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Superman, #5

Published: Summer 1940

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Issue Contents:

Story Featuring Superman

Characters
Other
Credits
Story Notes

Joe Shuster hand drew Superman logos until the classic Ira Schnapp logo appears with Superman (DC, 1939 Series) #6 (September-October 1940).

The Slot Machine Racket

Story Featuring Superman

Storyline

Lois and Clark are very concerned when they see business owners trying to induce children into their stores to play slot machines, placed there by the goons of "Slug" Kelly. When the duo are held captive by Kelly and threatened with death, Superman takes over to clean house of the machines and the mugs responsible for them.

Characters
Other
Credits
Story Notes

The Planet's rival paper, The Morning Pictorial, is introduced.

Super Strength: Rules for Summer Living

Story Featuring Superman

Storyline

Superman reminds his readers to get plenty of rest, eat right, gets lots of exercise and drink plenty of milk.

Characters
Other
Credits
Story Notes

The page features an inset picture of Superman, illustrated by Joe Shuster, plus an illustrated plug for Jowett Books on physical strength at the bottom.

Campaign Against the Planet

Story Featuring Superman

Storyline

Punk politician Alex Evell, because of his growing political power, is out to buy the Planet's competitor, so that he will have a newspaper to back up his political dealings. But Evell doesn't like Clark Kent and his scathing articles about him, so the crook sets out to buy out the Planet as well..or else!

Characters
Other
Credits
Power of the Press
Storyline

Bill Harkness, a reporter for just two days, swelled with pride at the dedication of the new State Hospital, the top story of that time. Afterwards, he entered the building to look around, and bumped into one of the patients, the Great Gordon, the best ventriloquist of his day. Bill learned that this man had a son named Johnny, but then was interrupted by the Superintendent who wished that Harkness had never talked to the man. When he asked why, Harkness was finally told the secret of Gordon's son...he was the dummy he had used in his act!

Credits
Story Notes

The text story is surrounded by a variety of ads for such things as Baby Ruth candy bars, roller skates and more.

Luthor's Incense Menace

Story Featuring Superman

Storyline

Clark Kent smells a rat when he enters several offices of financial wizards, hoping to find out why they are profiting during a time of extreme depression, and noting a sickening sweet smell of incense in the air. Superman discovers that it involves a plot by Luthor, who uses the narcotic incense to inslave the men and thus profit off their ventures.

Characters
Other
Credits
Story Notes

Superman uses his powers to reshape his features for the first time. Boring inker credit from Craig Delich; we previously suggested Paul Cassidy.

Murder in the Wind
Storyline

People were very surprised when young Pert Blair was elected Sheriff, and more surprised, after the first murder in the county's history occurred, when Pert nailed the town's banker for the murder!

Credits
Story Notes

Both pages are surrounded by a series of promotional ads including for fireworks by the Baltimore Fireworks Company and making your own records at home by the Home Recording Company.

The Wonder Drug Racket

Story Featuring Superman

Storyline

Superman investigates why a noted chemist's serum, parabiolene, financed by a noted gangster named Carlin, is being used on noted people, making them virtual slaves to do the bidding of Carlin.

Characters
Other
Credits
Story Notes

Superman uses x-ray vision and super hearing.

Superman, World's Greatest Adventure Character

Story Featuring Superman

Characters
Other
Credits
Story Notes

Frontispiece.

Story Featuring Shorty

"Yip! Yip!"

Storyline

Shorty is chased home by a smaller dog...then re-emerges in a tiger skin and chases the other dog off.

Characters
Other
Credits

"There! Let that be a lesson to you!"

Storyline

The filler consists of four unrelated gag cartoons.

Credits
Story Notes

Above the Superman radio show ad.

Supermen of America

Story Featuring Superman

Storyline

Superman discusses the Supermen of America Club and its motto: Strength, Courage and Justice. A coupon is provided for readers to join if they wish.

Characters
Other
Credits
Story Notes

Sequence, info and credits added by Craig Delich.

The 'Big Six' Comic Magazines Still Lead the Field!
Storyline

House ad promoting the characters starring in DC's top six magazines: Action, Adventure, Detective, All-American, More Fun, and Flash Comics, with inset pictures of each.

Characters
Other
Story Notes

Sequence added by Craig Delich.

"For thrills and adventure don't miss this first issue of All-Star Comics"

Storyline

Ad for All-Star Comics #1 with covers and illustrations.

Characters
Other
Story Notes

Sequence added by Craig Delich.

Story Featuring Superman

"Superman and a raft of other headline adventure features..."

Storyline

Promotional ad for Action Comics, starring Superman.

Characters
Other
Credits
Story Notes

Sequence added by Craig Delich.

"Here It Is!"

Characters
Other
Story Notes

Ad for Batman #1 with cover.

Superman Is on the Radio!

"Sponsored by the makers of Force over the following stations:"

Storyline

The ad promotes 14 stations in California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. airing the Superman radio show, along with times and days, sponsored by Force cereal. Text at the bottom encourages readers to write their local stations and ask for the show.

Characters
Other
Credits
Story Notes

Below the Jest Jokes feature. This ad is similar to the one that ran originally in More Fun Comics #55 but includes additional stations and the text at the bottom.

Announcing the Sensational New Daisy 1000 Shot Red Ryder Carbine
Story Notes

Inside back cover.

Fireworks
Story Notes

Back cover.

Story Notes

Inside front cover.