Superman #1

(Summer 1939)

[Two page origin of Superman] (Table of Contents)

Superman / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Jerry Siegel [as Jerome Siegel] (signed)

Pencils:

Joe Shuster (signed)

Inks:

Joe Shuster (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

Joe Shuster

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Superman [Clark Kent]; Ma (Mary) Kent (intro); Pa Kent (intro); Krypton

Synopsis:

A rocketship, carrying an infant, rockets from the planet Krypton as it blows up, and lands on the Earth where a couple named the Kents find the baby inside the rocket and eventually adopt him. This infant boy grows up to be Superman.

Reprinted:

• in Superman Annual (DC, 1960 series) #2 [page 2 only in black and white]
• in Great Comic Book Heroes, The (Dial Press, 1965 series) #nn (1965)
• in Supermann (Williams Forlag A/S, 1969 series) #16/1970 [page 2 only]
• in Superman from the Thirties to the Seventies (Crown Publishers, 1971 series) #1 (1971)
• in Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-61 (1979)
• in Superman From the Thirties to the Eighties (Crown Publishers, 1983 series) #1 (1983)
• in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #1 (1989)
• in Superman #1 [Masterpiece Edition] (Chronicle Books, 1999 series) #[nn] (1999)
• in Millennium Edition: Superman 1 (DC, 2000 series) #nn (December 2000)
• in Superman Chronicles, The (DC, 2006 series) #1 (2006)

Indexer Notes

First version that mentions Krypton and foster parents. First line: "Just before the doomed planet, Krypton, exploded to fragments, a scientist placed his infant son within an experimental rocket-ship, launching it toward Earth!"

[Clark Kent Gets a Job] (Table of Contents)

Superman / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Jerry Siegel

Pencils:

Joe Shuster

Inks:

Joe Shuster

Colors:

?

Letters:

Joe Shuster

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Superman [Clark Kent]; George Taylor (intro; not named); Sims; Evelyn Curry; Bea Carroll (villain)

Synopsis:

Clark Kent applies for a job at the Daily Star, but is turned down until Superman stops a lynching and Clark phones in the story. Then Superman gets singer Bea Carroll to confess to the murder of Jack Kennedy.

Reprinted:

• in Superman From the Thirties to the Seventies (Crown Publishers, 1971 series) #nn (1971)
• in Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-61 (1979)
• in Superman From the Thirties to the Eighties (Crown Publishers, 1983 series) #nn (1983)
• in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #1 (1989)
• in Superman #1 [Masterpiece Edition] (Chronicle Books, 1999 series) #[nn] (1999)
• in Millennium Edition: Superman 1 (DC, 2000 series) #nn (December 2000)
• in Superman Chronicles, The (DC, 2006 series) #1 (2006).

Indexer Notes

New material, newly drawn for this issue. Superman wears red boots. Story has no masthead or by-line. Story continues in next sequence. First line: "Outer waiting-room of the Daily Star..."

[The Coming of Superman] (Table of Contents)

Superman / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Jerry Siegel

Pencils:

Joe Shuster

Inks:

Joe Shuster

Colors:

?

Letters:

Joe Shuster

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Superman [Clark Kent]; George Taylor (intro, not named); Lois Lane (intro); Daily Star; Evelyn Curry; Bea Carroll (villain); Butch Matson (villain); Senator Barrows (villain); Alex Greer (villain)

Synopsis:

Superman breaks into the Governor's mansion to stop the execution of Evelyn Curry, and Lois is kidnapped by gangsters, no thanks to that spineless milksop, Clark Kent, but is rescued by Superman! In his next assignment, Superman tackles a corrupt Senator in Washington.

Reprinted:

• from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #1 (June 1938)

Indexer Notes

Continued in next story. Clark Kent is hired as a reporter for the Daily Star newspaper in this sequence. Superman wears blue boots in this reprinted story. A scene from the cover of Action #1 appears in panel 67. First line: "A tireless figure races thru the night." The last 1/3 of the final page [panel 98] of this sequence is a Joe Shuster illustrated promotional ad for Superman appearing in Action Comics.

[Revolution In San Monte] (Table of Contents)

Superman / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Jerry Siegel [as Jerome Siegel] (signed)

Pencils:

Joe Shuster (signed)

Inks:

Joe Shuster (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

Joe Shuster

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Superman [Clark Kent]; Lois Lane; Lola Cortez; George Taylor (cameo); Alex Greer (villain); Emil Norvell (villain)

Synopsis:

Clark Kent and Lois Lane board the steamship Baronta, bound for San Monte in South America to cover the war brewing. He and Norvell join the San Monte Army so that the Man of Tomorrow can prove the war is being fomented by munitions manufacturers.

