Action Comics #42

(November 1941)

[The Empire in the Sky] (Table of Contents)

Superman / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Jerry Siegel (signed)

Pencils:

Leo Nowak [as Joe Shuster] (signed)

Inks:

Shuster Shop

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Superman [Clark Kent]; Perry White; Lois Lane; Jimmy Olsen [cameo]; Carl Bransom; Nick Flaerty; John Standing; Freeman Chase; Luthor [as Zytal] (villain, bald); Jake Mobray (villain, death) Dirk Chadwick (villain, death)

Synopsis:

A series of strange disappearances of prominent men in the city of Metropolis makes Clark Kent believe the kidnappings weren't under ordinary circumstances. When, as Superman, he tries to get information from local mobsters, they are suddenly destroyed by a ray out of the blue. He later discovers that Luthor built a giant city in the sky, and the arch for then hypnotizes Superman into doing his bidding.

Reprints:

• in Superman: The Action Comics Archives (DC, 1997 series) #3 (2001)

Indexer Notes

Archives credits this to John Sikela. New art id by Craig Delich and Bob Hughes 6/05. Modified synopsis added by Craig Delich 9-6-08.

[The Origin of the Vigilante] (Table of Contents)

The Vigilante / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Mort Weisinger

Pencils:

Mort Meskin

Inks:

Mort Meskin

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero; western-frontier

Characters:

The Vigilante [Greg Sanders] (introduction)(origin); Killer Kelly; Betty Stuart; Van Ardsley

Synopsis:

At his execution, Killer Kelly tells Vigilante that he will come back from the grave, but he has really just bribed the prison doctor to lower the voltage. Greg Sanders, rodeo man, is met by Betty Stuart, a blues singer, after a rodeo, and he learns that Killer Kelly is loose. At his home, Greg dons the costume of the Vigilante and heads to the costume ball of Van Ardsley. When Killer Kelly bashes the party, the Vigilante has to rope them in.

Reprints:

• in Secret Origins (DC, 1973 series) #4 (September-October 1973)

[The Ship Spies] (Table of Contents)

Black Pirate / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Sheldon Moldoff

Inks:

Sheldon Moldoff

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

historical

Characters:

The Black Pirate [Jon Valor]; Bonnie; Villains: un-named cutthroats.

Synopsis:

A cutthroat pretends to be an escaped fugitive to get close to Jon Valor. Bonnie is suspicious, however.

Indexer Notes

Strip is continued in Sensation Comics #1.

[Revolution in Central America!] (Table of Contents)

Three Aces / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Gardner F. Fox

Pencils:

Chad Grothkopf

Inks:

Chad Grothkopf

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

adventure; aviation

Characters:

Three Aces: Fog Fortune, Gunner Bill and Whistler Will; V: Miguel Miranda.

Synopsis:

On their way back from South America, the Aces find themselves in the middle of a Central American revolution. A man named Miguel Miranda takes their planes for the war, and the Aces have to figure out a way to get them back.

Indexer Notes

Writer credit added by Craig Delich 9-6-08.

[The Origin of Fatman] (Table of Contents)

Mr. America / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Ken Fitch

Pencils:

Bernard Baily (signed)

Inks:

Bernard Baily (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Mr. America [Tex Thomson]; Fatman [Bob Daley] (origin as Fatman); V: The Queen Bee.

Synopsis:

Mr. America goes out to investigate a strange lack of crime, but Bob is ordered to stay in. Feeling deserted, Bob creates the identity of Fatman. At Tex's headquarters, he develops a way to transform his cape into a magic flying carpet. Fatman stumbles upon the plans of the Queen Bee to steal radium.

Indexer Notes

1st uses cape as a flying carpet. Writer credit by Jerry Bails via Craig Delich 5/05.

Missing Masterpiece (Table of Contents)

text story / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Sidney Drew (signed)

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

war

Characters:

Peter Projak

Dead or Alive (Table of Contents)

text story / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Wilton Weston (signed)

Pencils:

Stan Kaye (spot illustration)

Inks:

Stan Kaye (spot illustration)

Colors:

?

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

adventure

Characters:

Killer Manon

[Juggler, Junior, McGirk] (Table of Contents)

Jokes / filler / 0.5 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Henry Boltinoff

Pencils:

Henry Boltinoff

Inks:

Henry Boltinoff

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

humor

Indexer Notes

Writer credit added by Craig Delich 9-6-08.

[The Jungle Film] (Table of Contents)

Congo Bill / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Fred Ray

Inks:

Fred Ray

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

jungle

Characters:

Congo Bill; Sheila Hanlen; Professor James Kent; Hugo Von Eller; Winters; V: Tomkins.

Synopsis:

In the jungle, Congo Bill's safari comes across a white man being buried alive by a native and attempts to stop him, only to be informed that he's just ruined a shot in an adventure film. Talking with the director, Hugo Von Eller, Bill finds out that the production has been plagued with problems. Sheila agrees to stand in for a sick actress, but the problems continue.

Indexer Notes

Writer credit revision from Fred Ray? to ? added by Craig Delich 9-6-08.

[The Man who Could Control Minds] (Table of Contents)

Zatara / comic story / 9 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Gardner F. Fox

Pencils:

Joseph Sulman

Inks:

Joseph Sulman

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

occult

Characters:

Zatara; Villains: The Tigress, Frosty Parke.

Synopsis:

Zatara spots the Tigress and Frosty Parke and decides to follow them. He catches them trying to rob a bank and quickly stops them, putting Frosty into the hospital. There, Frosty uses an experiment that allows him to control men's minds, and somehow the power is transferred into him. He escapes and meets with Tigress to continue their crime spree. Zatara discovers Frosty's new power and investigates.