
GS: Bizarro No. 1 (next appears in DC SPECIAL SERIES #6; origin retold
in flashback)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (last appearance in issue #304; next
appears in ACTION COMICS #465), Steve Lombard, Jimmy Olsen (both next appear
in ACTION COMICS #465), Percy Bratton (last appearance in issue #280; next
appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #187)
Cameo appearances: Dr. Dalton, Lex Luthor, Bizarro-Lois Lane No. 1
(in flashback)
Villain: Toyman (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #184)
Comments: This story continues from last issue.
Bizarro’s powers are changed by a cosmic storm to reverses of
Superman’s powers in some cases, such as flame breath for super-cold breath
and freezing vision for heat vision.
Shortly after this story, Superman helps the Justice League,
the Justice Society, the Marvel Family, and the Squadron of Justice fight
King Kull and his minions in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #135-137, though
he does not appear in issue #136.
Synopsis: Bizarro thinks Superman has destroyed the Bizarro World,
but Superman convinces him that it was just a mirage and that Htrae still
exists. The Toyman turns himself in to the police for rehabilitation.
Action Comics No. 464
October 1976
Cover: Superman vs. Purple Pile-Driver //Ernie Chua / Bob Oskner
Story: “Superman, I’m Going to Re-Run Your Life” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in second story of this
issue)
Supporting Characters: Melba Manton (last appearance in SUPERMAN #289;
next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #184)
Intro: Mrs. Taggart (only appearance), Flash and Batman androids
Cameo appearances: Bruce Wayne, Thomas Wayne, Martha Wayne, Joe Chill,
Barry Allen (in flashback)
Villain: Purple Pile-Driver (first appearance; next appears in SUPERMAN
#371), Charles Bolton (first and only appearance), Lex Luthor (last appearance
in SUPERMAN #302; revealed in next issue)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Superman learns of two incidents which parallel the origins
of the Flash and Batman, happening to other persons, then meets two people
who purport to be Flash and Batman but are much younger than the two heroes.
Story: “See Metropolis With Clark Kent” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: E. Nelson Bridwell
Artist: Kurt Schaffenberger
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#137; next appears in first story of this issue)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST
COMICS #240)
Intro: Edward Kirkland (only appearance)
Comment: Even though this is a Clark Kent story, Superman appears herein.
Synopsis: Clark Kent takes an Australian broadcasting magnate on a
tour of Metropolis.
Action Comics No. 465
November 1976
Cover: Superman vs. Lex Luthor; vignette of Lex Luthor vs. Superboy
//Ernie Chua / Bob Oskner
Story: “Think Young and Die” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman
Supporting Characters: Steve Lombard (last appearance in second story
of this issue), Perry White (between issues #461 / 469 (2)), Jimmy Olsen
(last appearance in SUPERMAN #306; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #181),
Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN #306), Morgan Edge
Other Characters: Flash and Batman androids
Villain: Lex Luthor
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Lex Luthor regresses Superman to a Superboy with a youth
serum, so that the Boy of Steel will lack the experience to effectively
fight him.
Story: “Paper Hero” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Feature Character: Steve Lombard (last appearance in SUPERMAN #306;
next appears in first story in this issue; also appears in flashback,
between SUPERMAN #384 (flashback) / 264)
Intro: Chuck Guraldi (in flashback; dies before this story begins),
Shirley Lavitsky (only appearance)
Villains: Two gangsters (first and only appearance for both; in flashback)
Synopsis: Steve Lombard recounts to a secretary how he fought off two
thugs while pondering whether or not to write a foreword to the biography
of a late coach of his whom he hated.
Action Comics No. 466
December 1976
Cover: Lex Luthor fighting Superboy, with fallen Flash and Batman androids
in background //Neal Adams (signed)
Story: “You Can Take the Man Out of the Super, But You Can’t Take the
Super Out of the Boy” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman
GA: Batman (last appearance in BATMAN #282; next appears in DC SUPER-STARS
#10), Flash (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #137)
Supporting Characters: Steve Lombard (next appears in SUPERMAN #309),
Morgan Edge (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #181), Lois Lane
Other Characters: Flash and Batman androids (last appearance for both)
Villains: Lex Luthor (next appears in DC SUPER-STARS #10), a gang of
crooks (first and only appearance)
Comments: This story continues from last issue.
Synopsis: Lex Luthor prepares to destroy the less-experienced Superboy,
having already appeared to kill the teenaged Batman and Flash.
Action Comics No. 467
January 1977
Cover: Superman wrecking buildings //Ernie Chua
Story: “Stop It, Superman--You’re Wrecking the World” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman
Supporting Character: Lois Lane (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #181)
Villains: Borotavians (including Yskoff and Durski), the Professor
and his aides (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: A criminal scientist uses energy from Superman’s own body
to create a tidal wave.
Story: “A Superman’s Best Friend Is His Superdog” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Bob Rozakis
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Krypto (last appearance in issue #462; next appears
in SUPERMAN #309)
GS: Superman (appears in DC SUPER-STARS #10 within this story; next
appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #181)
Intro: Harold, Mildred (only appearance for both)
Villain: Mr. Mxyzptlk (last appearance in issue #460; next appears
in SUPERMAN #335)
Comments: Within this story, Superman helps the Justice League and
Plastic Man fight Lex Luthor and other super-villains in DC SUPER-STARS
#10.
Synopsis: Krypto is left in charge of Metropolis while Superman is
meeting with the Justice League, at a time in which Mr. Mxyzptlk comes
to town.
Superman Family No. 181
December 1976-January 1977
Cover: Lois Lane, gnomelike Superman, and Thom //Ernie Chua (signed)
Story: “The Secret Lois Lane Could Never Tell” (17 pages)
Editor: Murray Boltinoff
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Jose Delbo
Inker: Vince Colletta
Feature Character: Lois Lane (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #467)
GS: Superman (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #467; next appears in
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #138)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (between ACTION COMICS #466 / 469
(2)), Laura Conway (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #459; next appears
in issue #184), Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #465; next
appears in DC SUPER-STARS #12)
Intro: Kryz (only appearance)
Villain: Thom (first and only appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman helps the Justice League
and Adam Strange fight Kanjar Ro in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #138-139,
then helps the Justice League battle Captain Cold, the Icicle, Minister
Blizzard, and Shadow-Thief in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #139, then remembers
an incident in his past in DC SUPER-STARS #12, then helps the Justice League
and Captain Comet fight the Secret Society of Super-Villains in SECRET
SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS #5 and DC SPECIAL #27, then teams with Batman
and Robin against the Twelve Immortals in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #243.
Synopsis: Lois Lane is thrown through a dimensional portal in which
she is asked to marry a gnomelike king at a wizard’s behest. When
Superman comes after her, he, too, becomes a gnome.
Superman No. 307
January 1977
Cover: Supergirl (from waist down) smashing bottle-city of Kandor
as Superman watches in anguish //Neal Adams (signed)
Story: "Krypton--No More" (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Inker: Frank Springer
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST
COMICS #243)
GS: Supergirl (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #180)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#181), Terri Cross (between issues #301 / 309)
Intro: Milton Slotvik (only apperance)
Cameo appearances: Jor-El, Lara, Jonathan and Martha Kent, and
Fred Danvers
Villains: The Protector (first appearance), Morton Kalmbach (first
and only appearance)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Fearing pollution could destroy the Earth, and unwilling
to lose another home planet, Superman goes on a rampage, destroying supertankers,
which can (and sometimes do) leak
huge amounts of oil and endanger sea life. In the process, he
has to fight and defeat the Protector, a mutant whose powers are fuelled
by pollution. But Supergirl comes to the Fortress of Solitude, smashes
statues of Jor-El and Lara, destroys a fake bottle city of Kandor, and
tells him that his memories of Krypton were all a lie. Krypton, she
says, never existed, and both she
and he are only powerful human mutants who were born on Earth.
Superman No. 308
Feb. 1977
Cover: Superman vs. Radion //Neal Adams (signed)
Story: "This Planet Is Mine" (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Inker: Frank Springer
Feature Character: Superman
GS: Supergirl
GA: Kandorians
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane, Prof. Pepperwinkle (last appearance
in issue #297; last appearance), Frank Jackson (last appearance in issue
#303; next appears in ACTION COMICS #471)
Cameo: Jonathan and Martha Kent
Villains: Radion (first and only appearance), the Protector
(last appearance)
Comments: This story continues in the next issue.
Superman claims in this story that the population of Krypton
at its destruction was three billion people, but this figure may be too
low.
Synopsis: The Protector escapes the Fortress of Solitude while
Superman is sorrowing over the loss of his heritage. Later, Superman
catches up to the Protector and his master / partner
Radion, another mutant whose powers were caused by a nuclear accident
at an atomic power plant. He tricks both of them into defeating each
other.
Superman No. 309
March 1977
Cover: Superman and Supergirl vs. J'ai warrior //Jose Luis
Garcia-Lopez / Ernie Chan?
Story: "Blind Hero's Bluff" (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Inker: Frank Springer
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#182)
GS: Supergirl (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #182), Krypto
(last appearance in ACTION COMICS #467; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#182), Kandorians
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #182),
Steve Lombard (between ACTION COMICS #466 / 469 (2)), Terri Cross (last
appearance in issue #307; next appears in ACTION COMICS #477)
Intro: Xonnians, Cyrotor (only appearance for all)
Villains: Samuel Simeon and his gang, J'ai warriors (first and
only appearance for all)
Comment: This story continues from the last issue.
Synopsis: Superman at first concerns himself only with local
crime, and, when Supergirl asks him to undertake a space mission with her,
he refuses. She slaps him and goes ahead herself. Later,
when Superman uses his telescopic vision to see her and Krypto in space
being beaten by an invading armada on the planet Zonn, he reconsiders and
joins her. The orange sun of Zonn reduces the Kryptonians' powers
and blinds them and they are captured. While in captivity, Supergirl
tells Superman what he has already deduced: that they are Kryptonians
indeed and she has been lying to him. The Kandorians and she were
concerned over his mental health, due to his attacks on supertankers.
They decided to convince him that Krypton had never existed, and therefore
could never have died. Superman says that he guessed their duplicity
from several clues, including the presence of his superdog Krypto and her
calling him "cousin" even though Fred Danvers and Jonathan Kent were not
related. Superman breaks out of prison and defeats the
J'ai invaders of Zonn with a sonic pulse. Later, he returns to
Earth with Supergirl and Krypto, and tells her he is proud of his obsession
with Earth, his true home.
Superman Family No. 182
March-April 1977
Cover: Superman, Lois Lane, Krypto, Jimmy Olsen, Supergirl //Curt Swan
/ Neal Adams (signed)
Story: “Death On Ice” (10 pages)
Editor: Denny O’Neil
Writer: Bill Dennehy
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Vince Colletta
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in DC SUPER-STARS #12;
next appears in ACTION COMICS #469 (2))
GS: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #309)
Intro: Matt Wilson (only appearance)
Villains: Big Al’s Rat Pack (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: At a time in which Jimmy Olsen is wondering whether waking
time or dreamtime is reality, he is thrown into a conflict between gangsters
and the hockey star they are attempting to bribe.
Story: “Crime Takes a Fall” (8 pages)
Editor: Denny O’Neil
Writer: Bill Kunkel
Penciller: Jose Delbo
Inker: Bob Layton
Feature Character: Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN #309; next
appears in ACTION COMICS #469 (2))
GS: Superman (next appears in ACTION COMICS #469 (2))
Intro: Jaws Jeffrey, Chief Strong Bear (only appearance for both)
Villains: Magnum (first and only appearance), SKULL (between SUPERMAN
#301 / 310)
Synopsis: Lois Lane learns of a plot by the crime organization SKULL
to fix wrestling matches.
Story: “The Stranger” (10 pages)
Editor: Denny O’Neil
Writer: Paul Kupperberg
Penciller: Marshall Rogers
Inker: Frank Springer
Feature Character: Clark Kent (Superman; last appearance in ACTION
COMICS #469 (2))
Supporting Characters: Pete Ross (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#460; next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #13), Jonathan Ross (between SUPERMAN
#304 / 315)
Intro: Jo-Mon (dies in this story), Kam-Ya, Bel Der (only appearance
for both; all in flashback)
Villains: Al-Nei, Dar-Ze (both in flashback; first and only apperance
for both)
Comment: This is a Fabulous World of Krypton story.
This story takes place on December 25th, 1977 and continues directly
from ACTION COMICS #469, which takes place on Christmas Eve.
Synopsis: At a Christmas party in Pete Ross’s home, Clark Kent tells
Jon Ross the story of how the death of the messianic Jo-Mon, 4000 years
before its destruction, succeeded in breaking the power of the tyrant Al-Nei
and bringing Krypton peace.
Story: “A Bad Day For Junkyard Blue” (5 pages)
Editor: Denny O’Neil
Writer: Bob Toomey
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Bob Smith
Feature Character: Krypto (last appearance in SUPERMAN #209)
Intro: Blue (a junkyard dog) and his master, Merle and her significant
other (only appearance for all)
Villains: Burt, Harry (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: The Dog of Steel nabs a couple of bank robbers and restores
the confidence of a junkyard dog.
Story: “The Reporter With the Radar Mind” (7 pages)
Editor: Denny O’Neil
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Vince Colletta
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (between ACTION COMICS #469 (2) / 468)
GS: Superman (next appears in ACTION COMICS #468)
Supporting Characters: Perry White, Lois Lane (both between ACTION
COMICS #469 (2) / 468), Morgan Edge (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #469
(2); next appears in DETECTIVE COMICS #468), Steve Lombard (last appearance
in SUPERMAN #309; next appears in ACTION COMICS #469)
Intro: Chuck, Nicky Heller (only appearance for both)
Villains: Three crooks (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Jimmy Olsen helps psychic Nicky Heller when the latter transfers
his mental abilities to Jimmy so that he can bring help against crooks
who are threatening him.
Action Comics No. 468
February 1977
Cover: Children watching Superman fight Terra-Man on TV //Neal Adams
(signed)
Story: “Terra At Nine O’Clock” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in second story in this
issue)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge, Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Perry White
(last appearance for all in second story in this issue), Gregory Reed (last
appearance in SUPERMAN #297)
Cameo appearance: King Kong
Villain: Terra-Man (last appearance in SUPERMAN #299)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Terra-Man instigates a series of battles against Superman,
which are broadcast by his alien technology through every network in the
area.
Story: “My Son, the Orphan” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Feature Character: Morgan Edge (last appearance in DETECTIVE COMICS
#468; next appears in first story in this issue; also appears in flashback,
his earliest chronological appearance, preceding his first appearance in
flashback in SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE #118; real name, Morris
Edelstein, revealed in this story; origin details revealed)
GA: Clark Kent (Superman; last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #182;
next appears in first story in this issue)
Supporting Characters: Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Perry White (last appearance
for all in SUPERMAN FAMILY #182; all next appear in first story in this
issue)
Intro: Mrs. Sophie Edelstein (Morgan’s mother), Jack (only appearance
for both)
Villains: A group of gamblers (in flashback; first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Morgan Edge has been hiding his true Jewish name and roots
until his mother, who has been working for many years as a cleaning lady,
teaches him a lesson in being proud of his heritage.
Action Comics No. 469
March 1977
Cover: Terra-Man riding Superman //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez / Bob Oskner
Story: “The Night Superman Was Buried In Boot Hill” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Steve Lombard
(last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #182), Gregory Reed
Intro: J. B. (Only appearance)
Villain: Terra-Man
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Terra-Man, forcing Superman to do televised battle or see
Metropolis blown up by hidden bombs, appears to kill the Man of Steel in
combat and bury him.
Story: “Clark Kent’s Lonely Christmas” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Bob Rozakis
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Clark Kent (Superman; between first and third stories
in SUPERMAN FAMILY #182)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (between SUPERMAN FAMILY #181 /
182), Steve Lombard (last appearance in SUPERMAN #309; next appears in
SUPERMAN FAMILY #182), Jimmy Olsen (between first and fifth stories in
SUPERMAN FAMILY #182), Lois Lane (between second and fifth stories in SUPERMAN
FAMILY #182), Perry White (last appearance in issue #465; next appears
in SUPERMAN FAMILY #182)
Intro: Johnny and his mother, Martin, Merril, orphans at Metropolis
Orphanage (only appearance for all)
Cameo appearances: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Pete Ross, Lana Lang
Comment: This story takes place on December 24, 1977 and continues
directly into the third story in SUPERMAN FAMILY #182, which takes place
on December 25, 1977.
Synopsis: Clark Kent feels lonely on Christmas Eve, until he sees the
present-less state of orphans at Metropolis Orphanage and secretly buys
presents for them all at super-speed.
Action Comics No. 470
April 1977
Cover: Gregory Reed (as Superman) vs. Terra-Man in graveyard, Superman’s
hand coming up from grave //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez / Bob Oskner
Story: “Even Superman Must Die Sometime” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in SUPERMAN #310)
GS: Flash (last appearance in THE FLASH #249; next appears in JUSTICE
LEAGUE OF AMERICA #140), Green Lantern (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE
BOLD #134; next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #140)
Supporting Characters: Gregory Reed (next appears in issue #474), Morgan
Edge, Steve Lombard, Lois Lane (all next appear in SUPERMAN #310), Perry
White (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #183), Jimmy Olsen (next appears
in BATMAN FAMILY #11)
Villain: Terra-Man (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #261), the
alien currency-thief’s brother (first and only appearance)
Comment: This story continues from last issue.
Synopsis: Superman emerges from the “grave” transformed into a double
for Terra-Man, and everyone from his Justice League friends to the brother
of the alien killed by the real Terra-Man wants revenge on him.
