Volume: 2
Price: 0.10 USD
Pages: 68
On-sale Date: 1939-10-24
Editing: Vin Sullivan (credited as Vincent A. Sullivan) (editor)
Cover Thumbnail for Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #19 Edit Cover
Cover Gallery 

[no title indexed]
(Table of Contents)

Superman / cover / 1 page

Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
typeset
    Genre:superhero
Characters:
Synopsis:
Superman rips the barrel from a mounted cannon, while a bi-plane seems to be heading towards him.
Reprints (7)

Indexer Notes

Previous art credit given to Joe Shuster, who was the primary artist. His first ghost/assistant Paul Cassidy probably did the finished artwork.

The scene depicted is rather anachronistic. Although Superman never personally got involved in fighting on the European front (except for the famous, non-canonical, short story where he ends the war in a matter of hours by bringing Hitler and Mussolini to justice), the bi-plane, the mounted cannon, and the barbed wire on the hill suggests a first world war setting.

Issue Data

Indexer Notes

On sale date from the publication date and volume number found in the Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part 2, Periodicals, New Series, Volume 34, 1939, Number 4. Class B periodical. Copyright number B 435264.

[no title indexed]
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 1)

Adventure Comics; All-American Comics; Detective Comics; Fun Comics; Movie Comics / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page

[The Purple Plague]
(Table of Contents: 2)

Superman / comic story / 12.87 pages

Script:
Jerry Siegel (credited)
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
    Genre:superhero
Characters:
Dr. Travers
Synopsis:
A purple plaque sweeps Metropolis killing citizens left and right. Only Dr. Travers has discovered an antidote, and Superman must stop the Ultra-Humanite from killing the good doctor and prevent that cure from being used.
Reprints (6)

Indexer Notes

Synopsis added by Craig Delich.

Pencils previously credited to Joe Shuster, but the layouts and unusual Superman flying poses are typical Cassidy. He claimed that Siegel and Shuster allowed both himself and Wayne Boring a free hand in how they depicted a script, with no interference from either creator.

[no title indexed]
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 3)

New York World's Fair Comics / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.13 page

[no title indexed]
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 4)

Superman / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page

Superman's Special Monthly Message to the Supermen of America!
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 5)

Supermen of America / in-house column / 1 page

[The Train Robbery]
(Table of Contents: 6)

Pep Morgan / comic story / 6 pages

Script:
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
    Genre:adventure
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:Gosh - it'll be good to see the folks and the old...
  • Universe:DC : mainstream
Characters:
Pep Morgan's father; Pep Morgan's mother
Synopsis:
Driving towards his home place, Pep spots an iron bar across the railroad tracks. When lifting it off a gang of thugs appear and knock him out. The oncoming train stops for the obstruction and the crooks attempt a robbery, which is foiled by Pep, but they all get on the train as it pulls away. Pep alerts the station man by note as they pass through the next small stop, and the police are waiting at Green City. While visiting his folks, pals of three criminals recently arrested by Pep kidnap him, but he is recognized by a traffic cop who knows him, which allows Pep to overpower his kidnappers.

Indexer Notes

Writer credit added by Craig Delich.

[The Boot Thieves]
(Table of Contents: 7)

Chuck Dawson / comic story / 4 pages

Script:
?
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
    Genre:adventure; western-frontier
Characters:
Synopsis:
Chuck is robbed of his boots and the outlaw throws him a brand new pair as replacements. Riding into a nearby town, a storekeeper identifies him as one of the men who robbed him, by the boots that were stolen. Chuck disarms both sheriff and deputy and rides off to capture the real robbers.

[The Ivory Safari, Part 1]
(Table of Contents: 8)

Clip Carson / comic story / 6 pages

Script:
Pencils:
Bob Kane (credited)
Inks:
Bob Kane (credited)
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
    Genre:adventure
Characters:
Colton
Synopsis:
In Kenye [sic] Clip is approached by Colton, a dealer in ivory, whose shipments have failed to get to the coast. Notorious bandit "Wolf" Lupo has been identified as the leader of the raiders. Daredevil adventurer that he is, Clip agrees to head up the next safari of ivory. An attempt is made on Clip's life, but he manages to shoot the cobra. The safari is later surrounded by cannibals, but Clip has thoughtfully packed a bag with harmonicas, and distributes them to the natives, who are entranced by the music.

[no title indexed]
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 9)

Brazel Novelty Fireworks; Lionel Trains; Nelmac Kites; Spencer Fireworks / advertisement / 0.33 page

Forest Fire
(Table of Contents: 10)

text story / 1.33 pages

Script:
Pencils:
Fred Guardineer (spot illustration)
Inks:
Fred Guardineer (spot illustration)
Colors:
?
Letters:
typeset
    Genre:adventure
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:Forest ranger Dick Everett rode the cool trail winding along the mountainside.
Characters:
Forest Ranger Dick Everett; Mrs. Robinson; Tim Robinson

[no title indexed]
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 11)

Alfred's Ice Skates; Baltimore Fireworks; Crowell / Crowell-Collier Publishing Company Magazines; Metal Arts Rings & Pins / advertisement / 0.33 page

The Zombies [Part 1]
(Table of Contents: 12)

Tex Thomson / comic story / 10 pages

Script:
Pencils:
Bernard Baily (credited, signed)
Inks:
Bernard Baily (credited, signed)
Colors:
?
Letters:
    Genre:adventure; detective-mystery
Characters:
Synopsis:
Famous actor John Barryless asks Tex to find his son Bart, who has disappeared in the Sudan. Tex and Bob sail for north Africa and when they reach the place he was last seen, find a note which reads, "I am being attacked by zombies Bar---". Pushing into the interior they fall into a pit where they find Bart. The chief of the natives has been injecting a chemical into captives which saps their will and gives the appearance of being a zombie. Tex, Bob and Bart are about to be injected...