Reprinted:

• from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #2 (July 1938)

Indexer Notes

Clark apparently works for the (Cleveland, Ohio) Evening News, as he sends pictures there, although panel 15 of the story has Lois stating "our editor decided to have me accompany you to the warzone.....", and Lois works for the Daily Star. Since Siegel and Shuster both came from Cleveland, it's possible Siegel put this in as a plug for their hometown newspaper! Superman wears blue boots. First line: "As they topple like a plummet to the street below, eighty stories distant, Greer shrieks insanely the entire length of the building!" The last 1/3 of the final page of the sequence is a Joe Shuster illustrated company request to readers to get the new syndicated Superman newspaper strip in their local newspaper if they wish to read those adventures.

Superman & Action Comics Invite You to Become a Charter Member of the Supermen of America (Table of Contents)

promo (ad from the publisher) / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Joe Shuster (illo)

Inks:

Joe Shuster (illo)

Colors:

?

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Characters:

Superman (inset)

Reprinted:

• in Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-61 (1979)
• in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #1 (1989)
• in Superman #1 [Masterpiece Edition] (Chronicle Books, 1999 series) #[nn] (1999)
• in Millennium Edition: Superman 1 (DC, 2000 series) #nn (December 2000)

Indexer Notes

Supermen of America fan club application (initial launch). Illustration accompanying promo also used on the pinup on the back cover.

Scientific Explanation of Superman's Amazing Strength--! (Table of Contents)

Superman / filler / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Jerry Siegel

Pencils:

Joe Shuster

Inks:

Joe Shuster

Colors:

?

Letters:

Joe Shuster?

Content Information

Synopsis:

Superman's strength is attributed to the lighter gravity found on Earth, and is compared to the ant and the grasshopper, both insects whose strength and jumping ability, by comparsion, would be considered super strength.

Reprinted:

• in Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-61 (1979)
• in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #1 (1989)
• in Superman: The Complete History (Chronicle Books, 1998 series) [1/2 page]
• in Superman #1 [Masterpiece Edition] (Chronicle Books, 1999 series) #[nn] (1999)
• in Millennium Edition: Superman 1 (DC, 2000 series) #nn (December 2000)
• in Superman Chronicles, The (DC, 2006 series) #1 (2006).

Indexer Notes

Adapted (not reprinted) from page 1 in Action Comics #1. According to Superman: The Complete History, the idea and title for this sequence came from M. C. Gaines in a letter to Siegel and Shuster dated 1939-03-27.

[The Blakely Mine Disaster] (Table of Contents)

Superman / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Jerry Siegel [as Jerome Siegel] (signed)

Pencils:

Joe Shuster (signed)

Inks:

Joe Shuster (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

Joe Shuster

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Superman [Clark Kent]; George Taylor; Stanislaw Kober; Thornton Blakely (villain)

Synopsis:

Clark asks editor Taylor for the assignment at a cave-in the Blakely Mine, a mine notorious for its unsafe working conditions. However, when he disguises himself as a miner, he is caught and taken to Blakely, who is entertaining guests at a party. Blakely decides to move the party into the mine, showing to all present that conditions and fail safe measures are more than adequate for the worker's safety.

Reprinted:

• from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #3 (August 1938)

Indexer Notes

Superman appears in only one panel in this story. Wears blue boots. First line: "A creaking of timber - an ominous rumble - and then, with a terrific crash, the Blakely coal mine caves in, entrapping a lone miner within its terrible confines!" The last 1/3 of the final page of this sequence is an illustrated promotional ad, encouraging readers to turn back to centerfold and fill out the application for membership in The Supermen of America club.

[Superman Plays Football] (Table of Contents)

Superman / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Jerry Siegel [as Jerome Siegel] (signed)

Pencils:

Joe Shuster (signed)

Inks:

Joe Shuster (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

Joe Shuster

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Superman [Clark Kent]; Tommy Burke; Mary; Wallace Dodd (cameo); Coach Randall (villain)

Synopsis:

Learning that the football coach of Dale University, who is desperately trying to save his job, has hired professional thugs to play against Cordell University, Superman kidnaps Cordell's bench warmer-player, Tommy Burke, and takes his place in the big game, foiling the plot and allowing Cordell to win the game.