Superman No. 310
April 1977
Cover: Metallo II vs. Superman //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez / Bob Oskner
(signed)
Story: “The Man With the Kryptonite Heart” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #470;
next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #144)
Supporting Characters: Steve Lombard, Morgan Edge, Lois Lane (last
appearance for all in ACTION COMICS #470; all next appear in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#183)
Villains: Metallo II (Roger Corben; first appearance; next appears
in issue #316), SKULL (between SUPERMAN FAMILY #182 / 184), Dr. Albert
Michaels (between issues #304 / 316), Helvig (first appearance; next appears
in issue #317)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman teams up with Batman to
fight Robespierre Two in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #244, then helps the Justice
League of America fight the Manhunters and the Construct in JUSTICE LEAGUE
OF AMERICA #140-142, then helps celebrate Batman’s birthday in BATMAN FAMILY
#11.
Synopsis: When Roger Corben, SKULL member and brother of the original
Metallo, is injured in a robbery, the crime cabal makes him into a second
Metallo with a Kryptonite heart and sends him against Superman.
Superman Family No. 183
June 1977
Cover: Ghostly Superman and Lois Lane on flying bed; vignettes of Jimmy
Olsen, Perry White, and Supergirl //Neal Adams (signed)
Story: “Love and the Single Dog” (6 pages)
Editor: Denny O’Neil
Writer: Bob Toomey
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Krypto
Cameo: Superman (in flashback)
Supporting Character: Chelsea (last appearance in SUPERMAN #287)
Synopsis: Krypto remembers his old flame, Chelsea, and comes to Earth
to see her just in time to save her from a fire breaking out on the set
of a movie in which she is starring. Krypto is written in by the
producers as a co-star.
Story: “Short-Circuit a Smuggler” (8 pages)
Editor: Denny O’Neil
Writer: J. Aruns
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Bob Oskner
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in BATMAN FAMILY #11)
GS: Superman (last appearance in BATMAN FAMILY #11; next appears in
Nightwing and Flamebird story in this issue)
Villains: Michael Sophanzo, Louie (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Jimmy Olsen goes undercover to track down a pair of diamond
smugglers.
Story: “Whatever Happened to Perry White?” (3 pages)
Editor: Denny O’Neil
Writer: Bob Toomey
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Vince Colletta
Feature Character: Perry White (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #470)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN #310),
Morgan Edge (last appearance in SUPERMAN #310; next appears in ACTION COMICS
#471 (2)), Jimmy Olsen (next appears in ACTION COMICS #472)
Intro: Jerry (only appearance)
Synopsis: Perry White is given doctor’s orders to cut down on his gruffness,
but the Daily Planet staffers soon return him to normal.
Story: “The Day Lois Lane Walked All Over Superman” (20 pages)
Editor: Denny O’Neil
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Vince Colletta
Feature Character: Lois Lane (next appears in ACTION COMICS #472)
GS: Superman (last appearance in Nightwing and Flamebird story in this
issue; next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #143), Deadman (last appearance
in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #133; next appears in DC SUPER-STARS #18)
Supporting Character: Steve Lombard (last appearance in SUPERMAN #310;
next appears in ACTION COMICS #471 (2))
Intro: Nurse Hodges
Villain: Dr. Predor (first and only appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman helps the Justice League
fight the Construct and the Injustice League in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#143, then teams with Batman, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and J’onn J’onzz to fight
R’es Eda in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #245, then helps Green Lantern relate
the secret origin of the Justice League to Green Arrow in JUSTICE LEAGUE
OF AMERICA #144.
Synopsis: A psychic researcher takes over Superman’s body with his
spirit and displaces the spirit of Superman, but Lois Lane and Deadman
help put the right ghosts back in the right bodies.
Action Comics No. 471
May 1977
Cover: Superman punching fist through silhouette of Faora Hu-Ul //Jose
Luis Garcia-Lopez / Bob Oskner (signed)
Story: “One of Our Phantoms Is Missing” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in Steve Lombard story
in next issue)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (last appearance in second story
in this issue; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #184), Steve Lombard
(last appearance in second story of next issue), Frank Jackson (last appearance
in second story of this issue; next appears in issue #474)
Intro: Jackson Porter
Cameo appearance: Katie Porter (in photo; first and only appearance;
dead before this story begins), Jax-Ur, Prof. Vakox, Phantom Zone villains
Villain: Faora Hu-Ul (first appearance; last chronological appearance
in NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #9)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Superman has to deal with the problem of Faora Hu-Ul, a female
Phantom Zone prisoner who can leave and reenter the Zone at will, with
the help of Jackson Porter, an old man who thinks she is the ghost of his
dead wife Katie.
Story: “The Long Weekend” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Bill Kunkel
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Colorist: Anthony Tollin
Feature Character: Clark Kent (Superman; last appearance in JUSTICE
LEAGUE OF AMERICA #144; next appears in Steve Lombard story in next issue)
Supporting Characters: Frank Jackson (last appearance in SUPERMAN #308;
next appears in first story in this issue), Morgan Edge (last appearance
in SUPERMAN FAMILY #183), Steve Lombard (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#183; next appears in second story of next issue)
Intro: Harry Davis, Lionel Maxwell
Synopsis: Clark Kent tracks down a double of his who is the missing
heir to a fortune.
Action Comics No. 472
June 1977
Cover: Faora Hu-Ul vs. Superman //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Story: “The Phantom Touch of Death” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman
Other Character: Jackson Porter
Villain: Faora Hu-Ul
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: After Jackson Porter brings her totally out of the Phantom
Zone, Faora Hu-Ul attacks Superman with horu-kanu, the deadliest Kryptonian
martial art, and forces him to flee into the Zone himself.
Story: “If I’m Over Here, What Am I Doing Over There?” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Bill Kunkel
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Steve Lombard (last appearance in second story of
last issue)
GS: Clark Kent (Superman; last appearance in Clark Kent story in last
issue; next appears in Superman story in last issue), Bruce Wayne (Batman;
last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #245)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen (last appearance of both
in SUPERMAN FAMILY #183), Josh Coyle (next appears in issue #475)
Intro: Jack Paulus, Roddy Jenkins (only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Steve Lombard is plagued with sightings of his lookalike,
whom nobody else appears to see.
Action Comics No. 473
July 1977
Cover: Superman vs. Faora Hu-Ul, Kru-El, Jax-Ur, Prof. Vakox,
and General Zod //Curt Swan / Neal Adams (signed)
Story: "The Great Phantom Peril" (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#184)
GS: Supergirl (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #450; next
appears in SUPERMAN #311), Batman (last appearance in Steve Lombard story
in last issue; next appears in BATMAN #289), Green Lantern (last appearance
in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #144; next appears in SUPERMAN #311),
a Superman robot
Suppporting Characters: Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen (both next appear in
SUPERMAN FAMILY #184), Steve Lombard (next appears in SUPERMAN #311)
Other Character: Jackson Porter (last appearance)
Villains: Faora Hu-Ul (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #190),
Jax-Ur, General Zod, Kru-El (all between Supergirl stories in SUPERMAN
FAMILY #183 / 189), Prof. Vakox (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#199; next appears in PHANTOM ZONE #1), Phantom Zone villains (last appearance
in ADVENTURE COMICS #400; next appear in SUPERMAN FAMILY #190)
Comment: This story continues from last issue.
Synopsis: The people of Earth exchange places with the prisoners
of the Phantom Zone, who run rampant over the planet. But Superman
engineers another switch which returns the Kryptonian
criminals, including their ringleader Faora Hu-Ul, to the Zone and
restores Earth's people to their own planet.
Superman Family No. 184
July-August 1977
Cover: Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Perry White, Superman, Supergirl, and
Prankster //Neal Adams (signed)
Story: “The Final Flight” (12 pages)
Editor: Denny O’Neil
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (between ACTION COMICS #473 / 474)
GS: Superman (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #473)
Supporting Characters: Perry White, Morgan Edge (last appearance in
ACTION COMICS #471), Laura Conway (last appearance in issue #181; next
appears in ACTION COMICS #493)
Intro: Barbara Bench (next appears in issue #189), Richard Bench, Josef
Rabinovitch, Marke Himmel (only appearance for all)
Villains: Dictator of Borotavia, various crooks (only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: Jimmy Olsen goes undercover as a tennis player to save a
scientist from a dictator.
Story: “Bone of Contention” (7 pages)
Editor: Denny O’Neil
Writer: Bob Toomey
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Steve Mitchell
Feature Character: Krypto
Supporting Character: Chelsea
Intro: A professor (only appearance)
Villain: Mr. Parker (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Krypto foils a crook trying to steal a dinosaur bone.
Story: “Piece of Mind” (10 pages)
Editor: Denny O’Neil
Writer: Bill Kunkel
Penciller: Bill Draut
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Lois Lane (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #473;
next appears in SUPERMAN #311)
GS: Superman (next appears in Nightwing and Flamebird story in this
issue)
Supporting Character: Morgan Edge (next appears in SUPERMAN #312)
Intro: Bob Marlow (dies in this story), Mrs. Dunnis (only appearance)
Villains: Father DeMurr (first and only appearance), SKULL (between
SUPERMAN #310 / 315)
Synopsis: A religious cult which is a front for SKULL brainwashes Lois
Lane into attempting to kill Clark Kent.
Story: “The Mysterious Misdemeanors of the Prankster” (8 pages)
Editor: Denny O’Neil
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Bob Smith
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in Nightwing and Flamebird
story in this issue; next appears in SUPERMAN #311)
Supporting Character: Melba Manton (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#464; next appears in issue #186)
Villains: Toyman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #306; next appears in
DC COMICS PRESENTS #39), Prankster (last appearance in SUPERMAN #299; next
appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #41)
Synopsis: The Prankster and the Toyman cook up a plot to drive Superman
crazy by the Prankster’s violating obsolete laws, such as putting pennies
in his ears in Honolulu.
Superman No. 311
May 1977
Cover: Nam-Ek vs. Superman and plague victims; Flash vignette //Jose
Luis Garcia-Lopez
Story: “Plague of the Antibiotic Man” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Springer
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #184)
GS: Flash (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #143)
GA: Green Lantern (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #473)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#184), Steve Lombard (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #473), Jaime Lombard
(first appearance), Iris West (between THE FLASH #249 / 250)
Intro: Angelique, Richards (only appearance for both)
Villains: Amalak (last appearance in SUPERMAN #299), Nam-Ek (last appearance
in issue #282), Jevik (first appearance)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Superman and the Flash battle Nam-Ek, a survivor of Krypton
with a Rondor horn, whom the Man of Steel mistakenly thinks has been causing
a plague in Central City. When he apparently kills Nam-Ek, Superman
believes he must retire. Worse yet, Lois Lane is stricken by the
plague.
Superman No. 312
June 1977
Cover: Superman vs. Amalak, "electro-surrogate" vs. Supergirl
//Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez / Bob Oskner (signed)
Story: "Today the City, Tomorrow the World" (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Springer
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman
GS: Supergirl (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #473), Flash,
Green Lantern (both next appear in issue #314)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (last appearance in SUPERMAN
FAMILY #184; next appears in issue #315), Samuel Tanner (last appearance
in ACTION COMICS #459; next appears in issue #315)
Intro: Dan Reed (next appears in ACTION COMICS #524), Norman
Lewis (only appearance)
Villains: Nam-Ek, Amalak, Jevik (as Jamie's dog)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Supergirl joins Superman in their quest to find a cure
for "journalist's disease" and to help the dying Flash. Superman
discovers that Nam-Ek, whom he thought he had accidentally
killed, is alive and now is an ally of their enemy Amalak. Superman
battles Nam-Ek, hoping to use the healing energies of his Rondor horn to
save the disease victims. Supergirl fights an
"electro-surrogate" force-being controlled by Amalak and defeats it,
but is temporarily blinded by the flash of its destruction and is rendered
unconscious by Amalak. Threatening Supergirl's
life with a "star-cannon", Amalak allows Superman to take Nam-Ek to
Earth while he holds Supergirl prisoner. Minutes later, Amalak tells
Supergirl that he created "journalist's disease",
and he is now going to kill her.
Superman No. 313
July 1977
Cover: Superman, Jamie, and Jevik //Dick Dillin / Neal
Adams (signed)
Story: "The Only Way You'll Save the Earth Is Over My Dead Body"
(17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Martin Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Dan Adkins
Feature Character: Superman
GS: Supergirl
Supporting Character: Jaime Lombard (last appearance in issue #267)
Cameo appearances: Flash, Lois Lane, Steve Lombard, Iris West
Allen
Villains: Amalak, Jevik, Nam-Ek (next appears in PHANTOM
ZONE #1)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Supergirl has seen Superman melt the interior of Amalak's
gun barrel with his heat-vision, so, after Amalak reveals to her his plan
of destroying Superman psychologically, she gets up and bashes him.
Amalak retaliates by using his "electro-surrogate" to fight her while he
shields himself with a force-field. Superman cures the journalists
with Nam-Ek's Rondor horn,
then discovers that the plague is really spread through Jamie's "dog",
actually an alien named Jevik who conceals his true form through hypnosis.
When Superman battles Jevik, Jamie sees the Man of Steel as abusing his
dog, and interposes himself between Jevik and Superman, refusing to let
the battle go on.
Superman No. 314
August 1977
Cover: Amalak vs. Superman, Green Lantern, and Flash //Curt
Swan / Neal Adams (signed)
Story: "Before This Night Is Over, Superman Will Kill"
(17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Martin Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Dan Adkins
Feature Character: Superman
GS: Supergirl, Flash (last appearance in issue #312; next appears
in FLASH #250), Green Lantern (last appearance in issue #312; next appears
in ALL-STAR COMICS #68)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (next appears in SUPERMAN
FAMILY #185), Steve Lombard (next appears in ACTION COMICS #474), Jamie
Lombard (last appearance)
Cameo: Nam-Ek
Villains: Amalak (dies in this story), Jevik (last appearance),
Amazo (last appearance in DC SUPER-STARS #10; next appears in ACTION COMICS
#481)
Comment: This story continues from last issue.
Synopsis: Jamie Lombard collapses suddenly from "journalist's
disease". Superman is about to destroy Jevik, which is in its non-living
phase. Amalak, by remote control, causes Jevik to shift into living
phase, and Superman stops just before he would have killed it. After
a short battle, he subdues Jevik. Then Superman goes to the Justice
League satellite, where he battles Amalak and defeats him by striking Kanjar
Ro's gamma gong. Later, Amalak kills himself, trying to make Superman
think he has hurt Amalak fatally with the gong-striking, but Superman makes
him confess the truth with his dying breath. Superman distributes
a world-wide cure for "journalist's disease" by putting tranquilizer in
clouds. Later, he finds a fully-recovered Green Lantern and Flash,
who have rescued Supergirl.
Superman No. 315
September 1977
Cover: Blackrock (as Clark Kent) vs. Superman, with Clark Kent reading
news on TV screen //Al Milgrom / Jack Abel
Story: “Good Evening, Superman--I’m Clark Kent, and You’re Not” (17
pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Martin Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Dan Adkins
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in ACTION COMICS #474)
GS: Supergirl (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #184)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Ross (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#182; next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #13), Morgan Edge (last appearance
in issue #312; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #246), Lola Barnett
(last appearance in ACTION COMICS #459; next appears in issue #326), Samuel
Tanner (between issues #312 / 326), Dr. Jenet Klyburn (last appearance
in issue #304)
Villains: Blackrock II (Les Vegas; first appearance), Peter Silverstone
(last appearance in ACTION COMICS #459; next appears in issue #324), SKULL
(last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #184), Nam-Ek (last appearance in issue
#313; next appears in PHANTOM ZONE #1)
Comment: This story continues from last issue.
Synopsis: Superman and Supergirl send Nam-Ek into the Phantom Zone.
Then, after a brief fray with several SKULL thugs, the Man of Steel meets
a new Blackrock, infused into the body of comedian Les Vegas.
Action Comics No. 474
August 1977
Cover: Johnny Nevada, Clark Kent, Mike Talbot, Steve Lombard, Jimmy
Olsen, Rock Stirling, and Gregory Reed in Superman suits, Dr. Light, Lou
and other audience members //Kurt Schaffenberger
Story: “Will the Real Superman Please Show Up?” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer: Morris Waldinger
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #315)
Supporting Characters: Jimmy Olsen (between SUPERMAN FAMILY #184 /
185), Steve Lombard (last appearance in SUPERMAN #314), Johnny Nevada (last
appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #172; next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#12), Gregory Reed (last appearance in issue #470; next appears in SUPERMAN
FAMILY #206)
Intro: Mike Talbot, Lou (only appearance for both)
Other Character: Rock Stirling (last appearance in SUPERMAN #145; last
appearance)
Villain: Dr. Light (last appearance in TEEN TITANS #44; next appears
in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #149)
Synopsis: Dr. Light springs a trap to expose which of the seven people
dressed in Superman uniforms on Johnny Nevada’s talk show is really Superman.
Story: “One For the Money” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Bob Toomey
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Feature Character: Clark Kent (Superman; next appears in FREEDOM FIGHTERS
#9)
Supporting Character: Frank Jackson (last appearance in issue #471
(1); next appears in SUPERMAN #341)
Villain: Benny (first and only appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman briefly appears as Clark
Kent in FREEDOM FIGHTERS #9, then helps the Justice League fight Count
Crystal and Azgore (in which adventure he temporarily dies) and the Construct,
readmit the Red Tornado, and induct Hawkgirl in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#145-146.
Synopsis: Clark Kent buys a winning state lottery ticket from a newsdealer
named Benny, who picks Kent’s pocket to get the ticket himself.
Superman Family No. 185
September-October 1977
Cover: Jimmy Olsen vs. Superman; Lois Lane, Flamebird, Nightwing, Perry
White, Supergirl, and Krypto (two vignettes) //Neal Adams (signed)
Story: “The Fantastic Fists and Fury Feet of Jimmy Olsen” (13 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Joe Giella
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #474;
next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #246)
GS: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #146)
Villains: Dr. Arnold Grogan and his gang (first and only appearance
for all)
Comment: This story continues in part from JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#146.
