Price: 0.10 USD
Pages: 68
On-sale Date: 1938-04-18
Editing: Vin Sullivan (credited as Vincent A. Sullivan) (editor)
Cover Thumbnail for Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #1 Edit Cover
Cover Gallery 

[no title indexed]
(Table of Contents)

Superman / cover / 1 page

Pencils:
Joe Shuster (see notes)
? (see notes)
Inks:
Joe Shuster (see notes)
? (see notes)
Colors:
Jack Adler ? (see notes)
Ed Eisenberg ? (see notes)
Letters:
typeset
? (logo design, see notes)
  • Genre:superhero
Characters:
Reprints (56)

Indexer Notes

In Alter Ego #56 (February 2006), in an interview with Adler, he reports that he painted the colors on the engraving plates for this story. Information added by Craig Delich.

Adler was employed by the Strauss Engraving Company, which was contracted to do the coloring and related work for DC at this time.

Error Report #2990 by Mike DeLisa states the following: "Cover was not by Shuster, actually by (an) unknown member of DC staff based on one interior panel. Coloring was not (done) by Jack Adler; Adler states that the work was done by DC staff. My source is the Court record and decision, which includes affidavits from Siegel, Shuster, and Adler." DeLisa states the colorist for the cover was Ed Eisenberg.

Superman/Batman (DC, 2003 Series) #41 (December 2007) identifies the bystander on the cover as Rick Radomski of Radomski Hardware. Though this takes place during a dream sequence, the name could be considered canon.

Conversely, the cover mimics a scene within the story. In the story, the owner of the car is Butch Matson, a gangster who threatens Lois Lane, and flees in panic from Superman's wrath in the same manner as depicted on the cover. Very likely the figure on the cover is meant to be Butch Matson.

Per Todd Klein's Facebook posting, Comics Logos A #1: ACTION COMICS on 1 January 2021, Ira Schnapp had been attributed in the past as the Action Comics logo designer, but Schnapp told Michael Uslan in the 1960s that he did not do it. The designer of the logo remains unknown.

Issue Data

Indexer Notes

Indicia:
ACTION COMICS. published monthly by Detective Comics, Inc., 480 Lexington Ave., New York, N. Y. Second class entry pending at Post Office, New York, N. Y. under the Act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates: 12 issues by mail in the United States, its possessions and Mexico, South America and Spain, $1.50; elsewhere $2.60. The Publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited material. Entire contents copyright 1938 by Detective Comics, Inc.

The on-sale date is the publication date reported in the U. S. Copyright Office filing.

In the documentation for the testimony from Detective Comics, Inc. vs. Bruns (Fox) Publications April 6 and 7, 1939, the on-sale date for this issue is described by Jack Liebowitz as being April 18, 1938.

This is confirmed again in the documentation for the Siegel lawsuit against Warner Bros (CASE NO. CV-04-8400-SGL (RZx)) published on March 26, 2008; the on-sale date for this issue is listed as being April 18, 1938.

In a profile in the New York Daily News (27 June 1994), Tom DeAngelo claimed to have been the first to give color to Superman. However, in an interview in Comic Book Marketplace #33, Ed Eisenberg claimed to have originated the color scheme for Superman as an employee of Strauss Engraving Company, which did the coloring for DC at the time.

$25 Cash Prizes!
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 1)

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page

[Superman Origin]
(Table of Contents: 2)

Superman / comic story / 1 page

Script:
Pencils:
Joe Shuster (signed)
Inks:
Joe Shuster (signed)
Colors:
Letters:
  • Genre:superhero
Characters:
Synopsis:
A space vehicle from a destroyed world lands on Earth, and its occupant becomes Superman. In addition, a scientific explanation for this being's powers is given.
Reprints (37)

Indexer Notes

This strip was originally prepared for newspaper publication, cut up, and re-paged. Black shading was used.

[The Coming of Superman]
(Table of Contents: 3)

Superman / comic story / 11.67 pages

Script:
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
Letters:
  • Genre:superhero
Characters:
Governor; Governor's butler
Synopsis:
Superman delivers a witness to the governor to stop an execution, then stops a wife-beater. Later Superman, as Clark Kent, goes out with Lois, but she earns the wrath of Butch Matson and Superman must save her. Finally, Clark is assigned a story on the South American republic of San Monte. He heads to Washington DC to find out who is behind Senator Barrows pushing legislation which will embroil the United States in a war in Europe by grabbing lobbyist Alex Greer and scaring the truth out of him.
Reprints (44)

Indexer Notes

Superman wears blue boots. The story continues in Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #2 (July 1938).

Originally prepared for newspaper publication, cut up and re-paged, most probably by Joe Shuster. Vin Sullivan, Sheldon Mayer, and Harry Lampert are often cited as having done the paste-up work based on their own claims.

