Action Comics #22

(March 1940)

[Europe at War] (Part 1) (Table of Contents)

Superman / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Jerry Siegel (signed)

Pencils:

Joe Shuster; Paul Cassidy

Inks:

Paul Cassidy

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Superman [Clark Kent]; Lois Lane; Galonia-Toran War; Lita Laverne (Intro)

Synopsis:

When Toran suddenly invades Galonia, Clark and Lois are sent to cover the war. On the ship to Europe, Clark saves the life of Lita Laverne, a famous foreign actress. When she later snubs him, Clark and Lois attend a reception for Lita to investigate. The reception is cut short when the city is bombed. Superman ends the bombing but discovers a neutral steamship is under attack and that Lita might have a connection.

Reprinted:

• In Limited Collectors' Edition (DC, 1972 series) #C-31 (October-November 1974)
• in Superman: The Action Comics Archives (DC, 1997 series) #2 (1998)

Indexer Notes

"S" on cape.

[Volunteer Fireman] (Table of Contents)

Pep Morgan / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Gardner F. Fox ?

Pencils:

Fred Guardineer [as Gene Baxter] (signed)

Inks:

Fred Guardineer [as Gene Baxter] (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

Adventure

Characters:

Pep Morgan; Joe Mack; Charlie; Mrs. Mack; Rufus Toone (Villain); Ezra Wright (Villain); Fred Davis; Jack Green; Ted

Synopsis:

As Pep is playing pinochle with the volunteer fire department, they receive word that Joe Mack's place is burning. When they arrive, they find that Joe's wife ran back in for her pocketbook. Pep prepares a daring rescue. Later, evidence is found that the fire might have been set intentionally, and suspicion falls on Rufus Toone and his nephew, Ezra Wright.

Indexer Notes

Writer credit added by Craig Delich 8-21-08.

[Murder at the Slash-D Ranch] (Table of Contents)

Chuck Dawson / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Homer Fleming

Inks:

Homer Fleming

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

western

Characters:

Chuck Dawson; Blacky; Andy Parsons; Mrs. Parsons; Jackson

Synopsis:

An young "puncher" mistakes an old gunman for a friend, but his friendly slap causes him to be held at gunpoint. Chuck sees that the young man apologized, and he intervenes. Later, on a rough mountain trail, Chuck finds the young man's body and is coerced into helping track down the killer when the Slash-D ranch foreman finds him by the body.

[Beauty was the Beast] (Table of Contents)

Clip Carson / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Sheldon Moldoff (signed)

Inks:

Sheldon Moldoff (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

Adventure

Characters:

Clip Carson; Gloria Anders; Harry Anders; Reginald Hood; Mr. Ballard

Synopsis:

Aboard a liner en route from Algiers to South America, Clip sees a man, Harry Anders, knocked overboard and jumps in to rescue him. Back on board, the man and his daughter, Gloria, tell Clip about a statue that they obtained in Africa that has brought nothing but attempts on their lives, despite their readiness to return it. Clip goes to the room of an anthropologist, Reginald Hood, for more information but is met with great resistance. Shortly thereafter, Harry is found murdered, and Clip races to solve the case.

Malay Head (Table of Contents)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Frank Cooper (signed)

Pencils:

? (spot illo)

Inks:

? (spot illo)

Colors:

?

Letters:

Typeset

Content Information

Genre:

adventure

[The Island Demon] (Table of Contents)

Tex Thomson / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Ken Fitch ?

Pencils:

Bernard Baily (signed)

Inks:

Bernard Baily (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

Bernard Baily

Content Information

Genre:

Adventure

Characters:

Tex Thomson; Bob Daley; Cary James; Doctor Reid; Dr. Drummond; a demon (Villain); Courtney; Mrs. Van Schuler

Synopsis:

Weird happenings on a small island in the Indian Ocean have kept that section isolated. Cary James decide to investigate rumors of horrible demons there. Doctor Reid, head of the isle mission, pays Cary a visit, telling him to believe the natives. When Reid can't convince Cary to stay away, the doctor gives him a locket that can kill the demon if it is pressed on the demon's head. When Cary arrives, he finds not a demon but an old man. Later, however, this old man puts Cary under his spell, and the old man takes on Cary's features in order to take his place in the world. The real Cary sends a letter and the locket to Dr. Drummond so that the impostor can be stopped. In New York, Dr. Drummond's butler, Courtney, is attacked by the demon Cary. After learning that Cary attacked the butler, Tex Thomson must get to the bottom of the mystery.

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit added by Craig Delich 8-21-08.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents)

Fantastic Facts / filler / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

George Papp

Pencils:

George Papp

Inks:

George Papp

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

fact

Indexer Notes

Writer credit added by Craig Delich 8-21-08.

[The Lost Scot Gold Mine] (Part 2) (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Bert Christman [as Christopher] (signed)

Inks:

Bert Christman [as Christopher] (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

adventure

Characters:

Three Aces [Fog Fortune; Gunner Bill; Whistler Will] (brief origin); Matt Saunders; Sally Saunders; Perry Laverne; Martino Fenton; Nedra; Concho; Juan; Pepito

Synopsis:

Gunner and Tog notice a change in Whistler, who leaves shortly thereafter. In Arizona, at Matt Saunders' ranch, Easterners are entertained on the eve of a wedding. The groom, Perry Laverne, asks the bride, Sally Saunders, about her brother Will and why he is named "Whistler." She relates how they found him in his youth on the Gila Desert and adopted him. A woman named Nedra confirms with Martino Fenton, Perry's cousin, that Perry Laverne will be killed. Concho and his raiders kidnap Sally and Perry, according to Nedra and Martino's plans. Martino soons finds that he has been double-crossed by Concho, who takes him captive as well. One night a whistling sound through the camp ignites the hopes of the captives.

Indexer Notes

Story continued from Action Comics #21.

[Wet Paint] (Table of Contents)

Rex / filler / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Fred Schwab

Pencils:

Fred Schwab

Inks:

Fred Schwab

Colors:

?

Letters:

Fred Schwab

Content Information

Genre:

gags

Characters:

Rex; Rex's owner

Synopsis:

Rex's owner kicks Rex out of a chair so that he can paint it. Rex finds a way to sleep in the chair again.

Indexer Notes

Writer and letterer credits added by Craig Delich 8-21-08.

The Mask (Table of Contents)

Zatara Master Magician / comic story / 11 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Gardner F. Fox

Pencils:

Fred Guardineer

Inks:

Fred Guardineer

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

occult

Characters:

Zatara; The Mask (Villain); The Tigress (Villain); Ed Burton

Synopsis:

Recently returned from England, Zatara dines at the El Storko Club, where he notices the Tigress. He sees her poison the drink of Ed Burton, a banker. Zatara saves him. The Tigress meets with the Mask and discusses their plans to kill Ed. Zatara hunts after the Tigress to stop them.