Action Comics, #77

Published: October 1944

Cover

Action Comics #77

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Issue Contents:
1 page superhero

"Got a match, Superman?"

Characters
  • Superman [Clark Kent]
  • The Prankster
Credits
Editorial Advisory Board
Story 1 0 pages
Story Notes

Inside front cover.

Featuring Action Comics; Detective Comics; All Funny Comics

Story 2 1 page

"Want action?"

Story Notes

Inside front cover.

The Headline Hoax!
Story 3 12 pages superhero

"The Daily Planet prints a million newspapers a day, every one alike."

Storyline

The Prankster disguises himself as a blind news dealer and manufactures Daily Planet headlines to con certain people so that he can make a profit off of them!

Characters
  • Superman [Clark Kent]
  • Perry White
  • Lois Lane
  • Amos Amster
  • Thomas Todd
  • Joe
  • The Prankster
Credits
Story Notes

Siegel script credit from John Wells. Previously credited to Don Cameron. Action Archives credits this story to Don Cameron as well. Credits changed to match Siegel's records: Siegel and Shuster v. National Comics Publications, Inc. et al., case no. 1099 (Westchester Cty. Sup. Ct. 1947). Oddity: in the last panel of page 10, Prankster is reading a copy of "The Daily Star" (the first newspaper Clark Kent worked for).

Story 4 1 page humor

"I'm sorry, Sirs!"

The Punctured Picture!
Story 5 5 pages humor; detective-mystery

"Only a person mean and mephitic..."

Characters
  • Hayfoot Henry
Credits
Story Notes

Alvin Schwartz script credit and Stan Kaye pencils credit removed by Craig Delich. The Who's Who lists Alvin Schwartz as writer only from 1946-48 and Stan Kaye only as inker in 1944. The text is written in rhyming couplets.

Story 6 1 page

"Mind if I join you?"

Credits
The Rainbow Man Sees Red!
Story 7 10 pages adventure; superhero

"You've met that slickest scoundrel in the spectrum of crime, The Rainbow Man..."

Storyline

The Rainbow Man, while in prison, fakes a debilitating illness. The warden calls in Vigilante to talk to him, but the villain is present in the room disguised as a doctor. Escaping, he then disguises himself as the Mystic Masked Marvel in the Royal Order of Scarlet Tanagars. At the climax of their parade through the streets, Rainbow Man demands the jeweled statue which is to be presented to their illustrious past president. His imperious manner prevails and he drives away with it. Vigilante sets a trap based on the realization that Rainbow Man is now colorblind.

Characters
  • The Vigilante [Greg Sanders]
  • Stuff, the Chinatown Kid
  • The Rainbow Man (villain)
  • Spike (convict)
  • Egghead (convict)
Credits
Story 8 1 page humor

"That must have been put there to keep the kids off!"

Characters
  • Clancy
Story Notes

Writer credit added by Craig Delich.

Story 9 1 page

"Are you a good American?"

Outsmarting a Saboteur!
Story 10 1 page adventure
The Leaping Leopard!
Story 11 6 pages adventure; jungle

"Congo Bill comes home after roaming the strange, far corners of the earth!"

Storyline

Bill exposes a jewel thief who has been disguising himself as a leopard, hoping that escaped circus animals will be blamed for his attacks.

Characters
  • Congo Bill
  • Jack Blane
  • Farbach
  • Zollini
Credits
You Can Save His Life!
Story 12 0 pages advocacy
Terror's Victim
Story 13 2 pages adventure
Credits
Story 14 1 page
The Pranks of Pan!
Story 15 8 pages adventure; fantasy

"In the olden days, Pan was supposed to live on Mount Olympus."

Storyline

The ancient god Pan, in the human guise of a curio shop owner, lets Jim Baker have a rare old coin on approval. Little realizing that the coin will manifest anything he says - a chauffeur-driven car, a mansion, a ship - a scared Baker turns to Zatara for help. Pan outwits him, but Zatara prevails and by the magical power of the coin, turns Pan into steam and forever banishes him from the earth.

Characters
  • Zatara [Giovanni "John" Zatara]
  • Pan
  • Jim Baker
  • Rocky Clark (crook)
Credits
Story 16 1 page
Story Notes

Inside back cover.

Story 17 1 page
Story Notes

Back cover.