Action Comics #244

(September 1958)

The Super-Merman of the Sea (Table of Contents)

Superman / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Otto Binder

Pencils:

Curt Swan

Inks:

John Giunta ?

Colors:

?

Letters:

Pat Gordon

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Superman [also appears as Clark Kent]; Lois Lane; Jimmy Olsen; Perry White; Vul-Kor (villain); Lya-La (villain)

Synopsis:

Superman pretends to join forces with underwater-dwelling aliens in order to trick them into believing Earth's seas are too salty for them.

Reprints:

• in Superman (DC, 1939 series) #187 (June 1966)
• in 80 Page Giant (DC, 1964 series) #G23 (June 1966)
• in Superman: The Man of Tomorrow Archives (DC, 2004 series) #1 ([September] 2004)
• in Showcase Presents Superman (DC, 2005 series) #1 ([September] 2005)
• in Gigant (Centerförlaget, 1963 series) #1/1965

Keywords:

Kryptonite; Undersea Fortress of Solitude; underwater

Indexer Notes

First appearance of the Undersea Fortress of Solitude.
Inks previously credited to Stan Kaye, but most likely not him. Probably John Giunta? Credits changed 12/06 by Bob Hughes, per Christopher Melchert. Carl Gafford suggests, via the GCD Error Tracker (Error 3693, 17 April 2010) that John Forte may be the inker, however, Bob Hughes points out (15 February 2011) that Forte didn't start inking Swan until 1960.

Know Your Pet! (Table of Contents)

public service announcement / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Jack Schiff

Pencils:

Lou Cameron

Inks:

Lou Cameron

Colors:

?

Letters:

Ira Schnapp

Content Information

Genre:

non-fiction

Synopsis:

Jimmy tries to treat his dog like a poodle, not realizing that different pets need different care.

Indexer Notes

published in cooperation with the National Social Welfare Assembly

["This looks like a good spot to sell!"] (Table of Contents)

Shorty / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Henry Boltinoff

Pencils:

Henry Boltinoff (signed)

Inks:

Henry Boltinoff

Colors:

?

Letters:

Henry Boltinoff

Content Information

Genre:

humor

Characters:

Shorty

The Riddle of the Roc (Table of Contents)

Congo Bill / comic story / 5.67 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Howard Sherman

Inks:

Howard Sherman

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

jungle

Characters:

Congo Bill; Janu; Ed Vance

Synopsis:

When an explorer finds the roc, a giant mythical bird, he uses the creature to help him steal diamonds.

["HXD MXW'C QJEN CK QJEN..."] (Table of Contents)

Supermen of America / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.33 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Letters:

typeset

Indexer Notes

membership application form for the Supermen of America; also includes message in secret code (Code Krypton No. 9)
decoded message reads: "You don't have to have an iron will to observe the Golden Rule, says the Man of Steel."

["Oh. look at that cute dog. Jerry!"] (Table of Contents)

Jerry the Jitterbug / comic story / 0.5 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Henry Boltinoff

Pencils:

Henry Boltinoff

Inks:

Henry Boltinoff

Colors:

?

Letters:

Henry Boltinoff

Content Information

Genre:

teen

Characters:

Jerry the Jitterbug; Betty

["Stop! Can't you see that red light?"] (Table of Contents)

Casey the Cop / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Henry Boltinoff

Pencils:

Henry Boltinoff

Inks:

Henry Boltinoff

Colors:

?

Letters:

Henry Boltinoff

Content Information

Genre:

humor

Characters:

Casey the Cop

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents)

Gag Bag / filler / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

? (logo illustration)

Inks:

? (logo illustration)

Colors:

? (logo illustration)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

humor

Indexer Notes

jokes

The Mystery of the Three Space Rookies (Table of Contents)

Tommy Tomorrow / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Otto Binder

Pencils:

Jim Mooney

Inks:

Jim Mooney

Colors:

?

Letters:

Milt Snapinn

Content Information

Genre:

science fiction

Characters:

Tommy Tomorrow; Planeteers; Xixxor of Venus; Kjpxwq of Jupiter; Gol of Mars

Synopsis:

Three cadets outperform Tommy in a series of tests, but he learns that they are from other planets, trying to determine who is the best of the Planeteers.