Superman #53

(July-August 1948)

Editorial Advisory Board (Table of Contents: 1) (Expand) /

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

An Open Letter to Superman Fans (Table of Contents: 2)

Superman / text story / 0.67 page (report information)

Script

? [as Lois Lane]

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

superhero

Synopsis

List of Superman's accomplishments in the "real world."

Reprints

• in Superman Anthologie (Panini Deutschland, 2018 series) (2018)

Indexer Notes

Inside front cover.

The Origin of Superman! (Table of Contents: 3)

Superman / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Finger

Pencils

Wayne Boring

Inks

Stan Kaye

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman [Clark Kent]; Jor-El (flashback); Lara (flashback); Luthor (cameo); John Kent (1st named, flashback); Mary Kent (flashback); Nitro Kale (criminal)

Synopsis

After a prologue which demonstrates Superman's amazing abilities, his origin is recounted. On the scientifically advanced planet of Krypton, Jor-El fails to convince the Council of Five that Krypton is doomed. As Krypton explodes, Jor-El and Lara send their son to Earth, where he is found and adopted by the elderly Kents. As Clark grows to maturity he manifests abilities far beyond that of mortal men. On his deathbed, his father urges Clark to become a powerful force for good as Superman.

Reprints

• in Superman (National Comics Publications of Canada Ltd, 1948 series) #53 ([July-August, 1948])
• in スーパーマン [Superman] [Suupaaman] (National Publications, 1949 series) #1 (昭和24年4月15日)
• in Stålmannen (Centerförlaget, 1949 series) #1/1949 (september-oktober 1949)
which is reprinted
• in Stålmannen (Semic, 1984 series) #9/1984
• in Stålmannen jubileumsalbum (Williams Förlags AB, 1974 series) (1974)
• in Stålmannen (Williams Förlags AB, 1969 series) #12/1974 ([26 november] 1974)
• in Stålmannen (Serieforlaget / Se-Bladene / Stabenfeldt, 1952 series) #1/1952 (juni 1952)
which is reprinted
• in Supermann Spesialnummer (Serieforlaget / Se-Bladene / Stabenfeldt, 1966 series) #[nn] (1966)
• in Serieskatter (Hjemmet / Egmont, 2015 series) #2 ([november] 2015)
• in Buntes Allerlei (Aller Verlag, 1953 series) #42/1953 (20. Oktober 1953)
which is reprinted
• in Buntes Allerlei (Norbert Hethke Verlag, 1992 series) #42/1953 ([1992])
• in Three-Dimension Adventures Superman (DC, 1953 series) ([November] 1953)
which is reprinted
• in Superman 3-D (DC, 1998 series) ([February] 1998)
• in Superman from the Thirties to the Seventies (Crown Publishers, 1971 series) (1971) [black and white]
• in The Best of DC (DC, 1979 series) #16 (September 1981)
• in The Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told (DC, 1987 series) (1987 [March 1988])
• in The Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told (DC, 1987 series) (1987 [May 1989])
• in Superman in the Forties (DC, 2005 series) ([December] 2005)
• in Superman: A Celebration of 75 Years (DC, 2013 series) (2013 [January 2014])
• in Superman Anthologie (Panini Deutschland, 2018 series) (2018)
• in Superman: The Golden Age Omnibus (DC, 2013 series) #6 ([September] 2019)

Indexer Notes

The name John Kent appears on Superman's father's tombstone. This is the only time this name is used. Kryptonians are shown to have x-ray vision.

You Run Faster in Keds! (Table of Contents: 4) (Expand) /

U. S. Keds / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Captain Tootsie Traps the Circus Culprit (Table of Contents: 5) (Expand) /

Captain Tootsie / comics-form advertising / 1 page (report information)

The Oracle from Metropolis! (Table of Contents: 6)

Superman / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Al Schwartz

Pencils

Al Plastino

Inks

Al Plastino

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman [Clark Kent]; Professor Grog; Mike Mooney; Agamemnon; the Delphic Oracle; Denoxes

Synopsis

Professor Grog accidentally sends Superman and mechanic Mike Mooney back to ancient Egypt. The cynical Mooney tries to come up with ways to make money off of the Delphic Oracle, but Superman teaches him not to scoff at things he doesn't understand.

