Action Comics, #16
Published: September 1939
Cover
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Issue Contents:
Credits
- Pencils: Fred Guardineer
- Inks: Fred Guardineer
Featuring All-American Comics; Movie Comics
Story Notes
Inside front cover.
Superman and the Numbers Racket (1)
"Racing high over the darkened city, is a fantastic..."
Storyline
After a run-in with a gambler who is opting out for suicide, and a Police Commissioner who won't deal with the city's gambling problem, Superman decides to wage a one-man war himself against gambling and aid the victims of it.
Characters
- Police Commissioner Watson
- Marty Kaye (Villain)
- Butch (Villain)
- Nick (Villain)
- Pete (Villain)
- Jack O'Leary
Credits
- Script: Jerry Siegel
- Pencils: Joe Shuster
- Inks: Paul Cassidy (uncertain)
Story Notes
Note and synopsis added by Craig Delich.
Superman at the New York World's Fair!
Featuring New York World's Fair Comics
Story Notes
On the last panel of Superman story.
Mexico Honors Philatelists; New French Stamp; Philatelic Truck on Tour; Child Welfare Set (1)
"Mexico's promised set in honor of the World Wide Convention of..."
Story Notes
Page includes several small ads from stamps dealers.
Babe Risko, Casey Stengel, Joe Medwick (1)
"Risko entered the Navy when he was sixteen and..."
Characters
- Babe Risko
- Casey Stengel
- Joe Medwick
Credits
- Pencils: Sheldon Moldoff
- Inks: Sheldon Moldoff
Bodyguard (1)
"Well, Pep."
Storyline
Mr. Smith hires Pep as a bodyguard for his daughter.
Characters
- Mr. Smith
- Mary Smith
- Antone
- Slim
- Slug
Credits
- Script: Gardner Fox
- Pencils: Fred Guardineer
- Inks: Fred Guardineer
Story Notes
Continued in next issue. Writer credit added by Craig Delich.
Episode 16 (1)
"After rescuing his father..."
Storyline
Marco continues to elude those who tried to enslave him.
Characters
- Abu-El-Kaf
Credits
- Pencils: Sven Elven
- Inks: Sven Elven
- Letters: Sven Elven
Story Notes
Letterer credit added by Craig Delich.
The Pharaoh's Treasure, Part 3 (1)
"What do you do here, defilers of the tomb?"
Characters
- Jim Blake
- Sgt. Beatty
Credits
- Script: Bill Finger
- Pencils: Bob Kane
- Inks: Bob Kane
Story Notes
Writer credit added by Craig Delich.
"Supermen of America -- Here's a special free prize offer..."
Characters
- Superman
Tex Thomson, Double Agent (1)
"As our story opens, Tex Thomson, Bob Daley and Tex's new valet..."
Credits
- Script: Ken Fitch (uncertain)
- Pencils: Bernard Baily
- Inks: Bernard Baily
- Letters: Bernard Baily
Story Notes
Gargantua T. Potts - a racial stereotype typical of the period - becomes Tex's valet. In the final panel he says, 'Before we does anything - ah'm going out to buy a copy of Action Comics and join the Supermen Club [sic].' Letterer credit added by Craig Delich. Signed by Baily on page 10.
Treasure Hunt [Part 2]
"Tubby and Hank, two boys in their middle teens, decide to hunt for..."
Characters
- Tubby
- Hank
- Captain Roberts
Credits
- Script: Guydo
Trouble at the Box-M (1)
"Chuck Dawson's black stallion tops the steep..."
Storyline
Chuck is framed for the murder of Jim Mason.
Characters
- Blacky (horse)
- Jim Mason
Credits
- Pencils: Homer Fleming
- Inks: Homer Fleming
The Terror from Saturn
"Walking in the country one night, Zatara and..."
Storyline
Invaders from Saturn want to take over Earth.
Characters
- Gorla
- Poora
- Ool
Credits
- Script: Gardner Fox
- Pencils: Fred Guardineer
- Inks: Fred Guardineer
Story Notes
First time since Action Comics #1-3 in which Zatara speaks backwards to invoke his magic.
"For countless centuries men have lived in these strange rock cones!"
Credits
- Script: George Papp
- Pencils: George Papp
- Inks: George Papp
Story Notes
Writer credit added by Craig Delich.
Featuring New York World's Fair Comics
"The comic book of tomorrow is here today!!"
Story Notes
Inside back cover.
Story Notes
Back cover.