Synopsis: Dr. Arnold Grogan, a criminal scientist, puts into motion
a scheme to find the location of the Fortress of Solitude by giving Jimmy
Olsen special gloves and boots that turn him into a super-martial artist.
Story: “The Great Superman Locked-Room Puzzle” (8 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Vince Colletta
Feature Character: Superman
Supporting Character: Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN #314)
Intro: Craig Wellman (only appearance)
Synopsis: While sitting in a locked room with Lois Lane, Clark Kent
must find a way of changing to Superman to help in an emergency without
giving away his secret identity.
Story: “The Sinister Secret of the Street-Stalker” (12 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Win Mortimer
Inker: Vince Colletta
Colorist: Bob LeRose
Feature Character: Lois Lane (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#246)
GS: Superman (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #246)
Supporting Characters: Perry White (next appears in DC SPECIAL SERIES
#5), Inspector Henderson (last appearance in SUPERMAN #293; next appears
in BLACK LIGHTNING #3)
Intro: Wheezer (next appears in issue #191), Dr. Patrick Sheehy
Villains: The Street-Stalker (Theresa Claro), Moose Mason, a gang of
muggers (first and only appearance for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman teams with the Justice League
of America to fight the Parasite in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #246-247, then
teams up with Black Lightning to fight the Cyclotronic Man in BLACK LIGHTNING
#3-5.
Synopsis: Lois Lane goes in search of a vigilante beating up muggers
in Metropolis.
Story: “The Stray Superdog” (8 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Bob Toomey
Penciller: Juan Ortiz
Inker: Steve Mitchell
Feature Character: Krypto
Supporting Characters: Chelsea, Ed Lacy (first appearance)
Villain: Snegg (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Krypto helps foil a dognapper and gets a new friend.
Action Comics No. 475
September 1977
Cover: Karb-Brak’s fist knocking Superman out of telephone booth //Jose
Luis Garcia-Lopez (signed)
Story: “The Super-Hero Who Refused To Hang Up His Boots” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in BLACK LIGHTNING #5)
GS: Vartox (last appearance in SUPERMAN #281)
Supporting Characters: Steve Lombard (next appears in DC SPECIAL SERIES
#5), Josh Coyle (last appearance in issue #472)
Villains: Karb-Brak (last appearance in issue #463), two thieves (first
and only appearance)
Synopsis: Vartox feels his powers waning and sees Karb-Brak, the Andromedan
living on Earth as a human, as his salvation. Unfortunately, his
power causes Karb-Brak to succumb to his allergy again, and to attack Clark
Kent.
Story: “The Weak Link” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elizabeth M. Smith
Penciller: Win Mortimer
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Feature Character: Lori Lemaris (last appearance in issue #365; next
appears in DC SPECIAL SERIES #5)
Villains: Maxim Maximovich, Vasily Niolaevich, Zahari Mihailovich (first
and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Lori Lemaris is accidentally caught by a trio of Russians
illegally fishing inside America’s 200-mile limit.
Action Comics No. 476
October 1977
Cover: Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen watching Vartox swing Superman around
in Kryptonite rope //Kurt Schaffenberger (signed)
Story: “The Attack of the Anti-Super-Hero” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Milton Snapinn
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in DC SPECIAL SERIES #5)
GS: Vartox (next appears in issue #498)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane, Morgan Edge (last appearance for
both in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #247; both next appear in DC SPECIAL SERIES
#5), Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in BLACK LIGHTNING #5; next appears in
DC SPECIAL SERIES #5), Josh Coyle
Intro: Bobby (only appearance)
Villain: Karb-Brak (last appearance; no longer a villain at the end
of this story)
Synopsis: Vartox’s alien biology cures Karb-Brak of his illness, but
Karb-Brak’s virus causes Vartox to become a foe to Superman.
DC Special Series No. 5
1977
Cover: Luthor and Brainiac shaking hands over fallen Superman //Jose
Luis Garcia-Lopez / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “The Second Coming of Superman” (Part 1; 16 pages)
Part 2: “The First Coming of Superman” (15 pages)
Part 3: “A God Walks Among Us” (13 pages)
Part 4: “The Fall and Rise of Sonzrr” (19 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Plotters: Marty Pasko, John LaMartine, Cary Bates
Scripter: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #476;
next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #147)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen (last appearance
for all in ACTION COMICS #476; all next appear in SUPERMAN FAMILY #186),
Perry White (between SUPERMAN FAMILY #185 / 186), Steve Lombard (between
ACTION COMICS #474 / 477), Lori Lemaris (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#475; next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #5)
Intro: Alyar, Mkru-2, Quorxans, Ryla, Ornx (only appearance for all)
Villains: Lex Luthor (last appearance in DC SUPER-STARS #10; next appears
in BATMAN #291), Brainiac (last appearance in Nightwing and Flamebird story
in SUPERMAN FAMILY #183; next appears in ACTION COMICS #488), a demon-thing
(first appearance; destroyed in this story)
Comment: Shortly after this story, Superman helps the Justice League,
Justice Society, and Legion of Super-Heroes fight Mordru, Abnegazar, Rath,
and Ghast in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #147-148, then teams with Batman
to defeat Lex Luthor in BATMAN #293 (though Luthor himself appears in BATMAN
#291-293).
Synopsis: By saving a race of aliens on a Pacific island ages in the
past, Superman accidentally immortalized them and became the object of
their worship. Now, Lex Luthor has come across the isolated alien
civilization, and, with Brainiac, plans to put the secrets he has learned
from them to use in a plot to destroy the Man of Steel.
Superman Family No. 186
November-December 1977
Cover: Superman, Lois Lane, Ada Baba and Orangan troops //Jose Luis
Garcia-Lopez / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “The Bug Woman” (13 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: John Albano
Penciller: Chic Stone
Inker: Joe Orlando
Letterer: Bill Morse
Colorist: Liz Berube
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in DC SPECIAL SERIES
#5)
GS: Superman (last appearance in BATMAN #293; next appears in Lois
Lane story in this issue)
Supporting Characters: Lucy Lane (between issues #179 / 213), Perry
White (last appearance in DC SPECIAL SERIES #5)
Intro: Mrs. Westly, Mr. Caulwell (only appearance for both)
Comment: The script for this story is erroneously credited to Tom DeFalco.
Synopsis: Jimmy Olsen investigates a woman who has control of insects.
Story: “Save My Friend, Kill Your World” (8 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Murphy Anderson
Letterer: Morris Waldinger
Colorist: Liz Berube
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in DC SPECIAL SERIES #6)
GS: Superman of Earth-Two (last appearance in ALL-STAR COMICS #70)
Supporting Characters: Professor Potter (last appearance in SUPERMAN’S
PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #124; next appears in Lois Lane story in issue #188),
Jimmy Olsen of Earth-Two (last chronological appearance in issue #222 (Mr.
and Mrs. Superman story); next appears in ALL-STAR COMICS #71)
Villain: Krogg (first appearance)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: To save the life of the Jimmy Olsen of his world, Superman
of Earth-Two comes to Earth-One, but accidentally unleashes a super-powerful
being named Krogg on Superman of Earth-One.
Story: “Dateline: A Kingdom of the Mad” (12 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Win Mortimer
Inker: Joe Giella
Letterer: Debra Schulman
Colorist: Liz Berube
Feature Character: Lois Lane (last appearance in DC SPECIAL SERIES
#5; next appears in SUPERMAN #316)
GS: Superman (last appearance in Jimmy Olsen story in this issue; next
appears in SUPERMAN #316)
Supporting Characters: Melba Manton (last appearance in issue #184;
next appears in ACTION COMICS #479), Morgan Edge (last appearance in DC
SPECIAL SERIES #5; next appears in SUPERMAN #316), Perry White
Intro: Ada Baba’s son (only appearance)
Villain: Ada Baba (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: When Melba Manton is imprisoned during a report on concentration
camps in the African nation of Oranga, Superman and Lois Lane go to investigate,
only to have Superman come under the dictator’s control.
Story: “Gunfight At the Canine Corral” (8 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Bob Toomey
Penciller: Juan Ortiz
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: John Workman
Colorist: Liz Berube
Feature Character: Krypto
Supporting Characters: Ed Lacy, Chelsea, Dawn (first appearance)
Intro: Mr. Swindlehurst (only appearance)
Villain: Jack Ketch (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Ed Lacy gets a job in Krypto’s movie, and the Dog of Steel
must save him from a killer.
Superman No. 316
October 1977
Cover: Superman, SKULL hood with Kryptonite heart, and Metallo II //Jose
Luis Garcia-Lopez (signed)
Story: “The ‘Heart-Attack’ That Crippled Superman” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Martin Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #186)
Supporting Characters: Dr. Jenet Klyburn (in flashback; next appears
in issue #323), Morgan Edge, Lois Lane (last appearance for both in SUPERMAN
FAMILY #186)
Villains: Metallo II (last appearance in issue #310), SKULL (one agent
dies in this story), Albert Michaels (last appearance in issue #304)
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: Metallo resumes his murder campaign against SKULL, and traps
Superman with Kryptonite, vowing he will take the Kryptonian’s heart for
his own once the Man of Steel dies.
Superman No. 317
November 1977
Cover: Superman //Neal Adams (signed)
Story: “The Killer With the Heart of Steel” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Dan Adkins
Feature Character: Superman
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #187),
Morgan Edge, Lana Lang (last appearance in issue #284)
Villains: Metallo II (next appears in issue #331), Albert Michaels,
SKULL (Thurman named in this story; next appearance of both in issue #323),
Helvig (last appearance in issue #310)
Comment: This story continues in part in the next issue.
Synopsis: Superman manages to escape Metallo’s Kryptonite deathtrap
and unmasks his new disguise as the associate producer of Clark Kent’s
news show. Later, Morgan Edge introduces Clark to his new co-anchor:
Lana Lang.
Superman No. 318
December 1977
Cover: Superman vs. Peg-Leg Portia and her dogs //Rich Buckler / Bob
Oskner (signed)
Story: “The Wreck of the Cosmic Hound” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#248; also appears in flashback, between SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES
#234 / 235)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent (in flashback), Lana
Lang (also appears in flashback; next appears in ACTION COMICS #479), Morgan
Edge (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #248)
Intro: Peg-Leg Portia (dies in this story) and alien dogs (only appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story, Superman teams with Batman
to combat the Dalsidi in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #248, then helps the Justice
League battle the Star-Tsar, the Privateer, and Dr. Light in JUSTICE LEAGUE
OF AMERICA #149-150, then helps the Justice League fight the Secret Society
of Super-Villains in DC SPECIAL SERIES #6.
Synopsis: In space, Superman meets Peg-Leg Portia, whose alien dogs
have kept her alive for 300 years and who now wishes only to die.
Superman Family No. 187
January-February 1978
Cover: Earth-One and Earth-Two Supermen merging into giant Superman;
Krypto, Lois Lane, Nightwing, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, Supergirl, and
Flamebird (two vignettes) //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (signed)
Story: “The Dealers of Death” (13 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Win Mortimer
Inker: Joe Orlando
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (appears as Elastic Lad; next appears
in Superman story in this issue)
GS: Superman (between pg. 8, panels 3 / 4 of Superman story in this
issue)
Supporting Characters: Dave Stevens (last appearance in SUPERMAN #289),
Perry White (next appears in ACTION COMICS #478), Tina Ames (last appearance
in SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE #119), Meg Tempest (last appearance
in SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #162; next appears in issue #189), Percy
Bratton (last appearance in SUPERMAN #305; next appears in issue #189),
Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN #317)
Villains: The Cowboy, Bugsy O’Neil, Reverend Sun (Joshua Bartlow),
the Eliminator (first appearance for all)
Comment: This story crosses over with the Superman story in this issue
and continues in the Lois Lane story in this issue.
Synopsis: Dave Stevens gets shot by a hitman while investigating the
Reverend Sun, and Jimmy Olsen becomes Elastic Lad to find the killer and
continue the investigation.
Story: “A Phoenix of Steel” (8 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Jack Abel
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Anthony Tollin
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in Superman story in last
issue; appears in Jimmy Olsen story in this issue between pg. 8, panels
3 / 4; next appears in Lois Lane story in this issue)
GS: Superman of Earth-Two (next appears in ALL-STAR COMICS #71)
Supporting Characters: Jimmy Olsen (between Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane
stories in this issue), Professor Potter (last appearance in Superman story
in last issue)
Villain: Krogg (last appearance)
Comment: This story continues from the Superman story in last issue,
crosses over with the Jimmy Olsen story in this issue, and continues in
the Lois Lane story in this issue.
Synopsis: In order to stop the monstrous Krogg from devastating Earth-One,
the Supermen of both Earths are merged into a single, double-powered Superman.
Story: “The Destruction of the Temple” (12 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Win Mortimer
Inker: Joe Giella
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Lois Lane (last appearance in the Jimmy Olsen story
in this issue)
GS: Superman (last appearance in Superman story in this issue; next
appears in ACTION COMICS #477)
Supporting Characters: Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in the Superman
story in this issue; next appears in ACTION COMICS #478), Dave Stevens,
Tina Ames, Perry White
Intro: Susan Bartlow, Fred Clayton (only appearance for both)
Villains: The Eliminator, Reverend Sun (last appearance for both)
Comment: This story continues from the Superman story in this issue.
Synopsis: When the Eliminator makes a second attack on the hospitalized
Dave Stevens, Lois Lane investigates his connection with the Reverend Sun.
Story: “Double Trouble” (8 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Bob Toomey
Artist: John Calnan
Letterer: Morris Waldinger
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Krypto
Supporting Characters: Chelsea (last appearance), Ed Lacy, Mary Jo
Lacy (first appearance)
Intro: Cuddles and his mistress, Max (only appearance for all)
Villain: Jerome Crawly (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: After making his first picture, Krypto must choose whether
to stay in Hollywood, or help Ed Lacy find his missing nephew.
Action Comics No. 477
November 1977
Cover: Bloated Superman and Lunans //
Story: “The Land-Lords of Earth” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Milton Snapinn
Colorist: Liz Berube
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in second story in this
issue)
Supporting Characters: Steve Lombard, Josh Coyle (next appears in issue
#479), Lois Lane
Villains: Ormong, Trena, and other Lunans (first appearance for all)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Superman attempts to curb a tide of catastrophic weather
in the world, only to be kidnapped by aliens from the Moon and taken to
their civilization within the Moon’s interior, and told by their queen
that he is to become their king.
Story: “One of Those Days” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elizabeth Smith
Penciller: Dick Dillin
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer: Morris Waldinger
Colorist: Bob LeRose
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #187;
next appears in first story of this issue)
GA: Barry Allen (the Flash; last appearance in DC SPECIAL SERIES #6;
next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #151)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST
COMICS #248), Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #187), Terri
Cross (last appearance in SUPERMAN #309; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#196), Steve Lombard (last appearance in DC SPECIAL SERIES #5; next appears
in issue #479)
Comment: This is a Private Life of Clark Kent story, but Superman appears
in it.
Synopsis: While giving a tour to a group of his fans, Clark Kent manages
to switch to Superman and fight a fire in the GBS building.
Action Comics No. 478
December 1977
Cover: Superman //Rich Buckler / Bob Oskner
Story: “Earth’s Last Day” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Clem Robins
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman
GA: Bruce Wayne (Batman; last appearance in DC SPECIAL SERIES #6; next
appears in DETECTIVE COMICS #469)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge, Lois Lane, Perry White (next appears
in SUPERMAN #320), Jimmy Olsen (last appearance for both in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#187), Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #248;
next appears in DETECTIVE COMICS #469)
Villains: Ormong, Trena, Lunans (last appearance for all)
Comments: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: While Earth seems doomed to destruction due to high tides,
the queen of the Lunarians tries to make Superman her husband.
Action Comics No. 479
January 1978
Cover: Superman flying backward into brick wall //Rich Buckler / Bob
Oskner (signed)
Story: “The Giant From the Golden Atom” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#151)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (next appears in SUPERMAN #319),
Steve Lombard (last appearance in issue #477), Josh Coyle (between issues
#477 / 483), Lois Lane (next appears in SUPERMAN #319), Lana Lang (between
SUPERMAN #318 / 319), Melba Manton (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#186; last appearance), Jimmy Olsen (next appears in ALL-NEW COLLECTOR’S
EDITION #C-56)
Villain: Roga (first and only appearance)
Comments: This story continues from last issue.
Shortly after this story, Superman helps the Justice League fight
Prof. Amos Fortune in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #151, then teams up with
Batman and the Phantom Stranger to battle a trillig in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#249, then rejoins the Justice League to help fight Major Macabre in JUSTICE
LEAGUE OF AMERICA #152.
Synopsis: Superman finds himself beset by a foe from a microcosmos
that only he can see.
Superman No. 319
January 1978
Cover: Superman, Solomon Grundy lifting Lois Lane and Lana Lang in
cab //Rich Buckler / Bob Oskner (signed)
Story: “How To Make a Marshland Monster” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#152)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (between ACTION COMICS #479 / 480),
Lois Lane (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #479), Lana Lang (next appears
in ACTION COMICS #480)
Intro: Professor Milius
Villains: Solomon Grundy II (first appearance), Parasite (last appearance
in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #247)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: A new Solomon Grundy is created from slime contacted by the
Earth-Two Grundy, and is used by the Parasite against Superman.
Superman No. 320
February 1978
Cover: Superman trying to take his cape back from Solomon Grundy on
monorail car //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez / Bob Oskner (signed)
Story: “The Absolute-Power Play of the Parasite” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman
Supporting Characters: Perry White (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#478), Lois Lane
Villains: Solomon Grundy II (next appears in issue #322), the Parasite,
enemy agents (first appearance)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Superman loses total control of his powers while continuing
his battle against Solomon Grundy and some enemy agents, and does not suspect
the Parasite’s hand in it.
