Action Comics, #86

Published: July 1945

Cover

Action Comics #86

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Issue Contents:
7th War Loan
1 page superhero

"And it isn't Superman who's doing this --"

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

Inside front cover.

People Like to Laugh!

Featuring Buzzy; All Funny Comics; Real Screen Funnies

Story 2 1 page
Story Notes

Inside front cover.

The Enchanted Mountain!
Story 3 11 pages superhero

"There was an age of ignorance..."

Storyline

In the distant past, the small town of Morabia stands in the shadow of the Shaggy Mountains of south-eastern Europe. Miraculously, a castle appears atop a nearby mountain - that of the long-absent Wizard of Wokit. The terrified villagers cry out for a savior. Superman himself flies to their aid. On flying towards the castle, the wizard transforms into a giant falcon and they fight. After many tussles Superman destroys the mountain and the castle. In the present, Lois reads the story from a secondhand book she has bought. It is she who has transposed Superman for the champion of the village.

Characters
  • Superman [Clark Kent]
  • the Wizard of Wokit
  • Lois Lane
Credits
  • Script:
  • Pencils:
  • Inks:
Story Notes

The splash page suggests that that the story may have happened or it may not. In fact, an early "imaginary story" which later became a staple of the feature.

Story 4 1 page humor; sports

"Wish the boss would shift me to left field..."

Credits
Story 5 1 page
Mysterious Marauder!
Story 6 6 pages adventure; jungle

"Deep in the steaming jungles of India..."

Storyline

While in India visiting a friend, Bill discovers a gang that's throwing travelers into a tiger pit with a hungry tiger.

Characters
  • Congo Bill
  • Gul Khan
  • Blake
  • Randall
Credits
Story 7 0 pages advocacy

"Do y'want me to get really mad?!?"

Story 8 1 page
Orient of the Occident!
Story 9 10 pages adventure; superhero; western-frontier

"Let a man's skin have a slightly different tint..."

Storyline

In Chinatown Greg and Stuff spot a tour bus and hear the guide spouting racist comments about the inhabitants. Unscrupulous occidental crooks prey on people by claiming to be part of the Tien Pu Tong, and demanding payment for perceived insults under penalty of death. The Vigilante and Stuff put paid to their scheme, but not before Stuff plays a bluff and threatens the lives of the crooks with Tong vengeance.

Characters
  • The Vigilante [Greg Sanders]
  • Stuff, the Chinatown Kid
  • Wang Shi
Credits
Story Notes

Published some months prior to the dropping of atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, this is a rare comic story which condemns racial bigotry in all forms and makes a plea for tolerance.

Story 10 1 page
In the Cards
Story 11 2 pages adventure
Credits
The Pyrotechnician!
Story 12 5 pages humor; detective-mystery

"In this Sleepyside tale a burning jail..."

Characters
  • Hayfoot Henry
Credits
Story Notes

Schwartz script credit removed by Craig Delich. The Who's Who states that Schwartz wrote this strip from 1946-48. The text is written in rhyming couplets.

Story 13 1 page
Crime -- Off the Record!
Story 14 8 pages adventure; fantasy; superhero

"When a crook says he's through with crime..."

Storyline

Zatara makes an appearance at the parole hearing of Butch Baker. Taking the convict aside he tells Butch that he will have a hard time committing crimes on the outside. When Butch reverts to his old larcenous ways, he feels the presence of Zatara nearby and succumbs to his magical manifestations.

Characters
  • Zatara [Giovanni "John" Zatara]
  • Butch Baker
Credits
Story 15 1 page
Story 16 1 page humor

"Working on a big case, no doubt!"

Credits
Story Notes

On the inside back cover.

Story 17 1 page

"Are you a good American?"

Story Notes

Inside back cover.

Story 18 1 page humor; military

"Oops, pardon us, ladies!"

Credits
Story Notes

Back cover.