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit added by Craig Delich.

[no title indexed]
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 13)

Flash Comics / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page

[no title indexed]
(Table of Contents: 14)

Salty Sam / comic story / 0.67 page

Script:
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
    Genre:humor
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:Hello Salty!
Characters:
Salty Sam

Indexer Notes

Writer and letterer credits added by Craig Delich.

Young Scientist Amazes His Dad!
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 15)

Chemcraft Chemistry Sets [Porter] / advertisement / 0.33 page

[Murder in the Air]
(Table of Contents: 16)

Three Aces / comic story / 6 pages

Script:
?
Pencils:
Bert Christman (credited as Christopher) (signed as Christopher)
Inks:
Bert Christman (credited as Christopher) (signed as Christopher)
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
    Genre:adventure; aviation
Characters:
Fred; Jeffries; Bell (Fred's wife)

[no title indexed]
(Table of Contents: 17)

This Doggone World / comic story / 1 page

Script:
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
    Genre:anthropomorphic-funny animals
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:The rat!" "The dog!" "Lowdown cur!

Indexer Notes

Writer and letterer credits added by Craig Delich.

Values and Colors Change; Changes and Additions
(Table of Contents: 18)

World of Stamps / Stamp Action / Action Stamp Page / text article / 0.5 page

Script:
?
Colors:
?
Letters:
typeset
    Genre:non-fiction

Indexer Notes

Page includes several small ads from stamps dealers.

[no title indexed]
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 19)

Belmont Stamps; Brown Stamps; Ensign Stamps; Eureka Stamps; Floral City Stamps; Gray Stamps; Monumental Stamps; Pilgrim Stamps / Pilgrims Stamps; Potomac Stamps; Reyco Stamps; Roberts Stamps; Seminole Stamps; Tatham Stamps and Coins / advertisement / 0.5 page

The Gorilla King
(Table of Contents: 20)

Zatara / comic story / 11 pages

Script:
Pencils:
Fred Guardineer (credited)
Inks:
Fred Guardineer (credited)
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
    Genre:adventure; superhero; fantasy-supernatural
Characters:
Ivan Meldoff; Herbert Handers

[no title indexed]
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 21)

Johnson Smith & Co. Catalog / advertisement / 1 page

[no title indexed]
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 22)

Wilson Chemical Company Cloverine Brand Salve / advertisement / 1 page

Editing
Download: (JSON)
Report Information
my.comics.org
Tracked in 24 collections.
Issue at my.comics.org
View Change History
Table of Contents ToC
    Table of Contents
  1. [no title indexed]
    Superman
  2. ["Quick! Dive for those magazines!"]
    Adventure Comics; All-American Comics; Detective Comics; Fun Comics; Movie Comics
  3. [The Purple Plague]
    Superman
  4. ["Don't fail to read the thrilling and daring deeds of Superman..."]
    New York World's Fair Comics
  5. ["Announcing -- The third Superman quarterly..."]
    Superman
  6. Superman's Special Monthly Message to the Supermen of America!
    Supermen of America
  7. [The Train Robbery]
    Pep Morgan
  8. [The Boot Thieves]
    Chuck Dawson
  9. [The Ivory Safari, Part 1]
    Clip Carson
  10. [no title indexed]
    Brazel Novelty Fireworks; Lionel Trains; Nelmac Kites; Spencer Fireworks
  11. Forest Fire
  12. [no title indexed]
    Alfred's Ice Skates; Baltimore Fireworks; Crowell / Crowell-Collier Publishing Company Magazines; Metal Arts Rings & Pins
  13. The Zombies [Part 1]
    Tex Thomson
  14. ["Like a comet across the comic sky"]
    Flash Comics
  15. ["Hello Salty!"]
    Salty Sam
  16. Young Scientist Amazes His Dad!
    Chemcraft Chemistry Sets [Porter]
  17. [Murder in the Air]
    Three Aces
  18. ["The rat!" "The dog!" "Lowdown cur!"]
    This Doggone World
  19. Values and Colors Change; Changes and Additions
    World of Stamps / Stamp Action / Action Stamp Page
  20. [no title indexed]
    Belmont Stamps; Brown Stamps; Ensign Stamps; Eureka Stamps; Floral City Stamps; Gray Stamps; Monumental Stamps; Pilgrim Stamps / Pilgrims Stamps; Potomac Stamps; Reyco Stamps; Roberts Stamps; Seminole Stamps; Tatham Stamps and Coins
  21. The Gorilla King
    Zatara
  22. [no title indexed]
    Johnson Smith & Co. Catalog
  23. [no title indexed]
    Wilson Chemical Company Cloverine Brand Salve
Related Links
Issue was modified by, among others
  • Katie
  • Ray Bottorff Jr
  • Keith Chandler
  • Steve Dasinger
  • Craig Delich
  • Del Gruber
  • Merlin Haas
  • Katy Hayhurst
  • Matthew Head
  • Bob Hughes
  • Jerzy Kiekrz
  • Lindsey Naumann
  • Mike Nielsen
  • Tony R. Rose
  • Daniel Thingvold
  • Jim Van Dore
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