Superman No. 321
March 1978
Cover: Superman pained by sounds all over Earth //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
/ Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “Too Strong To Survive” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Milton Snapinn
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane, Perry White
Intro: Professor Hadley (only appearance)
Villain: The Parasite
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Superman encounters the Parasite again, has his powers sapped,
and is in danger of falling to his death.
Superman No. 322
April 1978
Cover: Superman vs. Parasite //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (signed)
Story: “Laser War Over Metropolis” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#153)
Supporting Characters: Perry White, Lois Lane (both next appear in
ALL-NEW COLLECTORS EDITION #C-56), Inspector Henderson (between BLACK LIGHTNING
#8 / 9), Mayor Harkness
Villains: The Parasite (next appears in issue #331; also appears in
flashback to just after ACTION COMICS #361), Solomon Grundy II (last appearance
in issue #320; next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #8), the enemy agents
(last appearance), Gen. D. W. Derwent (first appearance; next appears in
issue #329)
Comments: This story continues from last issue.
Shortly after this story, Superman helps the Justice League in
their encounter with Ultraa in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #153, then helps
Firestorm fight Multiplex in FIRESTORM #2.
Synopsis: The Parasite and Superman have a final duel with heat-vision.
All-New Collectors’ Edition No. C-56
1978
Cover: Superman vs. Muhammad Ali in boxing ring as audience looks on
//Joe Kubert (layout) and Neal Adams (signed)
Story: “SupermanVs. Muhammad Ali”
Part 1: “Training” (30 pages)
Part 2: “Preliminary” (10 pages)
Part 3: “Main Event” (30 pages)
Part 4: “The Verdict” (3 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Plotters: Denny O’Neil, Neal Adams
Scripter, penciller: Neal Adams
Inkers: Dick Giordano, Terry Austin
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Colorist: Cory Adams
Feature Characters: Superman (last appearance in FIRESTORM #2; next
appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #250), Muhammad Ali (of Earth-One; first
and only appearance)
GA: Adam Strange (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #139;
next appears in SHOWCASE #100), Alanna (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE
OF AMERICA #139; next appears in SHOWCASE #101)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN #322;
next appears in SHOWCASE #100), Perry White (last appearance in SUPERMAN
#322; next appears in ACTION COMICS #481), Jimmy Olsen (between ACTION
COMICS #479 / 480)
Intro: Herbert Muhammad, Bundini Brown, Angelo Dundee, Howard Cosell
(all of Earth-One), Pallas Athene, a referee robot (only appearance for
all), YR2, YR3 (two robots; both destroyed in this story)
Villains: Rat’lar, Hun’ya, the Scrubb (first and only appearance for
all)
Comments: This is a tabloid-sized comic.
The audience members would take too much space to list individually.
Interested parties should check the roster on the inside front cover of
the comic.
Muhammad Ali learns Superman’s secret identity in this story.
Shortly after this story Superman helps the Justice League and
Wonder Woman of Earth-Two fight the Ravager and Agent Axis in WORLD’S FINEST
COMICS #250, then helps the Justice League fight Dr. Destiny in JUSTICE
LEAGUE OF AMERICA #154. Then Lois Lane helps the heroes of Earth fight
an alien invader in SHOWCASE #100.
Synopsis: Before attempting an invasion and conquest of Earth, the
alien Scrubb race want a representative of Earth to fight their greatest
warrior in the boxing ring. Since the Scrubb live under a red sun,
the one to fight their champion will be the winner of a boxing bout between
Superman and Muhammad Ali.
Action Comics No. 480
February 1978
Cover: Superman //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez / Dick Giordano
Story: “Amazo’s Big Breakthrough” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#154)
GS: Aquaman (between AQUAMAN #61 / 62), Atom (last appearance in SHOWCASE
#100; next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #155), Batman, Flash, Green
Arrow (last appearance for all in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #154), Black
Canary (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #154; next appears
in issue #483), Elongated Man (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#152; next appears in issue #483), Green Lantern (last appearance in SHOWCASE
#100), Hawkman (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #139), Red Tornado
(between JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #153 / 155), Wonder Woman (last appearance
in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #153; with Superman, the Justice League of
America; last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #154)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang (last appearance in SUPERMAN #319),
Lois Lane (last appearance in SHOWCASE #100), Jimmy Olsen (last appearance
in ALL-NEW COLLECTOR’S EDITION #C-56), Steve Lombard, Morgan Edge (last
appearance in SUPERMAN #319)
Other Character: Professor Ivo (last appearance in THE FLASH #158)
Intro: Mrs. Malroney (only appearance)
Villain: Amazo (last appearance in SUPERMAN #314)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: A blast of energy from an exploded red sun in space weakens
Superman’s powers by 50 percent and revives Amazo, who sends the other
Justice Leaguers into another dimension. The powerful android seeks
out his creator, Professor Ivo, wishing to be returned to dormancy.
When Ivo cannot help him, Amazo seeks to destroy both Ivo and Superman.
Action Comics No. 481
March 1978
Cover: Superman in Supermobile vs. Amazo //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Story: “It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Supermobile” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Feature Character: Superman
GS: Batman, Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Wonder Woman
(the Justice League of America; all next appear in issue #483)
Other character: Professor Ivo
Supporting Characters: Steve Lombard, Morgan Edge (next appears in
issue #483), Lana Lang, Lois Lane, Perry White (last appearance in ALL-NEW
COLLECTOR’S EDITION #C-56; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #189), Jimmy
Olsen (next appears in issue #483)
Intro: The Supermobile
Villain: Amazo
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Superman uses the Supermobile, a Supermanium flying machine
which can simulate his powers, to battle Amazo and to protect him from
the power-sapping radiation. But Amazo threatens to kill his friends
at the Daily Planet if he does not turn over Professor Ivo.
Action Comics No. 482
April 1978
Cover: Amazo smashing his fists together to rock Superman and Lois
Lane in Supermobile with shock waves //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (signed)
Story: “This Is a Job For Supermobile” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Jean Simek
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Superman
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Lois Lane, Steve Lombard, Oscar Asherman
(last appearance in SUPERMAN #301)
GS: Professor Ivo
Villains: Amazo, a gang of crooks (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Amazo attempts to destroy Lois Lane, but Superman rescues
her in the Supermobile, and travels five days into the future inside it.
By that time, the red radiation has passed out of Earth’s orbit, and the
Man of Steel regains his powers and beats back Amazo. But the android
recovers as Superman takes Lois and Professor Ivo back to Earth, and vows
to attack anew.
Action Comics No. 483
May 1978
Cover: Superman smashing through Amazo //Rich Buckler / Dick Giordano
(signed)
Story: “Sleep No More” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Shelly Leferman
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in DC SPECIAL SERIES #11)
GS: Batman, Flash (last appearance for both in issue #481; both next
appear in DC SPECIAL SERIES #11), Black Canary (last appearance in issue
#480; next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #141), Elongated Man (last appearance
in issue #480; next appears in DC SPECIAL SERIES #11), Green Arrow, Green
Lantern (last appearance for both in issue #481; both next appears in JUSTICE
LEAGUE OF AMERICA #155), Hawkman (last appearance in issue #481;
next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #250), Wonder Woman (last appearance
in issue #481; next appears in WONDER WOMAN #243; with Superman, the Justice
League of America)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#251), Josh Coyle (last appearance in issue #479; next appears in SUPERMAN
#323), Oscar Asherman (next appears in SUPERMAN #323), Lois Lane (next
appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #188), Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in issue
#481; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #188), Steve Lombard (next appears
in SUPERMAN FAMILY #188), Morgan Edge (last appearance in issue #481; next
appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #189)
Other Character: Professor Ivo (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#218)
Villain: Amazo (next appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #191)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman (as Clark Kent) attends
Wally West’s high school graduation in DC SPECIAL SERIES #11.
Comment: The people of the world have not slept for five days thanks
to the effects on plants of the influx of red solar radiation, and Superman
tells Amazo he will find a way to return him to dormancy.
Superman Family No. 188
March-April 1978
Cover: Nightwing and Flamebird holding back Superman as Jimmy Olsen
sends Supergirl into the Phatnom Zone in Kandorian court //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
/ Dick Giordano
Story: “Crisis In Kandor” (13 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer: Shelly Leferman
Colorist: Cornelia Adams
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #483;
appears as Flamebird I in this story; next appears in Nightwing and Flamebird
story in this issue)
GS: Superman (last appearance in DC SPECIAL SERIES #11; appears as
Nightwing I in this story; next appears in Nightwing and Flamebird story
in this issue), Nightwing II, Flamebird II (both between Nightwing and
Flamebird stories in last issue and this issue)
Supporting Characters: Sylvia Van-Zee, Lyle-Zee, Lili Van-Zee (all
between Nightwing and Flamebird stories in issue #186 and this issue),
Dev-Re (last appearance in Nightwing and Flamebird story in last issue)
Intro: Dara Bel-Ne (next appears in Nightwing and Flamebird story in
this issue), Ken-Lar, Par-Sa (only appearance for both)
Villains: Sor-El, Har-Lo, Separatists (first appearance for all; all
next appear in the Nightwing and Flamebird story in this issue)
Comment: Story continues in the Nightwing and Flamebird story in this
issue.
Synopsis: Superman and Jimmy Olsen take a vacation in Kandor but become
Nightwing and Flamebird and encounter the new Nightwing and Flamebird when
Separatists, advocating life outside the Kandor bottle, take Van-Zee’s
family hostage.
Story: “The Death Angel From Earth” (8 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer: Morris Waldinger
Colorist: Jean McMillan
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in Jimmy Olsen story in
next issue)
Supporting Character: Steve Lombard (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#483; next appears in ALL-NEW COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-58)
Intro: Rolax
Villain: Argon, Sunworld Guerilla Force One (first appearance for all)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: An alien revolutionary tricks Superman into carrying a plague
culture back to his home planet of Sunworld.
Story: “The Mutant Menace of Metropolis” (12 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Win Mortimer
Inker: Bob Wiacek
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Mario Sen
Feature Character: Lois Lane (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #483)
Intro: The Human Cannonball (Ryan Chase; real name revealed in issue
#191)
Supporting Characters: Tina Ames, Dave Stevens, Prof. Potter (last
appearance in Superman story in issue #186)
Cameo: Superman of Earth-Two (in flashback)
Villains: Marv Leonard (first and only appearance) Wolf Weinman and
his gang (first appearance for all)
Comments: This story reveals Lois’s home address as 922 Oak Hill.
Marv Leonard and Wolf Weinman are named after comics writers
Marv Wolfman and Len Wein.
Synopsis: Lois Lane goes undercover to try and expose a connection
between a gambling czar and a member of the Anti-Crime Commission, meets
a new super-hero called the Human Cannonball, and helps him fight a rampaging,
ray-altered, super-powered Tina Ames.
Story: “Ridin’ the Rails” (8 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Bob Toomey
Artist: Juan Ortiz
Letterer: Clem Robins
Feature Character: Krypto
Supporting Character: Ed Lacy
Intro: Otis Kribble (only appearance)
Synopsis: While Krypto and Ed are hitching a ride aboard a boxcar on
a freight train, the Dog of Steel must save the train from wrecking.
Story: “Here There Be Giants” (10 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Paul Kupperberg
Penciller: Ken Landgraf
Inker: Romeo Tanghal
Letterer: Shelly Leferman
Colorist: Jean McMillan
Feature Characters: Nightwing and Flamebird (both between Jimmy Olsen
and Supergirl stories in this issue)
GS: Superman (appears as Nightwing in this story), Jimmy Olsen (appears
as Flamebird in this story; both between Jimmy Olsen and Supergirl stories
in this issue)
Supporting Characters: Sylvia Van-Zee, Lyle-Zee, Lili Van-Zee (last
appearance for all in the Jimmy Olsen story in this issue; all next appear
in SUPERMAN #414)
Other character: Dara Bel-Ne (last appearance)
Villains: Sor-El, Har-Lo, Separatists (last appearance for all in the
Jimmy Olsen story in this issue; last appearance for all)
Comment: This story continues from the Jimmy Olsen story in this issue,
continues in the Supergirl story in this issue, and concludes in the Supergirl
story in next issue.
Synopsis: The two pairs of Nightwings and Flamebirds fight the giant
Separatists, who have been given great size by enlarging gas, but
Van-Zee and Jimmy Olsen are taken captive. Sylvia attacks the Separatists
holding her and frees herself and her children. Superman and Ak-Var
manage to free their partners and immobilize the giants with an invention
of Ak’s. Later, Superman is told by a Kandorian that his cousin Supergirl
is accused of a crime, and being tried in Kandor.
Superman Family No. 189
May-June 1978
Cover: Superman, Supergirl, Jimmy Olsen, Nightwing, and Flamebird fighting
phantoms in Lois Lane’s mind //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Story: “The Night of the Looters” (13 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Artist: Kurt Schaffenberger
Letterer: Clem Robins
Colorist: Mario Sen
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in Supergirl story
in this issue)
GA: Superman (last appearance in Supergirl story in this issue; next
appears in Superman story in last issue), Newsboy Legion (last appearance
in SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #150)
Supporting Characters: Barbara Bench (between issues #184 / 191), Meg
Tempest, Percy Bratton (last appearance for both in issue #187), Morgan
Edge (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #483; next appears in ALL-NEW COLLECTORS’
EDITION #C-58), Tina Ames, Lois Lane, Perry White (last appearance in ACTION
COMICS #481), Dave Stevens
Villains: King Cougar (first and only appearance) and his gang (first
appearance), Bentley (dies in this story)
Synopsis: Jimmy Olsen faces King Cougar, who plans to loot Metropolis
with the help of a power-draining device.
Story: “The Mass Murderer From Krypton” (8 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer: Shelly Leferman
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in Superman story in last
issue)
Other Character: Rolex (as a corpse; dies between last issue and this
issue)
Villains: Argon, Sunworld Guerilla Force One (all die in this story),
the Collector (first appearance)
Comment: This story continues from last issue and continues in part
in the Lois Lane story in this issue.
Synopsis: Argon and his fellow guerillas perish from the plague, but
Superman cures the populance of Sunworld with White Kryptonite.
Story: “The Star Who Loved Lois Lane” (12 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer: Clem Robins
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Lois Lane (next appears in ALL-NEW COLLECTORS’ EDITION
#C-58)
GS: Superman (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #155), Human
Cannonball (next appears in issue #191)
Supporting Characters: Dave Stevens (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST
COMICS #252), Tina Ames, Professor Potter
Intro: The Starseed (only appearance)
Villains: Wolf Weinman and his gang (one of whom dies in this story)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman helps the Justice League
deal with the Regnans in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #155, then helps Supergirl,
Captain Marvel, and Mary Marvel fight Karmang, Black Adam, and the Quarrmer
in ALL-NEW COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-58, then helps Batman fight a monster
with George “Boss” Dyke’s brain in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #251, then rejoins
the Justice League to fight the gods of Oceania in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#156.
Synopsis: Superman and the Human Cannonball vie for Lois’s hand while
Wolf Weinman’s gang attacks her and the Starseed, a being from outer space,
seeks to make her his mate.
Story: “The Second Fastest Dog In Oregon” (8 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Bob Toomey
Artist: Juan Ortiz
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Mario Sen
Feature Character: Krypto
Supporting Character: Ed Lacy
Intro: Commotion (a dog) and his master, Mrs. Skinner, Joe Skinner
(in a photograph)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Krypto races Commotion, the “fastest dog in Oregon,” while
Ed Lacy tracks down clues to Tommy’s whereabouts. Later, Krypto is
mysteriously teleported away.
Action Comics No. 485
July 1978
Cover: Superman smashing Kryptonite chains //Neal Adams (signed)
Story: “The Experiment That Backfired on Superman” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Joe Rubinstein
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Anthony Tollin
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#156; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #190)
Intro: Professor Bolden (only appearance)
Villain: The Boss and his henchman (only appearance for both)
Comment: Credits as given above are only for pages 1-3, pg. 16 panel
5, and page 17. Page 4 through page 16, panel 4 are reprinted from
“Superman Breaks Loose” in SUPERMAN #238.
Synopsis: Two crooks try to use K-Iron, super-inflammable iron made
of converted Kryptonite, to trap Superman.
Superman Family No. 190
July-August 1978
Cover: Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Supergirl, and Krypto pulling Superman,
Nightwing, and Flamebird through dimensional portal //Rich Buckler / Dick
Giordano (signed)
Story: “The Museum of Eternity” (1 page)
Part 1: “Somebody Stole My Town” (13 pages)
Editor, plotter: E. Nelson Bridwell
Plotter, scripter: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer: Clem Robins
Colorist: Mario Sen
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen
GA: Newsboy Legion
Supporting Characters: Meg Tempest, Percy Bratton (both next appear
in SUPERMAN #338), Lois Lane (last appearance in ALL-NEW COLLECTORS’ EDITION
#C-58), Mark Olsen (last appearance in issue #164), Perry White
Intro: Peg (only appearance)
Cameo: Wonder Girl, Golden Guardian II, Robin, Kid Flash, Speedy (the
Teen Titans)
Villains: King Cougar’s gang (Tony named in this story), the Preservers
(first appearance)
Synopsis: On a trip back to see his father in Hartsdale, Jimmy Olsen
discovers that the entire town has been abducted and taken into another
dimension by aliens called the Preservers. Jimmy is captured by the
Preservers when he gets into Hartsdale, but pitches his activated signal-watch
outside the dimensional barrier to summon Superman.
Part 2: “Doorways In the Sky” (8 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Shelly Leferman
Colorist: Mario Sen
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #485)
GA: TNT (last appearance in SUPER FRIENDS #12; see Comment below),
Kandorians
Supporting Character: Lois Lane
Villains: The Curator (first appearance), the Preservers
Comment: Even though SUPER FRIENDS is outside normal DC continuity,
TNT has obviously come in from an adventure which paralleled that portrayed
in SUPER FRIENDS #12.
Synopsis: While Lois Lane is in Kandor interviewing the super-hero
TNT, she and everyone in the city is abducted by the Preservers.