Black shading was used.

George Taylor was first named in the June 7, 1939, daily newspaper strip. That story was later reprinted in Superman (DC, 1939 series) #2 (Fall 1939), which marked its first use in the comics books.

[Action Comics]
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 4)

Superman / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.33 page

[The 4-G Gang, Part 1]
(Table of Contents: 5)

Chuck Dawson / comic story / 6 pages

Script:
Pencils:
Inks:
Letters:
?
  • Genre:adventure; western-frontier
Characters:
Notch Logan (villain); John Burwell (villain); "Trigger" Holt (villain); Butch (villain); Dan Dawson
Synopsis:
Chuck begins a vendetta aginst the crooked ranch owners who have, by fraud, acquired the range lands he inherited after his father's death.
Reprints (8)

Indexer Notes

Synopsis added by Craig Delich.
The name of the gang looks like "A-G" on the 1st panel but in later issues it's more clearly written as "4-G"

The Mystery of the Freight Train Robberies
(Table of Contents: 6)

Zatara / comic story / 12 pages

Script:
Fred Guardineer (credited)
Pencils:
Fred Guardineer (credited)
Inks:
Fred Guardineer (credited)
Colors:
Letters:
  • Genre:adventure; fantasy-supernatural; superhero
Characters:
Detective Brown; Detective Brady (death); Captain Kennedy; Babcock (train inspector, villain); Monk (thug); Spike (thug)
Synopsis:
Zatara and Tong investigate the murders of several railroad detectives and the theft of over $200,000 in loot.
Reprints (9)

Indexer Notes

Synopsis added by Craig Delich.

On the 11th page of this story, the text says Zatara transforms Tigress's gun into "a bullet," but the illustration shows a banana.

South Sea Strategy [Part 1]
(Table of Contents: 7)

text story / 2 pages

Script:
Pencils:
? (spot illustrations)
Inks:
? (spot illustrations)
Colors:
Letters:
typeset
  • Genre:adventure
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:For an instant, the sky to the west was splashed with all the vivid colors of nature's paint box.
Characters:
Bret Coleman; Cottonball; Merna Newton; Samuel Newton; South Seas natives (villains)
Synopsis:
Bret and Cottonball seek to rescue one Samuel Newton, whose daughter was carried off into the jungle by a pack of savage natives.
Reprints (8)

Indexer Notes

Synopsis added by Craig Delich.

[no title indexed]
(Table of Contents: 8)

Sticky-Mitt Stimson / comic story / 4 pages

Script:
Russell Cole (credited as Alger)
Pencils:
Russell Cole (credited as Alger)
Inks:
Russell Cole (credited as Alger)
Colors:
Letters:
  • Genre:humor
Characters:
Synopsis:
Sticky swipes some apples and is pursued by the police. He gets a lucky break to make good his escape.
Reprints (8)

Indexer Notes

Synopsis added by Craig Delich.

[Episode 1]
(Table of Contents: 9)

The Adventures of Marco Polo / comic story / 4 pages

Script:
?
Pencils:
Sven Elven (signed) (illustrated by)
Inks:
Sven Elven (signed) (illustrated by)
Colors:
Letters:
  • Genre:historical; adventure
Characters:
Nicolo Polo; Uncle Maffeo; Niku
Synopsis:
Marco, his father and his uncle are given an audience with the new Pope. They are sent on a mission to satisfy a request from the Khan of Tartary for priests and men of learning.
Reprints (8)

Indexer Notes

Marco's uncle is named in Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #4 (September 1938) and his father in issue #5 (October 1938). These are the same names as in real history.
While not named in this story, the pope is Pope Gregory X.

Synopsis added by Craig Delich.

[The Light Heavyweight Championship]
(Table of Contents: 10)

Pep Morgan / comic story / 4 pages

Script:
Pencils:
Fred Guardineer (credited)
Inks:
Fred Guardineer (credited)
Colors:
Letters:
  • Genre:adventure
  • Feature Logo:"Pep" Morgan
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:Pep Morgan, versatile young athlete is fighting Sailor Sorenson for the coveted light heavyweight championship.
  • Universe:DC : mainstream
Characters:
Pop Burkett; Sailor Sorenson; Boomerang; O'Rourke; Doc Lowery (villain)
Synopsis:
When the Boxing Commission runs a dirty fight trainer out of town, he swears his revenge...against Pep.
Reprints (8)

Indexer Notes

Synopsis added by Craig Delich.

[The International Jewel Thief]
(Table of Contents: 11)

Scoop Scanlon / comic story / 6 pages

Script:
?
Pencils:
Bill Ely (credited as Will Ely)
Inks:
Bill Ely (credited as Will Ely)
Letters:
  • Genre:adventure; detective-mystery
Characters:
Arnold (villain)
Synopsis:
An international jewel thief arrives in America as a prisoner, but Scoop and Rusty are on hand to witness his escape with the help of his gang lying in wait.
Reprints (8)

Indexer Notes

Synopsis added by Craig Delich.