Reprinted:

• from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #4 (September 1938)

Indexer Notes

Clark works for the Evening News in this story. Superman wears blue boots. First line: "Exhilarated by the demon Speed, a drunken, irresponsible driver races faster -- faster still!" The final 1/4 of the last page of this sequence (panel 99) is titled "Acquiring Super-Strength", probably illustrated by Joe Shuster, displaying how one may learn to lift heavy objects over time with some practice.

["Boys and Girls: Meet the creators of the one and only Superman - America's Greatest Adventure Strip!"] (Table of Contents)

text article / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Joe Shuster

Inks:

Joe Shuster

Colors:

?

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

Fact

Characters:

Superman (inset); Jerry Siegel (photo); Joe Shuster (photo)

Reprinted:

• in Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-61 (1979)
• in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #1 (1989)
• in Superman #1 [Masterpiece Edition] (Chronicle Books, 1999 series) #[nn] (1999)
• in Millennium Edition: Superman 1 (DC, 2000 series) #nn (December 2000)
• in Superman Chronicles, The (DC, 2006 series) #1 (2006)

Indexer Notes

Features photos and biographies of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the creators of Superman.

[Biff Dugan] (Table of Contents)

Superman / text story / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Jerry Siegel (signed)

Pencils:

Joe Shuster (signed) (two spot illos)

Inks:

Joe Shuster (signed) (two spot illos)

Colors:

?

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Superman [Clark Kent]; Sergeant Blake; Harvey Brown; Biff Dugan (intro, villain)

Synopsis:

After Superman eludes Sergeant Blake by changing to Clark Kent, Clark blackmails the detective into allowing him a jailhouse interview with Biff Dugan. When Dugan escapes, Clark switches to Superman and returns Dugan to his cell.

Reprinted:

• in Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-61 (1979)
• in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #1 (1989)
• in Superman #1 [Masterpiece Edition] (Chronicle Books, 1999 series) #[nn] (1999)
• in Millennium Edition: Superman 1 (DC, 2000 series) #nn (December 2000)
• in Superman in the Forties (DC, 2005 series) #nn
• in Superman Chronicles, The (DC, 2006 series) #1 (2006).

Indexer Notes

First line: "Smashed desks, overturned filing cabinets, strewn plaster, gaping holes in the walls, shining steel fixtures drooping in sad caricature of their former modernistic splendor, greeted the startled Detective Sergeant's eyes as he swung open the office door to the firm Harvey Brown, Patent Attorney."

[House Advertisement] (Table of Contents)

Action Comics #14 / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Pencils:

Fred Guardineer

Inks:

Fred Guardineer

Colors:

?

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Zatara; Tong; Superman (inset)

Synopsis:

Promotional house ad for Action Comics #14, for July of 1939, on sale July 2, 1939.

Reprinted:

• in Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-61 (1979)
• in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #1 (1989)
• in Superman #1 [Masterpiece Edition] (Chronicle Books, 1999 series) #[nn]

Indexer Notes

This ad contains clues to which printing of the issue this is: on sale date of "June 2nd" (at least first printing) or just "Now on Sale" (at least third printing, second printing is undetermined).

[Pin-Up] (Table of Contents)

Superman / illustration / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Pencils:

Joe Shuster

Inks:

Joe Shuster

Colors:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Superman

Reprinted:

• in Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-61 (1979)
• in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #1 (1989) [1/4 page]
• in Superman #1 [Masterpiece Edition] (Chronicle Books, 1999 series) #[nn] (1999)
• in Millennium Edition: Superman 1 (DC, 2000 series) #nn (December 2000)
• in Superman Chronicles, The (DC, 2006 series) #1 (2006).

Indexer Notes

Illustration used for The Supermen of America club. The original has a dashed line to the right where this pinup could be cut out, which none of the reprinted issues has. Printed on the back cover.

[Ads] (Table of Contents)

advertisement / 2 pages (report information)

Content Information

Reprinted:

• in Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-61 (1979) [company's address blanked out]
• in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #1 (1989) [1/2 page]
• in Superman #1 [Masterpiece Edition] (Chronicle Books, 1999 series) #[nn]

Indexer Notes

Ads for new 576 page catalog of novelties from Johnson Smith & Co., with full pages of novelties available, which appear on pages 2 and 67 in this issue.