Meanwhile, Superman finds his way into the Preservers’ maze of captured
cities, reflecting many different eras and civilizations of Earth, but
is defeated by the aliens when he comes into range of Kandor’s red sun.
Part 3: “Captives At the Edge of Forever” (12 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Win Mortimer
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Jean Simek
Colorist: Mario Sen
Feature Character: Lois Lane
GS: Superman, Nightwing, Flamebird ( last appearance for both in Nightwing
and Flamebird story in last issue), Kandorians
GA: TNT
Supporting Character: Jimmy Olsen
Villains: The Curator, the Preservers, Apprentice-Prime (first appearance),
the Purifier, the Dissectoid (two robots; first appearance for both; both
destroyed in this story)
Synopsis: Lois Lane makes contact with Superman, Nightwing, and Flamebird
in Kandor and compares notes with them. The Curator, head of the
Preservers, sends a robot called the Purifier to defeat the male heroes
and capture Lois Lane for dissection. She manages to escape and destroy
the robot with Jimmy Olsen’s help. But the Curator tells them they
are disturbing his other “exhibits”, and that, unless they surrender within
41.5 minutes, he will destroy the Earth.
Part 4: “A Cage of Light” (8 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Bob Toomey
Artist: Juan Ortiz
Feature Character: Krypto
GS: Superman, Nightwing, Flamebird
Supporting Characters: Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane
Villains: The Preservers
Comment: In this story, Krypto gains a special cape-collar. It
is also revealed that his intellect has been boosted from being under a
yellow sun.
Synopsis: The Preservers place Krypto in Kandor, where Superman, Nightwing,
and Flamebird find that he can pass through the barriers separating the
captive cities. He regains his powers in a yellow-sun city, finds
Jimmy and Lois, and attempts to lead them back to Kandor.
Part 5: “Fight With the Phantom Zone Fiends” (10 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Paul Kupperberg
Penciller: Ken Landgraf
Inker: Romeo Tanghal
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Mario Sen
Feature Characters: Nightwing and Flamebird
GS: Superman
Supporting Character: Don-El (last appearance in SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND,
LOIS LANE #78)
Intro: Ver-Na (first appearance)
Villains: Jax-Ur, General Zod (last appearance for both in Supergirl
story in last issue; both next appear in ACTION COMICS #492), Kru-El (last
appearance in Supergirl story in last issue; next appears in GREEN LANTERN
#123), Faora Hu-Ul (?; between ACTION COMICS #473 / 492), Phantom Zone
villains (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #473; next appear in GREEN LANTERN
#122), Jur-Ll, Number 2 (first appearance)
Synopsis: The Phantom Zoners have been freed from the Zone by the Preservers
but are exiled to Kandor, where they attack Superman, Nightwing, and Flamebird.
They defeat the trio and have a brief reign of terror in Kandor, which
is cut short when Flamebird beats Jax-Ur in battle and convinces the Zoners
to join with them against the Preservers. The Separatists also offer
their help. As they all await action, Superman notes that Supergirl,
Zor-El, and Allura are nowhere to be found in the city.
Part 6: “Finale” (12 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Jack C. Harris
Penciller: Jack Abel
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Letterer: Shelly Leferman
Colorist: Mario Sen
Feature Character: Supergirl (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#157)
GS: Superman (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #157),
Krypto
Supporting Characters: Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane (next appears in ACTION
COMICS #486), Zor-El, Allura, Prof. Mark Olsen (next appears in issue #211),
Perry White (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #252), Morgan Edge (between
WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #251 / 252), Ed Lacy (between Krypto stories in last
issue and next issue)
GA: President Jimmy Carter
Intro: A governor (only appearance)
Villains: The Curator, Apprentice-Prime (last appearance for
both), Jax-Ur, General Zod, Kru-El
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman and Supergirl help the Justice
League fight the Siren and attend the Atom’s wedding to Jean Loring in
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #157.
Synopsis: Supergirl, Zor-El, and Allura enter the Fortress of
Solitude to discover Kandor gone. Kara gets a message from President
Carter to investigate the disappearance of the city of
Hartdale. When she arrives at the site of Hartdale's vanishing,
Supergirl comes across a dimensional portal which she can barely enlarge
enough to enter, and finds herself in one of the cities stolen by the Curator
for his Museum of Eternity. She soon encounters Krypto and then Jimmy
Olsen and Lois Lane. Jimmy and Lois warn Supergirl that if she goes
through the next portal and enters Kandor, she will lose her powers and
Earth will be destroyed, as per the Curator's wishes. Since Krypto
is unaffected by the barrier, which only works on humans, he is sent to
fetch Superman, which he does. Supergirl is able to pull him through
the hole. With his powers restored, Superman helps her pull the barrier
wide enough to admit Nightwing, Flamebird, Jax-Ur, General Zod, and Kru-El.
(The latter three have agreed to work with the heroes against the Curator.)
The super-powered Kryptonians break into the Curator's headquarters and
defeat him and Apprentice-Prime before they can devastate Earth.
Superman restores all the cities taken from planets in the present day,
but there are other cities stolen from time-eras of the past. Supergirl,
who says that cultural shock would result if those cities were restored
to their present-day planets, finds an uninhabited world and has the past-cities
set down on its
surface, far enough apart that it will be years before the inhabitants
of different cities make contact. Nightwing and Flamebird are returned
to Kandor, which is sent back to the Fortress; the Phantom Zone villains
go back to the Zone; Hartdale (with Jimmy Olsen and his father) is restored
to its proper place, and all is well.
Action Comics No. 486
August 1978
Cover: Superman //Rich Buckler / Frank Giacoia
Story: “Superman’s Time-Killing Trip” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: George Tuska
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#157; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #252)
Supporting Character: Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#190; next appears in SUPERMAN #324)
Intro: Kampto, Tyros (only appearance for both)
Villains: The Halflings (first and only appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman teams with Batman to defeat
the Whisperer in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #252.
Synopsis: Superman travels into the far future of Earth and finds himself
stranded in a war-torn land under an aging red sun.
Story: “Hero For a Day” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writers: Elizabeth Smith, Thomas E. Smith
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Jean Simek
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Lex Luthor (last appearance in BATMAN #293; next
appears in issue #500)
Supporting Characters: Val Colby (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS
#388; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #212), Lena Thorul Colby (between
SUPERMAN FAMILY #168 / 212)
Intro: Sgt. Kunkel (only appearance)
Synopsis: Lex Luthor breaks prison for the sole purpose of giving a
birthday gift to his nephew Val.
Superman No. 323
May 1978
Cover: Superman vs. The Atomic Skull //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (signed)
Story: “The Man With the Self-Destruct Mind” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#252)
Supporting Characters: Jenet Klyburn (last appearance in issue #316),
Lana Lang (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #251), Josh Coyle (between
ACTION COMICS #483 / 488), Oscar Asherman (between ACTION COMICS #483 /
489)
Villains: The Atomic Skull (Dr. Albert Michaels; first appearance as
the Atomic Skull; last appearance in issue #317), SKULL (last appearance
in issue #317), Titano (last appearance in issue #226)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
In this issue, Superman learns that new Kryptonite has been created
by the explosion of Krypton II.
Synopsis: Dr. Albert Michaels becomes the super-powered Atomic Skull,
captures Lois Lane with the help of SKULL, knocks out Superman, and summons
Titano to destroy him.
Superman No. 324
June 1978
Cover: Superman and Lana Lang vs. Titano //Rich Buckler / Dick Giordano
Story: “Beware the Eyes That Paralyze” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman
Supporting Character: Lana Lang, Dr. Jenet Klyburn, Lois Lane (last
appearance in ACTION COMICS #486), Herbie Lewis (first appearance; last
name revealed in issue #335)
Villains: Atomic Skull (next appears in issue #331), SKULL, Titano
(origin retold in flashback), Peter Silverstone (last appearance in issue
#315)
Comments: This story continues from last issue.
Synopsis: Superman awakens in time to stun Titano. He finally
defeats both Titano and the Atomic Skull and returns Titano to the Planet
of the Giants, then uses the Supermobile to suck up the Kryptonite dust
surrounding Earth.
Superman No. 325
July 1978
Cover: Superman vs. Dr. Peter Silverstone and hand of Blackrock III
// Rich Buckler / Joe Rubinstein (signed)
Story: “The Super Sellout of Metropolis” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge, Perry White (last appearance of
both in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #252; both next appear in ACTION COMICS #487),
Lois Lane, Lana Lang, Herbie Lewis, Dr. Jenet Klyburn, Jimmy Olsen (next
appears in ACTION COMICS #487)
Villains: Blackrock III (first appearance), Dr. Peter Silverstone,
SKULL (next appear in DC COMICS #35), Titano (last appearance)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Superman has fugue episodes, in which he experiences memory
blackouts and behaves uncharacteristically. In one of those episodes,
he has signed a contract with the UBC network. In another, he announces
in a UBC interview that he will soon reveal his secret identity.
Superman No. 326
August 1978
Cover: Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane watching Clark Kent change into Superman
on TV //Rich Buckler / Frank Giacoia (signed)
Story: “A Million Dollars a Minute” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman
GS: Wonder Woman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #157;
next appears in WONDER WOMAN #247)
Supporting Characters: Lola Barnett (last appearance in issue #315;
next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #195), Lana Lang, Herbie Lewis (next appears
in issue #330), Dr. Jenet Klyburn (next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #4)
Villains: Blackrock III (destroyed in this story), Dr. Peter Silverstone
(next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #212, as Blackrock IV), Samuel Tanner
(last appearance in issue #315; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #195),
Kobra, Cobra Cult (last appearance for all in AQUAMAN #61)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Superman learns that Dr. Peter Silverstone has engineered
his forced employment by UBC and destroys the mechanism responsible for
his fugues. He destroys Blackrock III, which was a construct
of ionic particles, and bollixes the revelation of his secret identity
with help from Wonder Woman. Later, in his apartment, Clark Kent
is confronted by Kobra, who threatens to teleport him to a red-sun system
in which he would die instantly.
Superman No. 327
September 1978
Cover: Superman and Kobra with Jonathan and Martha Kent in a bubble;
vignette of Earth-Two Superman and Lois Lane //Rich Buckler / Frank Giacoia
(signed)
Story: “The Sandstorm That Swallowed Metropolis” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#158)
GA: Aquaman, Green Lantern, Batman (in flashback; all appear, with
Superman, as the Justice League of America)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent (see Superboy’s Interim
Appearances for chronology), Lois Lane, Lana Lang (next appears in ACTION
COMICS #487)
Villains: Kobra (next appears in WONDER WOMAN #273), the Cobra Cult
(last appearance in AQUAMAN #61; next appears in WONDER WOMAN #273), SKULL
(in flashback; next appear in DC COMICS PRESENTS #63)
Comments: This story continues from last issue.
Shortly after this story, Superman helps the Justice League and
Ultraa fight the Injustice Gang in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #158.
Synopsis: Kobra, who has discovered Superman’s secret identity, kidnaps
Jonathan and Martha Kent from the past and holds them hostage to prevent
the Man of Steel from interfering in his plans.
Superman Family No. 191
September-October 1978
Story: “The Quest For the Guardian” (9 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer: Jean Simek
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in SUPERMAN #333)
GS: Newsboy Legion, Golden Guardian II (last appearance in DC SPECIAL
SERIES #11; next appears in TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS #50), Karen Beecher
(Bumblebee; last appearance in TEEN TITANS #53; next appears in TALES OF
THE TEEN TITANS #50)
GA: Robin (within BATMAN FAMILY #20)
Supporting Characters: Barbara Bench (between issues #189 / 198)
Villains: Flamesplasher I and II (last appearance for both in TEEN
TITANS #47; last appearance for both)
Cameo appearances: Superman, Giant Jimmy Olsen, Golden Guardian (in
flashback)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: The Newsboy Legion tells Jimmy Olsen that they are in search
of the Golden Guardian, who has vanished. The trail leads Jimmy and
the Newsboys to Mal Duncan, the current Golden Guardian and former Teen
Titan, whose fellow member Karen Beecher is being held hostage by the Flamesplasher
Twins, old enemies of the Titans.
Story: “The Hunters” (7 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Bob Toomey
Artist: Juan Ortiz
Letterer: Jean Simek
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Krypto
Supporting Character: Ed Lacy
Villain: Nails Rivard (first and only appearance)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue and crosses over with
the Lois Lane story in this issue.
Synopsis: On the trail of Ed’s nephew Tommy, Ed and Krypto encounter
a killer.
Story: “The Most Precious Plunder” (9 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Win Mortimer
Inker: John Celardo
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Lois Lane (next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #3)
Supporting Characters: Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, Wheezer (last appearance
in issue #185)
GS: Human Cannonball (last appearance in issue #189)
GA: Newsboy Legion
Intro: Marie Bradley, Mr. Bradley, Billy Bradley (only appearance for
all)
Villains: Feeny and his gang (first and only appearance for all; Max
named and dies in this story)
Synopsis: Lois goes undercover to ferret out a babynapping ring.
Story: “The Super-Hero Money Can’t Buy” (8 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer: Shelley Leferman
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#158; next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #1)
Supporting Characters: Kendall Kent (last appearance in SUPERBOY #180;
last appearance), Jillian Kent (first and only appearance; Clark Kent’s
adoptive cousin)
Villain: Hansom (first and only appearance)
Comments: Jillian Kent is the daughter of Burt Kent, Jonathan Kent’s
brother, who appeared in SUPERBOY #117.
Shortly after this story, Superman teams with the Flash to fight
the Volkir and Zelkots in DC COMICS PRESENTS #1-2.
Synopsis: Kendall Kent, Clark’s wealthy adoptive uncle, has only a
few months to live and wishes to leave his money to either Clark or his
niece Jillian, but someone is attempting to kill Kendall before the will
can be completed.
Action Comics No. 487
September 1978
Cover: Superman trying to stop Daily Planet globe from crashing into
WGBS building; Atom vignette //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Story: “Super-Origin of Microwave Man” (15 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#2; also appears as baby Kal-El, in flashback; see Comment under MORE FUN
COMICS #101 for chronology)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang (last appearance in SUPERMAN #327),
Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, Morgan Edge (last appearance for all in SUPERMAN
#325)
Cameo appearances: Jor-El, Lara (in flashback)
Villain: Microwave Man (Lewis Padgett; first appearance)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Earth-One’s first super-criminal, Microwave Man, makes a
comeback after 40 years of inactivity, and Superman must deal with him.
Action Comics No. 488
October 1978
Cover: Superman vs. Microwave Man during bank robbery //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
/ Dan Adkins (signed)
Story: “Superman Battles Microwave Man” (15 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#253)
Supporting Characters: Jimmy Olsen (next appears in SUPERMAN #328),
Lana Lang (next appears in SUPERMAN #328), Morgan Edge (next appears in
SUPERMAN #330), Josh Coyle (last appearance in SUPERMAN #323)
Other characters: The aliens (last appearance)
Villain: Microwave Man (dies in this story)
Comments: This story continues from last issue.
Shortly after this story, Superman teams with Batman to combat
Doc Willard in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #253, then teams with Adam Strange
to fight Kaskor in DC COMICS PRESENTS #3.
Synopsis: Superman has a final showdown fight with Microwave Man...and
deliberately loses.
Superman No. 328
October 1978
Cover: Superman tangled in traffic light as Kryptonoid attacks //Jose
Luis Garcia-Lopez / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “Attack of the Kryptonoid” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in second story of this
issue)
Supporting Characters: Jor-El (in flashback; see Comment under MORE
FUN COMICS #101 for chronology), Lana Lang (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#488)
Intro: Ser-Ze (in flashback; first and only appearance; dead before
this story opens), Guerney
Villain: The Kryptonoid (Gen. D. W. Derwent, a Superman robot, and
a living disease; first appearance; last appearance of Derwent in issue
#322)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: A living metallic organism from Krypton fuses with the body
of a Superman robot and a one-armed general who blames Superman for the
loss of his limb. The composite being, who calls himself the Kryptonoid,
attacks Superman.
Story: “Clark Kent, How Would You Like To Meet Your Real Father?”
(8 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Burkett
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer: Shelly Leferman
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Clark Kent (Superman; last appearance in DC COMICS
PRESENTS #3; next appears in first story in this issue; also appears, in
flashback, as baby Kal-El and Superbaby; see Comment under MORE FUN COMICS
#101 for chronology)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent (in flashback; see
Comment under MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology), Steve Lombard (last
appearance in ALL-NEW COLLECTOR’S EDITION #C-58; next appears in ACTION
COMICS #489), Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #488)
Intro: Robert Linden, Jeff Landis (only appearance for both)
Villain: Matthew Curtis (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Clark Kent poses as the son of a wealthy man to reunite him
with his real long-lost son.
Superman No. 329
November 1978
Cover: Superman vs. Kryptonoid (three vignettes) //Ross Andru / Dick
Giordano (signed)
Editor: “I Have Met the Enemy--And It Is Me” (17 pages)
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Jean Simek
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#159)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#3), Jimmy Olsen (next appears in ACTION COMICS #489), Lana Lang
Cameo: Ser-Ze, Jor-El (in flashback)
Villain: The Kryptonoid (last appearance)
Comments: This story continues from last issue.
Shortly after this story, Superman helps the Justice League,
Justice Society, and several heroes from other eras battle the Lord of
Time in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #159-160 and helps the Justice League
fight the Treasurers, Karvus-Kun, and the War-Kohn in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF
AMERICA #210-212.
Synopsis: Superman, battling the Kryptonoid, tells Gen. Derwent within
it that the Superman robot he fused with is actually the “Superman” who
caused the loss of his arm.
