This comic has many features. Most notably among these is the first appearance of Superman. This was the comic that changed the direction of comic books as we know it. It introduced a costumed Super-Hero.
Fun fact: The highest graded copy of Action Comics #1 was sold at an auction, for a record 2.16 million dollars. in the year 2011.
Here are the features for this issue.
- Superman - First a one page origin of Superman. Although Krypton isn't mentioned by name, Superman's place of origin is given as a 'distant planet' destroyed by old age, from which a scientist sent his infant son to Earth in a space-ship. There is no mention of Jonathan or Martha Kent, and rather than being adopted by the Kents, the motorist who discovered his space-ship merely turned Clark over to an orphanage. Superman's powers were originally quite limited compared to those in the Golden Age books. He couldn't fly (although he could "leap tall buildings at a single bound"), and was invulnerable only to anything "less than a bursting shell". His powers increased gradually (and without explanation) in succeeding issues of Action Comics. A more complete description of his origin, including mention of Krypton and the Kents, is given in the first issue of Superman in June, 1939. In this issue Superman saves a woman who is going to be executed by finding the real killer. He stops a man who was whipping his wife with a belt and he confronts a lobbyist who is trying to get the United States involved in World War II.
- Chuck Dawson - Chuck Dawson goes back to the ranch that is rightfully his but was stolen by ranchers who killed his father when he was young. He runs into a slanted sheriff and John Burwell the owner of the 4-G Ranch. Burwell sends his men to kill Chuck and Chuck ends up in jail as a result. Chuck makes his escape but the story ends on a cliff hanger for next issue.
- Zatara - Zatara and Tong take on Tigress and her gang who are robbing valuables from trains. Zatara and Tong manage to stop and round up the gang with the help of the State Police. Tigress however gets away to torment Zatara another day.
- South Sea Strategy - In a two page short story Bret Cole and his first mate Cottonball help Samuel Newton out of the water and discover that a native uprising on the island they are near has resulted in the kidnapping of Samuel's daughter Merna. This story is continued in the next issue.
- Sticky Mitt Stimson - This is a four page comic strip style story about Stimson who steals, or attempts to steal, an apple and is chased by police for the next four pages as he tries all kinds of ways to fool them.
- The Adventures of Marco Polo - Marco Polo's men are worried for their lives but Marco helps them ambush their would-be assailants.
- Pep Morgan - Is the Light Heavyweight Champion. With everyone trying to be the new champion, Pep faces a few cheaters who will stop at nothing to bring him down.
- Scoop Scanlon - Scoop stops an international jewel thief with the help of his partner Rusty James.
- Tex Thompson - Tex Thompson solves a murder in England with the help of two kids Robert and Betty.
- Stardust - A one page feature about different actors
- Odds 'N' Ends - A one page feature about professional athletes.
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