Action Comics, #42
Published: November 1941
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Issue Contents:
Another Message to Our Readers
Story Notes
Inside front cover.
City in the Stratosphere (1)
"Always on the alert to help someone in need is..."
Storyline
A series of strange disappearances of prominent men in the city of Metropolis makes Clark Kent believe the kidnappings weren't under ordinary circumstances. When, as Superman, he tries to get information from local mobsters, they are suddenly destroyed by a ray out of the blue. He later discovers that Luthor built a giant city in the sky, and the arch for then hypnotizes Superman into doing his bidding.
Characters
- Superman [Clark Kent]
- Perry White
- Lois Lane
- Jimmy Olsen [cameo]
- Carl Bransom
- Nick Flaerty
- John Standing
- Freeman Chase
- Luthor [as Zytal] (villain, bald)
- Jake Mobray (villain, death) Dirk Chadwick (villain, death)
Credits
- Script: Jerry Siegel
- Pencils: Leo Nowak
- Inks: Joe Caramagna
Story Notes
Art credits by Craig Delich and Bob Hughes. We formerly credited John Sikela (pencils) and Ed Dobrtoka (inks). The Archives credit the art to John Sikela.
Supermen of America
Characters
- Superman
Story Notes
"Third Prize Winner" in Superman's Super Contest is George Kashdan (b. May 17, 1928 – d.June 3, 2006). He worked at DC Comics from the mid-1940s until 1968 as a writer and editor. GCD has credits for him from 1947 until 1988.
Superman Krypto-Raygun
Characters
- Superman
The Origin of the Vigilante (1)
Storyline
At his execution, Killer Kelly tells Vigilante that he will come back from the grave, but he has really just bribed the prison doctor to lower the voltage. Greg Sanders, rodeo man, is met by Betty Stuart, a blues singer, after a rodeo, and he learns that Killer Kelly is loose. At his home, Greg dons the costume of the Vigilante and heads to the costume ball of Van Ardsley. When Killer Kelly bashes the party, the Vigilante has to rope them in.
Characters
- The Vigilante [Greg Sanders] (introduction, origin)
- Killer Kelly
- Betty Stuart
- Van Ardsley
Credits
- Script: Mort Weisinger
- Pencils: Mort Meskin
- Inks: Mort Meskin
The Ship Spies (1)
"Somewhere in the Mediterranean, two swarthy pirates plot..."
Storyline
A cutthroat pretends to be an escaped fugitive to get close to Jon Valor. Bonnie is suspicious, however.
Characters
- The Black Pirate [Jon Valor]
- Bonnie
- unnamed cutthroats (villains)
Credits
- Pencils: Sheldon Moldoff
- Inks: Sheldon Moldoff
Story Notes
Strip is continued in Sensation Comics #1.
Still at the Top!
Featuring Superman; Star Spangled Comics
Revolution in Central America! (1)
Storyline
On their way back from South America, the Aces find themselves in the middle of a Central American revolution. A man named Miguel Miranda takes their planes for the war, and the Aces have to figure out a way to get them back.
Characters
- Three Aces [Fog Fortune
- Gunner Bill
- Whistler Will]
- Miguel Miranda (villain)
Credits
- Script: Gardner Fox
- Pencils: Chad Grothkopf
- Inks: Chad Grothkopf
Story Notes
Writer credit added by Craig Delich.
Superman Is in the Movies!
Characters
- Superman
The Origin of Fatman (1)
"No fury like a woman scorned?"
Storyline
Mr. America goes out to investigate a strange lack of crime, but Bob is ordered to stay in. Feeling deserted, Bob creates the identity of Fatman. At Tex's headquarters, he develops a way to transform his cape into a magic flying carpet. Fatman stumbles upon the plans of the Queen Bee to steal radium.
Characters
- Mr. America [Tex Thomson]
- Fatman [Bob Daley] (origin as Fatman)
- The Queen Bee (villain)
Credits
- Script: Ken Fitch
- Pencils: Bernard Baily
- Inks: Bernard Baily
Story Notes
1st uses cape as a flying carpet. Writer credit by Jerry Bails.
Missing Masterpiece
"That night the guns of the invader..."
Characters
- Peter Projak
- Frau Projak
Credits
- Script: Sidney Drew
Dead or Alive
"Killer Manon's body was lying, face down, near the big oak tree."
Characters
- Killer Manon
Credits
- Script: Lorenzo Pieri
- Pencils: Stan Kaye
- Inks: Stan Kaye
Story Notes
Several small ads.
Featuring Jokes
"He won't drop them..."
Characters
- John
- McGurk
Credits
- Script: Henry Boltinoff
- Pencils: Henry Boltinoff
- Inks: Henry Boltinoff
Story Notes
3 gags. Writer credit added by Craig Delich.
What a Cast!
Featuring More Fun Comics
Newcomer!
Featuring Prize Comics
"Blazing a path through miles of treacherous jungle-land on his way to the coast, Congo Bill signals his safari to halt."
Storyline
In the jungle, Congo Bill's safari comes across a white man being buried alive by a native and attempts to stop him, only to be informed that he's just ruined a shot in an adventure film. Talking with the director, Hugo Von Eller, Bill finds out that the production has been plagued with problems. Sheila agrees to stand in for a sick actress, but the problems continue.
Characters
- Congo Bill
- Sheila Hanlen
- Professor James Kent
- Hugo Von Eller
- Winters
- Tomkins (villain)
Black Fire by Corvelle Newcomb
"From slave boy to king!"
Characters
- Henri Christophe
Credits
- Script: Paul J. Bolger
New Films for Your Superman Krypto-Raygun
Storyline
Ad by Daisy Mfg. Co.
Different!
Featuring Adventure Comics
Action! Thrills!
The Man Who Could Control Minds (1)
"The master magician wages a war of wills against..."
Storyline
Zatara spots the Tigress and Frosty Parke and decides to follow them. He catches them trying to rob a bank and quickly stops them, putting Frosty into the hospital. There, Frosty uses an experiment that allows him to control men's minds, and somehow the power is transferred into him. He escapes and meets with Tigress to continue their crime spree. Zatara discovers Frosty's new power and investigates.
Characters
- Zatara
- The Tigress (villain)
- Frosty Parke (villain)
Credits
- Script: Gardner Fox
- Pencils: Norman Boyd
- Inks: Norman Boyd
Choose Your Prize
Story Notes
Inside back cover.
Plenty of Energy
Story Notes
Back cover.