Superman Family No. 192
November-December 1978
Cover: Superman, Jimmy Olsen, and Speedy vs. Jimmy Olsen clones; Superboy
vs. Stasis; Lois Lane and Human Cannonball vs. Butcher; Krypto vs. gunman;
rocket escaping Krypton; Nightwing vs. robot; Supergirl vs. Gravity Lord
//Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “Requiem In the Rain” (7 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Bob Toomey
Artist: Juan Ortiz
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Krypto (next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #14)
Supporting Character: Ed Lacy (last appearance)
Intro: Tommy (only appearance)
Villains: Joe Skinner, a gunman (first and only apperance for all)
Synopsis: Ed and Krypto finally track down Tommy and Joe Skinner, but
find a mob hitman out to kill them all.
Story: “What Ever Happened To the Guardian?” (9 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen
GS: Newsboy Legion, Speedy (last appearance in DC SPECIAL SERIES #11)
GA: Guardian (in flashback; last appearance in STAR-SPANGLED COMICS
#63; dies in this story), Golden Guardian (in flashback; first chronological
appearance; next chronological appearance in SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN
#135; origin depicted in this story)
Cameo appearances: Golden Guardian II, Inter-Gang assassin, Newsboy
Legion I
Other Characters: Great Frog (last appearance in GREEN LANTERN #100;
last appearance)
Villains: Adam and his clone army, Jimmy Olsen clones (first appearance
for all)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
In this story, Speedy is revealed to be the nephew of Jim Harper,
the first Guardian.
Synopsis: Jimmy Olsen and the Newsboy Legion contact Speedy at a Great
Frog concert and ask him about his connection with Jim Harper. After
they are attacked by a gang of Olsen clones and defeat them, Jimmy and
the Newsboys learn that Speedy is the nephew of the original Guardian.
They deduce that the clones came from the DNA Project in Metropolis, so
Speedy joins Jimmy and the Newsboys to investigate.
Story: “My Father, Superman” (8 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer: Clem Robins
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Superman (last chronological appearance in JUSTICE
LEAGUE OF AMERICA #212; next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #4)
Cameo appearances: Jor-El I, Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Willa Kent
(first appearance; no real existence; a computer simulation)
Intro: Lor-Van, Lara Lor-Van I (Lara’s parents), Nimda (Jor-El I’s
wife, Jor-El II’s mother, Superman’s grandmother; all as computer simulations;
only appearance for all)
Comment: In this story, it is revealed that the Sons of Superman and
Batman series in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS is just a series of computer simulations.
Shortly after this story Superman teams with the Metal Men to
fight Chemo in DC COMICS PRESENTS #4.
Synopsis: Superman uses a computer in his Fortress of Solitude to speculate
on what would have occurred if Krypton had perished before he was born.
Story: “The Hand of Death” (9 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Win Mortimer
Inker: John Celardo
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Lois Lane (last appearance in SUPERMAN #333)
GS: Human Cannonball, Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #333)
Supporting Character: Tina Ames
Villain: The Butcher, Angel Alloyo, and their gang (only appearance
for all)
Comment: This story crosses over with the Jimmy Olsen story in this
issue and continues in next issue.
Synopsis: Lois Lane, Superman, and the Human Cannonball encounter the
Butcher, a servant of Adam with a cancer-producing ray in his mechanical
arm prosthesis.
Superman No. 330
December 1978
Cover: Superman with Clark Kent’s glasses on, Lana Lang showing him
a picture; Spellbinder vignette //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “The Master Mesmerizer of Metropolis” (23 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Concept: Al Schroeder III
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#4; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #254; also appears, in flashback,
as Superboy; see Comment under MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang (next appears in ACTION COMICS #489),
Morgan Edge (between ACTION COMICS #488 / 489), Herbie Lewis (last appearance
in issue #326), Martin H. Korda (first appearance)
Cameo appearances: Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen
Villain: The Spellbinder (last appearance in DETECTIVE COMICS #358;
next appears in BATMAN #336)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman helps Batman fight Sinestro,
Doc Willard, and George “Boss” Dyke in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #254, then
teams with Aquaman to battle the Ocean Master in DC COMICS PRESENTS #5.
In this story, Superman learns he has been using his super-hypnotism
power subconsciously, intensified through his Kryptonian glasses, to make
people think Clark Kent doesn’t resemble Superman.
Synopsis: Superman super-hypnotizes all of Metropolis to keep its citizens
from falling under the control of the Spellbinder.
Action Comics No. 489
November 1978
Cover: Superman; vignette of Kal-El’s rocket leaving exploding Krypton
//Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “Krypton Dies Again” (15 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#5)
GS: Batman (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #254; next appears
in BATMAN #307), Green Lantern (between GREEN LANTERN #112 / 113), Hawkman
(last appearance in DETECTIVE COMICS #480), Wonder Woman (last appearance
in WONDER WOMAN #251; next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #261; all appear,
with Superman, as the Justice League of America; team appears between JUSTICE
LEAGUE OF AMERICA #212 / 161), Supergirl (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE
OF AMERICA #157; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #191), Kandorians
Supporting Characters: Josh Coyle, Lois Lane (last appearance in DC
COMICS PRESENTS #3; next appears in SUPERMAN #331), Perry White (next appears
in issue #493), Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in SUPERMAN #329), Morgan
Edge (last appearance in SUPERMAN #330; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST
COMICS #255), Lana Lang (last appearance in SUPERMAN #330), Steve Lombard
(between SUPERMAN #328 / 333), Oscar Asherman (between SUPERMAN #323 /
334), Drygur Moliom of Kandor (first appearance; next appears in issue
#496)
Villain: Brainiac (last appearance in DC SPECIAL SERIES #5)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Superman battles Brainiac at the very moment in which the
light of Krypton’s explosion reaches Earth, and the super-villain tricks
him into looking directly into the blast, whose energy goes directly into
his eyes with powerful effects.
Action Comics No. 490
December 1978
Cover: Superman with blazing eyes, smashing up Metropolis as Lois Lane
and Jimmy Olsen watch //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano
Story: “No Tomorrow For Superman” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Superman
GA: Hawkman
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang (next appears in SUPERMAN #331), Josh
Coyle (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #255), Jimmy Olsen (next appears
in SUPERMAN #333)
Villains: Brainiac, Nicky, Jacko (first and only appearance of last
two)
Comment: Story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: After his encounter with the energy from Krypton’s explosion,
Superman suffers power-attacks that force him to burn up vast amounts of
energy each time.
Action Comics No. 491
January 1979
Cover: Brainiac watching Superman and Hawkman battling on a viewscreen
//Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “A Matter of Light and Death” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Karisha
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #193)
GS: Hawkman (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #161)
Cameo appearances: Josh Coyle, Jimmy Olsen (in flashback)
Intro: Theodore J. Henkin, Jerry (a robot; only appearance for both)
Villain: Brainiac (next appears in SUPERMAN #338)
Comment: This story continues from last issue.
Synopsis: Hawkman manages to prevent Superman from destroying the Justice
League satellite, and the Man of Steel has a showdown with Brainiac.
Superman Family No. 193
January-February 1979
Cover: Superboy and Krypto vs. Mechanical Master; Supergirl vs. a shark;
phantom Superman observing Lara in a Supergirl costume; Flamebird vs. Nightwing;
Jimmy Olsen, Speedy, and Golden Guardian in tank; Lois Lane and Tina Ames
vs. clone soldiers (six vignettes) //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “The Project: Perilous” (10 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer: Clem Robins
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen
GS: Speedy, Newsboy Legion
GA: Dubbilex, Golden Guardian (last appearance for both in SUPERMAN’S
PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #146)
Villains: Adam, Jimmy Olsen clones
Comment: This story continues in the next issue and crosses over with
the Lois Lane story in this issue.
Synopsis: Jimmy Olsen and the Newsboy Legion storm the DNA Project,
but are captured by Adam’s army of Olsen clones and are told by captive
scientists that Adam plans to destroy the human race. Meanwhile,
Speedy sneaks inside and beholds the Golden Guardian and Dubbilex in preservative
beakers.
Story: “Hospital Hostilities” (10 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Win Mortimer
Inker: Bob Smith
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Lois Lane
GS: Human Cannonball
Supporting Characters: Tina Ames, Dave Stevens (last appearance in
WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #252; next appears in SUPERMAN #337), Prof. Potter
(next appears in ACTION COMICS #558)
Villains: Adam, the clone army
Comment: This story crosses over with the Jimmy Olsen story in this
issue and continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Adam sends his clone army to capture Tina Ames, who can become
a creature of living bio-energy now and whom they wish to serve as a power
source, but Lois Lane, the Human Cannonball, and Tina beat them back.
Professor Potter decides to move Tina to a top-secret installation for
study--which, unknown to him, is controlled by Adam.
Story: “My Mother, Supergirl” (9 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Joe Giella
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #491;
next appears in SUPERMAN #331)
Cameo appearance: Jack Kent, Mr. and Mrs. Clark (first and only appearance
for all), Lara (as Supergirl), Chief Parker, Martha Clark (all as computer
simulations)
Synopsis: Superman runs a computer simulation to discover what would
have happened if Lara, on Earth, had become a Supergirl.
Superman No. 331
January 1979
Cover: Superman locked in cell as Master Jailer kidnaps Lana Lang with
Parasite, Atomic Skull, and Metallo II looking on //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano
(signed)
Story: “Lockup At 20,000 Feet” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #193)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#490), Martin Korda (last appearance), Lois Lane (last appearance in ACTION
COMICS #489; next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #6), Herbie Lewis (next
appears in issue #335)
Intro: Larry Latimer (only appearance)
Cameo appearance: Terra-Man
Villains: The Master Jailer (Carl “Moosie” Draper; first appearance;
last chronological appearance in flashback in next issue), Metallo II (last
appearance in issue #317; next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #175), the
Parasite (last appearance in issue #322; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST
COMICS #270), Atomic Skull (last appearance in issue #324; next appears
in THE FLASH #293)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Carl “Moosie” Draper, an old alumnus of Clark Kent’s from
Smallville High School and a specialist in planning prisons, has his design
for a jail modified by Superman. Out of jealousy, Draper becomes
the Master Jailer, defeats and imprisons Superman, uses the Parasite to
remove his super-powers, and kidnaps Lana Lang.
Superman No. 332
February 1979
Cover: Superman seeing his reflections in mirrors //Ross Andru / Dick
Giordano (signed)
Story: “The Eternity Cage” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Superman (next appearance in ACTION COMICS #492;
also appears as Superboy, in flashback)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#255; also appears in flashback)
Cameo appearance: Terra-Man
Villain: The Master Jailer (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #214 as
Carl “Moosie” Draper; also appears, in flashback, between NEW ADVENTURES
OF SUPERBOY #18 and last issue)
Comment: This story continues from last issue.
In this story, Superman finally tells Lana Lang that, in his
opinion, she does not love him, but only wants the reflected glory of being
Mrs. Superman.
Synopsis: Superman is forced to run a maze filled with dangers, until
Lana Lang helps him regain his powers and he escapes and defeats the Master
Jailer.
Action Comics No. 492
February 1979
Cover: Superman seeing his wife and children dying //Ross Andru / Dick
Giordano (signed)
Story: “Superman’s Secret Afterlife” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #332; next
appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #255)
Cameo appearances: Superman’s wife, son, and daughter (as illusions;
first and only appearance), Lois Lane, Lana Lang, Kandorians (as illusions)
Villains: Jax-Ur (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #190; next appears
in GREEN LANTERN #122), Faora Hu-Ul (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#190; next appears in GREEN LANTERN #123), General Zod (last appearance
in SUPERMAN FAMILY #190; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #256), the
Spiral-Scourge (first and only appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman teams with Batman to fight
Gitchka in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #255, then teams with Green Lantern and
the Red Tornado to fight Star Sapphire and the Weaponers of Qward in DC
COMICS PRESENTS #6-7.
Synopsis: Three Phantom Zone villains lure Superman into a menace that
produces an illusion of despair so vividly that they believe the Man of
Steel will be driven to suicide.
Superman No. 333
March 1979
Cover: Superman watching Bizarro No. 1 catch falling Lois Lane //Ross
Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “Happy New Year, Rest In Peace” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#7; next appears in Lois Lane story in SUPERMAN FAMILY #192)
GS:Bizarro No. 1 (last appearance in DC SPECIAL SERIES #6; next appears
in issue #379)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#6; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #192), Lana Lang, Morgan Edge (last
appearance for both in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #255), Jimmy Olsen (last appearance
in ACTION COMICS #490), Steve Lombard (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#489)
Cameo appearances: Bizarros, Bizarro-Lois Lanes
Intro: Bizarro-Morgan Edge (only appearance)
Comment: In this story, Superman finally declares that he loves Lois
Lane more than Lana Lang.
Synopsis: Bizarro No. 1 comes to Earth with the intent of fulfilling
a prophecy of Lois Lane’s and Lana Lang’s deaths, despite opposition from
Superman.
Superman Family No. 194
April 1979
Cover: Superman, Jimmy Olsen, Speedy, and Lois Lane vs. Olsen Clones
and tiny clones of Superman, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Wonder Woman, Batman,
and Green Arrow; Superboy vs. Griffin; Nightwing, Flamebird, and Jur-Ll;
Supergirl vs. Prof. Martin (four vignettes) //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano
(signed)
Story: “Armageddon Arrives Today” (21 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Characters: Jimmy Olsen (next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD
#150), Lois Lane (next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #8)
GS: Superman (next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #6), Human Cannonball
(last appearance), Newsboy Legion, Speedy (next appears in BRAVE AND THE
BOLD #149), Golden Guardian
Supporting Characters: Tina Ames, Dubbilex
Cameo: Orion, Kalibak (in flashback)
Villains: Adam, Clone Army, Olsen Clones (all die in this story), Justice
League clones (last appearance in SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE #111;
all die in this story), the Master (Robby Reed; last appearance in NEW
ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #49 (flashback); next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS
#484)
Comments: Speedy’s father is revealed to be Will Harper, a deceased
forest ranger, in this story.
This story continues from last issue.
Shortly after this story, Superman and Swamp Thing battle Solomon
Grundy II in DC COMICS PRESENTS #8.
Synopsis: Superman, Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, the Newsboy Legion, Speedy,
Tina Ames, the Golden Guardian, Dubbilex, and the DNA Project scientists
join forces against Adam, cloned from the cells of the Guardian and Dubbilex,
and his clone armies.
Superman No. 334
April 1979
Cover: Superman and Lana Lang vs. Lois Lane (as Opticus) //Ross Andru
/ Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “The Man Who Stole Superman’s Eyes” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#8; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #256)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Lois Lane (between DC COMICS PRESENTS
#8 / 9; disguised as Opticus in part of this story), Morgan Edge (next
appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #150), Steve Lombard (next appears in SUPERMAN
FAMILY #195), Oscar Asherman (between ACTION COMICS #489 / 497)
Villains: The Skeleton Gang (first and only appearance; formerly members
of SKULL)
Comments: Shortly after this story, Superman teams with Batman to defeat
Lar-On in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #256 and to fight the Battalion of Doom
in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #150, then teams with Wonder Woman to combat an ice-monster
in DC COMICS PRESENTS #9.
In this story, Superman finally admits before Lois and Lana that
Lois is the only woman he will be able to share his life with.
Synopsis: Superman and Lois Lane run a ruse in which Lois pretends
to be Opticus, a villain who robs Superman of his sight, in order to trap
the Skeleton Gang. Later, Superman admits that Lois Lane is the only
woman he will ever love, and Lana Lang decides to leave Metropolis.
Superman No. 335
May 1979
Cover: Superman vs. Mr. Mxyzptlk //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “Mxyzptlk Spelled Backwards Is T-R-O-U-B-L-E” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Martin Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#9; next appears in ACTION COMICS #493)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#9; next appears in ACTION COMICS #493), Lana Lang (next appears in ACTION
COMICS #493), Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #150;
next appears in ACTION COMICS #493), Herbie Lewis (last appearance)
Intro: Miss Bgbznz (marries Mr. Mxyzptlk in this story; next appears
in issue #349), Fznpqwxyl, Judge Grlprzr (only appearance for both)
Cameo: Rose Forrest, the Thorn
Villain: Mr. Mxyzptlk (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #467; next
appears in issue #349; marries Miss Bgbznz in this story)
Synopsis: Mr. Mxyzptlk is scheduled to wed Miss Bgbznz, but has been
exiled from his dimension until he atones for an act of mischief.
He appeals to Superman for help, but is told that he will only receive
it if he cures Superman of a plague that is turning him into a human lizard.
Action Comics No. 493
March 1979
Cover: Superman emerging from TV screen as Lyle Corliss turns the set
off //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “The Metropolis-UFO Connection” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #335)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen (last appearance for
both in SUPERMAN #335), Lana Lang (last appearance in SUPERMAN #335; next
appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #195), Morgan Edge (last appearance in BRAVE
AND THE BOLD #150; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #195), Laura Conway
(last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #184; next appears in SUPERMAN #339),
Perry White (last appearance in issue #491)
Villains: Lyle Corliss (Agent 67-3X7) and his alien race (first and
only appearance for all)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
In this story, Clark Kent resumes working for the Daily Planet
in addition to his WGBS duties.
Synopsis: Superman is trapped within a teleportation device disguised
as a television set by Lyle Corliss, a sleeper agent for a race of alien
invaders.
Action Comics No. 494
April 1979
Cover: Superman, Lois Lane, and ghostly general //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
(signed)
Story: “The Secret of the Super-S” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Superman (also appears, in flashback, as Superboy;
see Comment under MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent (in flashback; see
Comment under MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology), Douglas Parker (last
appearance in SUPERMAN #284), Perry White (next appears in SUPERMAN #336),
Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #195)
Intro: Sally (only appearance)
Villains: The Gnmod (first appearance), the Scorpions (a motorcycle
gang; first and only appearance)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Clark Kent and Lois Lane go to Smallville, where Douglas
Parker informs them that a ghost which manifests itself as military figures
is haunting the old Kent house.