Reprints

• in Superman: The Golden Age Omnibus (DC, 2013 series) #6 ([September] 2019)

Indexer Notes

time-travel story

Get Your Free Movie Star Pictures (Table of Contents: 7) (Expand) /

Schwinn / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Won - By a Whisper! (Table of Contents: 8) (Expand) /

Another Jim Wise "P-F" Sports Story; "P-F" Canvas Shoes / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

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

Shorty / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Henry Boltinoff

Pencils

Henry Boltinoff

Inks

Henry Boltinoff

Letters

Henry Boltinoff

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Tryouts for the Baseball Team Today at the Stadium

Genre

humor

Reprints

• in Superman (National Comics Publications of Canada Ltd, 1948 series) #53 ([July-August, 1948])

Look Kids! Get Your Own Scale Model of the History Making Freedom Train! (Table of Contents: 10) (Expand) /

Kellogg's Variety / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

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

Daffy & Doodle / comic story / 0.67 page (report information)

Script

Lit-Win

Pencils

Lit-Win

Inks

Lit-Win

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Puff! Puff!" "Last stop... all fares please!

Genre

humor

Superman's Secret Message (Table of Contents: 12) (Expand) /

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

The Tiniest Things in the World (Table of Contents: 13)

text article / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Joe Samachson (credited as William Morrison)

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

non-fiction

Reprints

• in Superman (National Comics Publications of Canada Ltd, 1948 series) #53 ([July-August, 1948])

Show Time (Table of Contents: 14) (Expand) /

Adventures of "Popsicle Pete" / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 15)

Mister Grumble / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Phil Berube (signed)

Pencils

Phil Berube (signed)

Inks

Phil Berube (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Grrr - I'm hungry as a bear this morning...

Genre

humor

Rounding Up the Rustlers (Table of Contents: 16) (Expand) /

"U. S." Royal with His Jet-Propelled Bike; U. S. Bike Tires / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

A Job for Superhombre! (Table of Contents: 17)

Superman / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Script

Don C. Cameron

Pencils

Al Plastino

Inks

Al Plastino

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman [Clark Kent]; Lois Lane; Don Camero; Estrellita; The Eye [El Ojo]; Perry White; Mike the Clip; Horseface; the TNT Kid; Muggsy; Duke; Miss Tweek; Glass Jaw Grogan; One-Ear Eddie; Snapper

Synopsis

The Eye takes all the criminals in Metropolis to South America to set up a giant piracy operation, using the home of an old friend of Lois' as a front.

Reprints

• in Superman (National Comics Publications of Canada Ltd, 1948 series) #53 ([July-August, 1948])
• in Superman: The Golden Age Omnibus (DC, 2013 series) #6 ([September] 2019)

Indexer Notes

Don Camerro is named after writer Don Cameron.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 18)

Homer / comic story / 0.5 page (report information)

Script

Henry Boltinoff (signed)

Pencils

Henry Boltinoff (signed)

Inks

Henry Boltinoff (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Housewares? Two aisles over?

Genre

humor

Hi-Kids! Get This Cracker Jack Magic Pencil (Table of Contents: 19) (Expand) /

Cracker Jack / advertisement / 0.5 page (report information)

How Much Do You Really Know About Baseball? (Table of Contents: 20) (Expand) /

Thom McAn / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

New Handbook and New Air Rifle Catalog Ready (Table of Contents: 21) (Expand) /

Daisy Air Rifles / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Taste Treat to Share... (Table of Contents: 22) (Expand) /

Milky Way / advertisement / 1 page (report information)