[Murder in England]
(Table of Contents: 12)

Tex Thomson / comic story / 12 pages

Script:
Pencils:
Bernard Baily (credited) (signed as Bernard Baily)
Inks:
Bernard Baily (credited) (signed as Bernard Baily)
Colors:
Letters:
  • Genre:adventure; detective-mystery
  • Feature Logo:Tex Thomson
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:Having struck it rich in the oil fields of Texas, Tex Thomson has left his native country to tour the world.
  • Keywords:England
    • Universe:DC : mainstream
Characters:
Bob; Betty; unnamed gangster chief (introduction, villain, death); Monk (villain); Sonja (villain)
Synopsis:
Ken is framed for the murder of a man, and, with the help of Betty and Bobby, sets out to prove his innocence.
Reprints (8)

Indexer Notes

Tex Thomson later becomes Mr. America in Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #33 (February 1941) and then as the Americommando in Action Comics #54 (November 1942).

[Fred Astaire, Constance Bennett, Charles Boyer, Wheeler and Woolsey]
(Table of Contents: 13)

Stardust / cartoon / 1 page

Script:
?
Pencils:
Sheldon Moldoff ? (credited as Star Gazer) (sourced) (see notes)
Inks:
Sheldon Moldoff ? (credited as Star Gazer) (sourced) (see notes)
Colors:
Letters:
?
  • Genre:non-fiction; biography
  • Feature Logo:Stardust
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:Fred Astaire once sat in a booth during a benefit given in London, and danced with...
  • Keywords:celebrity
Characters:
Wheeler and Woolsey
Synopsis:
Interesting facts about celebrities Fred Astaire, Constance Bennett, Charles Boyer and the comedy team of Wheeler and Woolsey are provided in this illustrated filler.
Reprints (8)

Indexer Notes

Per Craig Delich, art MIGHT be by Sheldon Moldoff. Synopsis added by Delich.

[Lou Gehrig, Lee Grissom, and Babe Ruth]
(Table of Contents: 14)

Odds 'n Ends / cartoon / 1 page

Script:
?
Pencils:
Sheldon Moldoff (credited as Moldoff)
Inks:
Sheldon Moldoff (credited as Moldoff)
Letters:
?
  • Genre:non-fiction
  • Feature Logo:Odds 'n Ends
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:Take it easy, horsey, we'll finish in the money anyhow!
Characters:
Reprints (6)

Indexer Notes

Inside back cover.

[no title indexed]
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 15)

Johnson Smith & Co. Catalog / advertisement / 1 page

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Table of Contents ToC
    Table of Contents
  1. [no title indexed]
    Superman
  2. $25 Cash Prizes!
  3. [Superman Origin]
    Superman
  4. [The Coming of Superman]
    Superman
  5. [Action Comics]
    Superman
  6. [The 4-G Gang, Part 1]
    Chuck Dawson
  7. The Mystery of the Freight Train Robberies
    Zatara
  8. South Sea Strategy [Part 1]
  9. ["Beeg airplane!"]
    Sticky-Mitt Stimson
  10. [Episode 1]
    The Adventures of Marco Polo
  11. [The Light Heavyweight Championship]
    Pep Morgan
  12. [The International Jewel Thief]
    Scoop Scanlon
  13. [Murder in England]
    Tex Thomson
  14. [Fred Astaire, Constance Bennett, Charles Boyer, Wheeler and Woolsey]
    Stardust
  15. [Lou Gehrig, Lee Grissom, and Babe Ruth]
    Odds 'n Ends
  16. [no title indexed]
    Johnson Smith & Co. Catalog
Related Links
Issue was modified by, among others
  • Katie
  • Steinar Ådland
  • Les Andersen
  • Henry Andrews
  • David B
  • Ray Bottorff Jr
  • Michael Bradley
  • David Bromley
  • John Censullo
  • Peter Croome
  • CTGarry
  • Shad Z. Daly
  • Steve Dasinger
  • Edward DeGeorge
  • Craig Delich
  • Mike DeLisa
  • Gregory Fischer
  • Del Gruber
  • Merlin Haas
  • Jan Roar Hansen
  • Matthew Head
  • Bob Hughes
  • Jerzy Kiekrz
  • Jörg Lasrich
  • R. S. Martin
  • Jon Morris
  • Mike Nielsen
  • John Pannozzi
  • Antonio Pontes Junior
  • Mark Q
  • Tony R. Rose
  • Allen Ross
  • Steven Samuels
  • Jim Van Dore
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