Action Comics No. 495
May 1979
Cover: Dwalu warrior exposing Clark Kent as Superman below Superman
billboard in Smallville //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (signed)
Story: “Attack of the Ultimate Warrior” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller; Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #195;
also appears as Superboy, in flashback, chronologically between SUPERBOY
AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #251 / SUPERMAN FAMILY #195)
Supporting Characters: Chief Parker (next appears in SUPERMAN #381),
Lois Lane (last appearance in issue #493; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#195)
Cameo appearances: Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, Jonathan Kent, Martha
Kent (in flashback and photo)
Intro: The Zoltams (in flashback; only appearance)
Villain: The Gnmod (last appearance)
Comment: This story continues from last issue.
Synopsis: The Gnmod impersonates an ancient Kryptonian Dwalu warrior
in order to lure Superman into battle and cause him to boost the Gnmod
up to the next evolutionary level.
Superman Family No. 195
May-June 1979
Cover: Supergirl vs. Superboy robot; Jimmy Olsen in race car; Clark
Kent, Lois Lane, and Superman of Earth-Two; Clark Kent photos with hair
and bald; Clark Kent, as Superboy, lifting car carrying Lana Lang; Cobra
gangster threatening Lois Lane with cobra (six vignettes) //Ross Andru
/ Dick Giordano
Story: “Coils of the Cobra” (12 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Lois Lane (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #495;
next appears in SUPERMAN #336)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#493), Steve Lombard (last appearance in SUPERMAN #334; next appears in
ACTION COMICS #497)
Intro: Curly (a cobra; possibly dies in this story), Cobra (a rock
group)
Villains: Alvin Shorter (first appearance; dies in this story), three
Cobra impostors (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: When a rock band’s manager is killed by a cobra, Morgan Edge
sends Lois Lane to investigate the story.
Story: “Clark Kent’s Super-Secret” (8 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Burkett
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Joe Giella
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #495;
next appears in SUPERMAN #336)
Supporting Characters: Lola Barnett (last appearance in SUPERMAN #326;
next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #12), Lana Lang (between ACTION COMICS
#493 / 496), Josh Coyle (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS #6), Samuel
Tanner (last appearance in SUPERMAN #326; last appearance), Jimmy Olsen
(last appearance in ACTION COMICS #494), Inspector Henderson (last appearance
in BLACK LIGHTNING #10; next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #173)
Intro: A spy (only appearance)
Cameo: Lex Luthor
Villains: Edgar “Beak” Phillips, Harvey Taylor (first and only appearance
for both)
Comments: This is a Private Life of Clark Kent story, but Superman
does appear in it.
Synopsis: Lola Barnett becomes convinced that, since Clark Kent’s hair
does not grow, he wears a hairpiece, and determines to prove the newscaster
is really bald.
Story: “Victory Cup For a Dead Man” (12 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (next appears in SUPERMAN #336)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (next appears in SUPERMAN #337),
Roy Raymond (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #448; next appears in DC
COMICS PRESENTS #32)
Intro: Jean-Paul Andoletti (dies in this story), Bobby (only appearance)
Villains: Mordecai Montoe and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: Jimmy Olsen is assigned to unravel the mystery of a race-car
driver who runs a race as a corpse.
Superman No. 336
June 1979
Cover: Superman and Thorn vs. Sidecar Bandits //Ross Andru / Bob Oskner
(signed)
Story: “A Rose By Any Other Name” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #195;
next appears in ACTION COMICS #496)
GS: The Thorn (last appearance in SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE
#130; next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #188; origin retold in flashback)
Supporting Characters: Dr. Brad Roberts (last appearance in SUPERMAN’S
GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE #127; last appearance), Perry White (last appearance
in ACTION COMICS #494; next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #11), Jimmy Olsen,
Lois Lane (last appearance for both in SUPERMAN FAMILY #195; both next
appear in DC COMICS PRESENTS #11)
Cameo appearances: Phil Forrest, the 100 (in flashback)
Villains: The Sidecar Bandits (including Paul and Joey), Jack, Murray
(first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Dr. Brad Roberts has found a way of submerging the Thorn
personality beneath Rose Forrest as long as she wears a necklace of his
devising. However, the necklace produces an effect that also makes
Clark Kent as aggressive as Superman, and, when the Man of Steel takes
it away from Rose, she becomes the Thorn and attacks him to get it back.
Action Comics No. 496
June 1979
Cover: Superman looking into bottle-city of Kandor //Ross Andru / Bob
Oskner (signed)
Story: “Death Out of a Bottle” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #336; next
appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #257)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#195), Drygur Moliom of Kandor (last appearance in issue #489; next appears
in SUPERMAN #338)
GS: Kandorians (next appear in SUPERMAN #338)
GA: Supergirl (between SUPERMAN FAMILY #195 / 196)
Intro: Jav-Ar (only appearance)
Villain: Zurnnulaxi-Vraxii (first and only appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story, Superman teams with Batman to deal
with Maudy and her pet Fred in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #257, then teams with
Sgt. Rock against the Nazis in DC COMICS PRESENTS #10 and with Hawkman
to defeat Frank Ryles in DC COMICS PRESENTS #11.
Synopsis: Superman has contracted a disease while in Kandor, and the
Kandorians intend to put him under stress, and thus force his body to manufacture
antitoxins, by creating a fake menace for him to battle--but a real menace
shows up instead.
Superman No. 337
July 1979
Cover: Don-El as Superman, Terra-Man, Brainiac, Bizarro No. 1, Toyman,
Metallo, and Superman’s fists //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “Too Many Crooks” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#11; next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #161)
Supporting Characters: Don-El (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #194;
last appearance), Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane (last appearance
for all in DC COMICS PRESENTS #11; all next appear in ACTION COMICS #497),
Dave Stevens (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #193), Morgan Edge (between
SUPERMAN FAMILY #195 / 196)
Cameo appearances: Terra-Man, Brainiac, Bizarro No. 1, Toyman, Metallo
II (as identities assumed by Superman)
GA: Kandorians
Comment: Shortly after this story, Superman helps the Justice League
induct Zatanna and fight the Warlock in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #161,
the Shark in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #162, Anton Allegro, Highlord, and
the Hidden Ones in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #163-165, and the Secret Society
of Super-Villains in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #166-168.
Synopsis: Don-El becomes delusional, leaves Kandor, enlarges himself,
and imitates Superman. To bring him out of his delusion, the real
Superman impersonates various villains and battles him.
Action Comics No. 497
July 1979
Cover: Superman throwing building at meteor //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano
(signed)
Story: “Superman’s Command Performance” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#168; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #196)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane, Perry White, Jimmy Olsen (all next
appear in SUPERMAN FAMILY #196), Lana Lang (next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#12), Oscar Asherman (between SUPERMAN #334 / 347), Steve Lombard (last
appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #195; next appears in SUPERMAN #338)
Intro: Jerry, Arthur, Mike, Ryjel (the Plaintown Superman Club)
Villains: Two crooks (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: A Superman fan club of young boys find that they seem to
have the power to make Superman perform feats that one of their members
depicts in his drawings.
Superman Family No. 196
July-August 1979
Cover: Superboy riding helicopter blade as Jonathan Kent and Smallville
citizens look on; Supergirl and Valerie Miles leaping off building; Lois
Lane Kent and Clark Kent of Earth-Two changing to Superman; Jimmy Olsen
and Lacy Halton hanging onto hot-air balloon gondola as crooks fire on
them; Lois Lane in steam cabinet as hand turns up temperature; Clark Kent
disco-dancing (six vignettes) //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez / Dick Giordano
(signed)
Story: “Good Health--It’s Killing Me” (12 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Bob Oskner
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Lois Lane (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #497;
next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #12)
GA: Clark Kent (Superman; last appearance in ACTION COMICS #497)
Supporting Characters: Morgan Edge (last appearance in SUPERMAN #337),
Perry White (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #497)
Intro: Emmet Thurston (only appearance)
Villains: Mark Hubbard, Madge Hubbard, Gretel, and other androids (first
appearance for all; all destroyed in this story), Bianca Van Dyke (first
and only appearance)
Synopsis: Lois Lane is assigned to a health farm that turns out to
be run by sinister androids.
Story: “Super-Disco Fever” (8 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Burkett
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Jean Simek
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Clark Kent (Superman; next appears in DC COMICS
PRESENTS #12)
Supporting Characters: Terri Cross (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#477; next appears in issue #213), Clark Kent Fan Club, Josh Coyle, Jimmy
Olsen (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #497)
Intro: Ed Peters
Villain: The “Thin Man” (first and only appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman teams with Mr. Miracle to
fight Inter-Gang in DC COMICS PRESENTS #12.
Synopsis: Clark Kent is taken (by force) to a disco by his fan club,
discovers it is about to be bombed, and uses his super-powers while disco
dancing to deactivate the bombs.
Story: “Case of the Curious Castaway” (12 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Albert DeGuzman
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#12)
Supporting Characters: Perry White (next appears in SUPERMAN #338)
Intro: Lacy Halton, Miranda Halton
Villains: Le Loup and his gang (Bennie named in this story; first and
only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Jimmy Olsen is persuaded to help find an old friend’s lost
sister on a desert island, but both he and she are captured by Le Loup
and his pirates.
Superman No. 338
August 1979
Cover: Supergirl and Superman enlarging Kandor //Ross Andru
/ Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: "Let My People Grow" (Part 1; 7 pages)
Part 2: “The Lilliput Problem” (9 pages)
Part 3: “All Creatures Great and Small” (7 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Plot suggestion: Marv Wolfman
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#12; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #258)
GS: Supergirl (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #196; next
appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #170), Kandorians (next appear in
KRYPTON CHRONICLES #1)
Supporting Characters: Zor-El, Allura (last appearance of both
in SUPERMAN FAMILY #190; both next appear in KRYPTON CHRONICLES #1), Van-Zee
(last appearance, as Nightwing, in SUPERMAN FAMILY #194; next appears in
KRYPTON CHRONICLES #1), Drygur Moliom of Kandor (last appearance in ACTION
COMICS #496; next appears in KRYPTON CHRONICLES #1), Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen
(last appearance for both in DC COMICS PRESENTS #12; both next appear in
WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #258), Morgan Edge (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#196; next appears in ACTION COMICS #498), Perry White (last appearance
in SUPERMAN FAMILY #196; next appears in ACTION COMICS #499), Meg
Tempest, Percy Bratton (last appearance for both in SUPERMAN FAMILY #190;
last appearance for both), Steve Lombard (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#497; next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #13), Dave Stevens (next appears
in ACTION COMICS #512)
Intro: Arn-Ul (only appearance)
Villain: Brainiac (between ACTION COMICS #491 / 514; shrunk in
this story)
Comments: Kandor is finally enlarged in this story.
The planet which the Kandorians inhabit is later named Rokyn,
as revealed in KRYPTON CHRONICLES #1.
This story was foretold in part by Brainiac 5 in the Supergirl
story in ACTION COMICS #376, but there are discrepancies between Brainiac
5's story and this one. For one thing, Brainiac 5 totally omitted
Supergirl's part in this story; for another, he claimed that Superman physically
steered Brainiac's saucer-ship into the path of an already-fired shrinking
ray; and, for a third, Brainiac 5 claimed that this was the end of the
original Brainiac. However, almost 1,000 years had passed since this
even and Brainiac 5's retelling of it, and his errors are understandable.
Too, he may have neglected to tell Supergirl of her part in this adventure
to protect her from knowledge of her future.
As shown in KRYPTON CHRONICLES #1, only the buildings in Kandor
which are made of Grahu, a plastic-like material, are destroyed in this
story. The older buildings, made of metal, as well as the computers
in which all records are stored, survive the destruction.
The Cosmic Axis is a concept first used by Marvel Comics in Man-Thing
and Howard the Duck stories. Since the Axis is multiversal, this
is probably the same Cosmic Axis that appears in Marvel Comics.
Perry White celebrates his 40th anniversary with the Daily Planet
in this story.
Shortly after this story, Superman teams with Batman to overcome
the werebeast disease in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #258, teams with the Legion
of Super-Heroes to deal with Nrvyn in DC COMICS PRESENTS #13, and helps
the Justice League deal with the Flash in THE FLASH #276-277 and fight
the Over-Complex in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #169-170.
Synopsis: Superman, at great peril to himself, absorbs the energies
of a supernova into a power canister, and returns with it to Earth.
He and Supergirl intend to use it to power an enlarging ray with which
to restore Kandor to its normal size. To test it, Superman arranges
to have himself shrunken by Brainiac and then enlarged. He accomplishes
this by using a supersonic "beacon" device that only Brainiac can hear
to lure the computer-villain into a space battle. Superman manuvers
his foe into using the shrink-ray on him, but, when Brainiac tries to do
the same to Supergirl, she counterattacks with the enlarging ray, which
reverses Brainiac's weapon and causes him and his craft to shrink beyond
detection. Later, in the Fortress, Supergirl restores Superman to
normal height with the enlarging ray.
Superman and Supergirl fly the bottle city of Kandor to a planet
beneath a red sun which they have chosen, using a spacecraft to make the
trip. There they finally succeed in enlarging Kandor to normal size,
shattering the bottle and restoring the Kryptonians within to normalcy.
The Kandorians thank their two benefactors and Supergirl has an emotional
reunion with her parents, Zor-El and Allura. However, she tells them
she has chosen to live on Earth. Shortly afterward, the city itself
crumbles into dust, since the enlarger ray only works permanenly on living
matter. Superman is grief-stricken, but Van-Zee tells him it is for
the best; the Kandorians were without initiative, being cared for by Superman
for years, and now they have a chance to build a new city through their
own efforts, and even conquer a world. Superman asks to be allowed
to stay and help them build. Van-Zee, regretting what he must do,
knocks Superman unconscious, loads him in the spacecraft, and has Supergirl
fly them both into space. Seconds later, since the world the Kandorians
have chosen is a phase-world, it slips into another dimension with the
shifting of the Cosmic Axis.
Action Comics No. 498
August 1979
Cover: Vartox (as Superman) heading towards explosion as Clark Kent
and Lana Lang watch //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “The Catastrophic Man” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#170)
GS: Vartox (last appearance in issue #476)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#12), Steve Lombard (between DC COMICS PRESENTS #13 / 14), Morgan Edge
(last appearance in SUPERMAN #338; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #197),
Josh Coyle (next appears in issue #502)
Intro: Rodney Smathers (only appearance)
Other characters: People of Valeron (all die in this story)
Villains: Two alien robots (destroyed in this story)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: When Vartox’s planet, Valeron, explodes, the alien hero comes
to Earth to live, and Superman gets him a job as security guard at WGBS.
But Vartox soon learns that he may be the destruction of Earth, as well.
Action Comics No. 499
September 1979
Cover: Superman taking off and being grabbed by people //Ross Andru
/ Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “As the World Turns For the Last Time” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #197)
GS: Vartox (next appears in SUPERMAN #356)
Supporting Characters: Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane (last appearance for
both in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #258; both next appear in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#197), Lana Lang (next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #197), Perry White (last
appearance in SUPERMAN #338; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #197)
Intro: Jennifer, Amos (only apearance for both)
Cameo: Jor-El (in flashback)
Comment: This story continues from the last issue.
Synopsis: Vartox and Superman must find a way to counteract a deadly
chain-reaction taking place within Earth’s atmosphere, or the human race
is doomed.
Superman Family No. 197
September-October 1979
Cover: Supergirl vs. Theodore Marshall; Superboy changing into Bovra;
Jimmy Olsen and self-typing typewriter; Clark Kent with Mynah bird; Lois
Lane with letter (five vignettes) //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (signed)
Story: “Clark Kent’s Mynah Dilemma” (8 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Dave Hunt
Letterer: Albert DeGuzman
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Clark Kent (Superman; last appearance in ACTION
COMICS #499)
Supporting Character: May Marigold (as a voice; last appearance in
SUPERMAN #297; next appears in ACTION COMICS #508)
Intro: Samantha (a Mynah bird; only appearance)
Villains: Two killers (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Clark Kent gets a gift of a Mynah bird from May Marigold,
and it promply repeats the phrase, “Clark Kent is Superman.”
Story: “The Daughter Who Came C.O.D.” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Bob Oskner
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Shelly Leferman
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Lois Lane (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #499;
next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #14)
GS: Superman (next appears in WORLD OF KRYPTON #1)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #499)
Intro: Timothy Swift, Betty Swift, Sandra Swift (only appearance for
all)
Villains: Rosa Redmark, Madge, and their two henchwomen (first and
only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Lois Lane unearths a gang who kidnaps runaway girls and uses
them to extort money from their parents.
Story: “The Ghost Writer Riddle” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Don Heck
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #499;
next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #14)
Supporting Characters: Perry White (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#499; next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #14), Morgan Edge (last appearance
in ACTION COMICS #498; next appears in SUPERMAN #339)
Intro: Kelsy (only appearance)
Villains: Thornton, Chester, Leroy, Prentiss (first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: A self-typing typewriter leads Jimmy Olsen to a plot to murder
everyone in the WGBS building.
World of Krypton No. 1
July 1979
Cover: Superman attending the wedding of Jor-El and Lara on Krypton
//Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “The Jor-El Story” (23 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Paul Kupperberg
Penciller: Howard Chaykin
Inker: Murphy Anderson
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Characters: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #197;
also appears, in flashback, isochronally with SUPERMAN #141), Jor-El (in
flashback; first chronological appearance; appears isochronally with many
other stories; see Comment under MORE FUN COMICS #101), Lara Jor-El (in
flashback; first chronological appearance; appears isochronally with many
other stories; see Comment under MORE FUN COMICS #101)
Supporting Characters: Jor-El I (last chronological appearance in SUPERMAN
#103), Nim-El (earliest chronological appearance), Kim-Da (earliest chronological
appearance; next chronological appearance in World of Krypton story in
SUPERMAN #233; also appears isochronally with that story), Ral-En (first
chronological appearance; next chronological appearance in flashback in
SUPERMAN #154), Nor-Kann (first chronological appearance; next chronological
appearance in SUPERMAN #158), General Zod (first chronological appearance;
next chronological appearance in / appears isochronally with World of Krypton
story in SUPERMAN #233; then appears in flashback in PHANTOM ZONE #1 and
ADVENTURE COMICS #283), Jax-Ur (isochronally with World of Krypton story
in SUPERMAN #234)
Intro: Director Ven, Professor Dal
Villains: Kru-El (first chronological appearance; next chronological
appearance in flashback in PHANTOM ZONE #1), Tron-Et, Nali-Ilv (both isochronally
with World of Krypton story in SUPERMAN #234), Anr-Mu (isochronally with
World of Krypton story in SUPERMAN #246)
Comment: The present-day portion of this story takes place on September
23, 1978. The flashback portions take place from 1 Norzec 9982 -
47 Ullhah 9997.
Portions of this story are retold from World of Krypton stories
in SUPERMAN #233, 234, and 246, and from SUPERMAN #141.
All characters except for Superman in the present-day portion
of this story appear in flashback.
This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Superman listens to a taped diary of Jor-El’s found on the
Moon years ago. In it, he hears his father speak of his early childhood,
how he became a scientist and discovered a system of anti-gravity propulsion,
how he met Lara Lor-Van, how he invented the Phantom Zone ray, and how
he and Lara were married--an event Superman remembers, since he attended
it.
World of Krypton No. 2
August 1979
Cover: Superman and Jor-El watching Brainiac’s spaceship shrink and
abduct Kandor //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “This Planet Is Doomed” (1 page)
Part 1: “Apocalypse” (5 pages)
Part 2: “Endings...Beginnings...” (10 pages)
Part 3: “The Legacy” (7 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Paul Kupperberg
Penciller: Howard Chaykin
Inker: Murphy Anderson
Letterer: Shelly Leferman
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Characters: Superman (also appears in flashback, isochronally
with SUPERMAN #141, and as baby Kal-El (see Comment under MORE FUN COMICS
#101 for chronology)), Jor-El (in flashback; see Comment under MORE FUN
COMICS #101 for chronology), Lara Jor-El (in flashback; see Comment under
MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology)
Supporting Characters: Jor-El I (dies in this story), Nor-Kann, Kim-Da
(next chronological appearance in ACTION COMICS #242), Nim-El, Director
Ven, Rol-Nac (isochronally with flashback in ACTION COMICS #378; next appears
in ACTION COMICS #378)
Intro: Dr. Gaf, Amn, Ni-Van, Dr. Mar-Ko (only appearance for all)
Villains: Brainiac (isochronally with SUPERMAN #141), Gra-Mo (isochronally
flashback in SUPERBOY #104), Jax-Ur (last appearance in last issue / World
of Krypton story in SUPERMAN #234; also appears isochronally with flashback
in SUPERBOY #117)
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
All characters except Superman in the present-day portions of
this story appear in flashback.
The flashback portions of this story take place from 2 Hefralt
9997 - 67 Eorx 9999.
Synopsis: Jor-El goes on to relate succeeding events in his life: the
death of his father in an accident; his discovery that Krypton was doomed
to explode; his frustrating attempts to convince Krypton of its impending
destruction; the creation of his space-ark in Kandor, which was stolen
along with the city by Brainiac; Superman’s leaving Krypton, followed by
the birth of his son Kal-El; the demonstration of the Phantom Zone ray;
the discovery of a Krull ship, which was subsequently destroyed during
the incident in which Jax-Ur blew up an inhabited moon of Krypton; and
the exiling of Jax-Ur to the Phantom Zone.
World of Krypton No. 3
September 1979
Cover: Superman observing destruction of Krypton and Kal-El being rocketed
away //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “The Last Days of Krypton” (20 pages)
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell
Writer: Paul Kupperberg
Penciller: Howard Chaykin
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Characters: Superman (next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #14;
also appears, in flashback, as baby Kal-El and Superbaby; see Comment under
MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology), Jor-El, Lara (in flashback; see Comment
under MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology; both die in this story)
GA: Krypto, Beppo (see Comment under MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology
for both), Mon-El (isochronally with flashback in SUPERBOY #89)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent (see Comment under
MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology)
Intro: Ran-Dar, Par-Es (first appearance and last chronological appearance;
appears in SUPERMAN #375 (2) between pg. 5, panel 2 / pg. 8, panel 2)
Villains: Jax-Ur (next chronological appearance in SUPERBOY #104),
General Zod (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #283 flashback; appears
isochronally with ADVENTURE COMICS #283, pg. 10, panel 2; next chronological
appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #293), Faora Hu-Ul (last chronological appearance
in flashback in PHANTOM ZONE #1; next chronological appearance in NEW ADVENTURES
OF SUPERBOY #9), Kru-El (last chronological appearance in flashback in
PHANTOM ZONE #1; next chronological appearance in ACTION COMICS #402 (2)),
Fel-Kar (first appearance; next appears in SUPERMAN #375 (2)
Comments: This story continues from last issue.
All characters in this story except Superman appear in flashbacks.
The present day portion of this story takes place on May 17,
1979.
The past portions of this story take place from 67 Eorx, 9999
- 39 Ogtal, 10,000.
Shortly after this story, Superman battles Superboy in DC COMICS
PRESENTS #14.
Synopsis: Superman finishes reviewing the Jor-El history tapes, during
which his father speaks of exiling Jax-Ur and other criminals to the Phantom
Zone, of accidentally sending Krypto into space in a test rocket, of finding
a Krull spaceship engine and adapting it to his needs, of sending the Phantom
Zone projector into space when he was almost tricked into liberating the
Zoners, of helping Mon-El escape Krypton’s doom, and, finally, of sending
Kal-El away in a rocket as Krypton exploded. Superman recalls the
story of how he was found and adopted by the Kents, but affirms that he
will never forget Krypton.
Superman No. 339
September 1979
Cover: Lois Lane, metallic Superman, Sidney, and shadow of N.R.G.-X
//Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “Nuclear Nightmare” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#14)
Supporting Characters: Mrs. Goldstein (between issues #296 / 393),
Lois Lane (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS #14), Laura Conway (last
appearance in ACTION COMICS #493; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #207),
Morgan Edge (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY #197; next appears in ACTION
COMICS #501)
Intro: Stacy Macklin (only appearance), Laurel Kenyon, Sidney, CURE
(Committee for the Unconditional Regulation of Energy)
Villains: N.R.G.-X (Nuclear Radiation Generator Experimental; Grant
Haskill), Ray Ryker (first appearance for both)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: A mishap at a nuclear reactor transfers the mind of a scientist
into the body of a robot, who confronts Superman and changes him into a
being of steel.
Superman No. 340
October 1979
Cover: Superman vs. N.R.G.-X //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (signed)
Story: “The Night of the Walking Bomb” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in ACTION COMICS #500)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane, Lana Lang (both next appear in ACTION
COMICS #500)
Other Characters: Sidney, Laurel Kenyon, CURE (last appearance for
all)
Villains: N.R.G.-X (destroyed in this story), Grant Haskill, Ray Ryker
(last appearance for both)
Comment: This story continues from last issue.
Synopsis: Superman discovers he has merely been covered by a steel
shell, breaks out of it, and defeats N.R.G.-X, which self-destructs.
Grant Haskill is left comatose.
Action Comics No. 500
October 1979
Cover: Superman, Lois Lane, and Supergirl opening this issue (infinity
cover); repros of covers of issues #44, 295, 1, 435, undetermined, 23,
426, 484, and 285 //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Back cover: Kal-El’s rocket escaping exploding Krypton; repros of covers
of issues #100, 200, 300, and 400 //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano
Story: “The Life Story of Superman”
Prologue (6 pages)
Part 1: “Planet On the Edge of Oblivion” (10 pages)
Part 2: “A Legend Is Born” (21 pages)
Part 3: “Call Me Superman” (27 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #340; next
appears in flashback in issue #524; also appears in flashback as baby Kal-El,
Superbaby, and Superboy; see Comment under MORE FUN COMICS #101, Superboy’s
Interim Appearances, and Superman’s Interim Appearances for chronology;
origin retold in detail)
Supporting Characters: Jor-El, Lara (both die in this story), Jonathan
Kent, Martha Kent (all in flashback; see Comment under MORE FUN COMICS
#101 and Superboy’s Interim Appearances for chronology), Lois Lane (last
appearance in SUPERMAN #340; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #259),
Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS #14; next appears in
WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #259), Perry White (last appearance in DC COMICS
PRESENTS #14; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #198), Lana Lang (last appearance
in SUPERMAN #340), Steve Lombard (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#14), Mayor Harkness
GA: Clark Kent robot
Intro: Robert J. Arngrim (next appears in issue #524)
Cameo appearances: Sun Boy, Ultra Boy, Element Lad, Mon-El, Colossal
Boy, Shrinking Violet, Light Lass, Phantom Girl, Tyroc, Jax-Ur, Kru-El,
Clark Kent robot, Superman robot, Supergirl, Lori Lemaris, Toyman, Parasite,
Brainiac, Koko, Van-Zee, Kandorians, Morgan Edge, Josh Coyle, Krypto
Villains: Lex Luthor (last appearance in issue #486; next appears in
issue #510), a Superman clone (first appearance; next appears in issue
#524), a Robert J. Arngrim clone (first and only appearance)
Comments: Besides the isochronal appearances covered in the chronologies
and interim appearances, here are some other incidents presented in the
story:
Superboy meets Krypto (pg. 32, panels 2, 4, 5; same time as ADVENTURE
COMICS #210)
Jonathan and Martha Kent are rejuvenated (pg. 34, panels 1-2;
same time as SUPERBOY #145)
Clark Kent’s graduation from college (pg. 39, panel 2; same time
as SUPERMAN: THE SECRET YEARS #4)
Supergirl’s arrival on Earth (pg. 43, panel 1; same time as ACTION
COMICS #252)
Supergirl’s public debut (pg. 43, panel 2: same time as ACTION
COMICS #285)
Brainiac with Kandor (pg. 46, panel 1; same time as ACTION COMICS
#242)
Superman enlarges Kandor (pg. 46, panels 3-6; same time as SUPERMAN
#338)
Clark Kent is made a TV news anchorman by Morgan Edge (pg. 48,
panel 2: same time as SUPERMAN #233)
Origin of Lex Luthor (pg. 57, panels 2-4; same time as ADVENTURE
COMICS #271)
Shortly after this story, Superman teams with Batman to stem
a tide of immigration to Metropolis in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #259, then
teams with the Atom to fight Sabromian outlaws in DC COMICS PRESENTS #15,
then, along with the rest of the Justice League, attends the almost-wedding
of Green Lantern and Kari Limbo in GREEN LANTERN #122-123.
Synopsis: While Superman is dedicating the Superman Pavillion at the
Metropolis World’s Fair by retelling the story of his life, Lex Luthor
is secretly creating a Superman clone which will do his own bidding.
Superman No. 341
November 1979
Cover: Clark Kent struck by lightning bolt as J. Wilbur Wolfingham
sells amulets; Superman poster //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “The Man Who Could Cause Catastrophe” (10 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in GREEN LANTERN #122)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST
COMICS #259; next appears in ACTION COMICS #501), Jimmy Olsen (last appearance
in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #259; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #198)
Cameo appearance: Green Lantern
Villains: Major Disaster (last appearance in KAMANDI #58; next appears
in ACTION COMICS #509), Wilbur Wolfingham (of Earth-One; first appearance)
Synopsis: Major Disaster causes disasters to drain off excess energy
from his body and to transfer it into Superman’s body, intending to destroy
the Man of Steel with it.
Story: “The Man Who Could Cancel Catastrophe” (7 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character: Superman (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#171)
Supporting Characters: Frank Jackson (last appearance in ACTION COMICS
#474; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #204)
Villain: J. Wilbur Wolfingham (of Earth-One; first appearance; next
appears in ACTION COMICS #573)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman helps the Justice League
and Justice Society uncover the murderer of Mr. Terrific in JUSTICE LEAGUE
OF AMERICA #171-172.
Synopsis: Con-man J. Wilbur Wolfingham is selling amulets which, he
says, will teleport the wearer to safety if disaster strikes, but Superman
decides to put the product to the test.
Action Comics No. 501
November 1979
Cover: Superman (with Clark Kent glasses) walking out of flying saucer
as Lois Lane, Morgan Edge, Perry White, and Jimmy Olsen watch //Ross
Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “The Mystery of the Mild-Mannered Superman” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Joe Giella
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#172; next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #16)
Supporting Characters: Steve Lombard (next appears in SUPERMAN #346),
Morgan Edge (between SUPERMAN #339 / 344), Lois Lane (last appearance in
SUPERMAN #341; next appears in SUPERMAN FAMILY #198), Lana Lang (next appears
in SUPERMAN #342)
Intro: Dr. Robert Bartlee (first appearance; next appears in SUPERMAN
#360), Fred (only appearance)
Villains: The Superman Revenge Squad (including Muka (first and only
appearance); last appearance in issue #445; next appear in SUPERMAN #365)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman teams with Black Lightning
to fight an energy-creature in DC COMICS PRESENTS #16.
Synopsis: A psychologist’s attempts to beef up Clark Kent’s self-image
backfire when Clark gains the heroic qualities of Superman and Superman,
facing the Superman Revenge Squad, takes on the cowardice of Clark.
Superman Family No. 198
November-December 1979
Cover: Supergirl witnessing Brad Reynolds’s abduction by flying saucer;
Superboy spritzed by liquid Kryptonite; Lois Lane on skates chasing Bobbi
on motorcycle; Jimmy Olsen and Phantom; Clark Kent and Lois Lane of Earth-Two
looking at leaning Daily Star building (five vignettes) //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
(signed)
Story: “Phantom of the Opry” (10 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in SUPERMAN #341)
Supporting Characters: Barbara Bench (last appearance in issue #191;
last appearance), Lois Lane (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #501), Perry
White (last appearance in ACTION COMICS #500)
Intro: Stella (only appearance)
Cameo appearance: Penny Sue Klemmer (in a photograph; first appearance;
dies before this story begins)
Villains: Hank Rogers, Winston J. Cartwright, Catherine Sloan St. James
(first and only appearance for all)
Comment: This story continues in part in the Lois Lane story in this
issue.
Synopsis: Jimmy Olsen investigates the murder of a country singer’s
wife and a mysterious figure menacing a country music theater in Metropolis.
Story: “The Riddle of the Runaway Rocket” (10 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Bob Oskner
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Shelly Leferman
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Lois Lane (next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #16)
Supporting Characters: Perry White (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST
COMICS #260), Jimmy Olsen (next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS #16)
Intro: Regi Williams (dies in this story), the Rockets (a Roller Derby
team; including Wani), Louie (only appearance for all)
Villain: Bobbi (first and only appearance)
Comment: This story continues in part from the Jimmy Olsen story in
this issue.
Synopsis: Lois Lane joins the Roller Derby to investigate a story and
winds up investigating a murder.
Superman No. 342
December 1979
Cover: Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane seeing Superman trapped in isolation
booth //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “Hero Under Glass” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#16; next appears in ACTION COMICS #502)
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen (last appearance for
both in DC COMICS PRESENTS #16; both next appear in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#260), Dr. Jenet Klyburn (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS #8; next
appears in issue #347), Lana Lang (between ACTION COMICS #501 / 502)
Villains: Chemo (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS #4; next appears
in issue #370), Harry and other bank robbers (first and only appearance
for all)
Comment: In this story, Lana Lang tells Superman that she has given
up hope of trying to have him as a love interest.
Synopsis: Thanks to a pollution cloud released into the atmosphere
by STAR Labs, Superman must exist inside a glass isolation booth, and Chemo
has chosen the moment to attack Metropolis.
Action Comics No. 502
December 1979
Cover: Supergirl watching Superman battle Galactic Golem image
on viewscreen //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: "Fall and Rise of the Star-Child" (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Gene D'Angelo
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in SUPERMAN #342;
next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #260)
GS: Supergirl (between SUPERMAN FAMILY #198 / 199)
Cameo: The Parasite, the Galactic Golem (as images or a disguise)
Intro: The Dyrlians (no appearance; as a taped message), Rovos,
Rob Geller (only appearance for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superman teams with Batman to fight
the Smadanians in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #260.
Synopsis: An alien race, the Dyrlians, selects Superman and Supergirl
to be the surrogate parents of Rovos, a synthetically-born child who will
grow to maturity in a day. The child develops mentally and physically
under their care, but seems to have no emotions. To remedy this,
Superman feigns a battle with the Galactic Golem and the Parasite, which
Supergirl and Rovos
watch on a viewscreen. Rovos experiences love, hate, joy, pride,
fear, grief, and courage during the battle and when he sees the "Parasite"
unmasked as Superman. Rovos even laughs at the
absurdity of it all. Superman tells him that the Dyrlians, who
abandoned their organic bodies long ago to put their minds in android bodies,
had gradually lost their emotions and needed Rovos to experience them and,
unwittingly, transmit them back to his creators. Supergirl admits
that they are going to miss him, and Rovos, shedding tears, says that he
will miss them as well.
Superman No. 343
January 1980
Cover: Superman and Moximus //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “The Last Days of Metropolis” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character: Superman (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#260; next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #173)
Supporting Characters: Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST
COMICS #260; next appears in ACTION COMICS #503), Lois Lane, Perry White
(last appearance for both in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #260; both next appear
in SUPERMAN FAMILY #199), Prof. Lewis Lang (last appearance in SUPERMAN’S
GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE #99; next appears in issue #362)
Cameo appearance: Batman
Villain: Moximus (first and only appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story, Superman helps the Justice League
try to induct Black Lightning and fight the Regulator in JUSTICE LEAGUE
OF AMERICA #173-174, then teams with Firestorm to battle Killer Frost in
DC COMICS PRESENTS #17.
Synopsis: A sorceror from ancient Pompeii is revived in modern times,
thinks Superman is a menace, and magically imprisons him within a missile
set to destroy Metropolis.