| Issue | #1 |
| Published | Summer 1939 |
| Cover Price | 0.10 USD |
| Pages | 68 |
| Editing | Vin Sullivan; M.C. Gaines (uncredited, see note) |
| Notes | This issue went on sale 1939-05-18. According to Superman: The Complete History, M.C. Gaines told Siegel and Shuster what additional content (aside from the Action reprints) to create for this issue in a letter dated 1939-03-27. The Audit Bureau of Circulation files reveal that there were three printings of this issue in 1939 (500,000 copies, 250,000 copies, and 150,000 copies) (researched by Russ Maheras). The only difference noted is in the house ad for Action Comics #14, which has either an on sale date of "June 2nd" or just "Now on Sale" (researched by David Bachman). There is no number on this issue. |
| Characters | Superman |
| Genre | superhero |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster |
| Inks | Joe Shuster |
| Notes | The drawing is based on the splash page of Action Comics #10. |
| Reprinted | in Superman (DC, 1939 series) #100 (September 1955) [1/8 page]; in Superman Annual (DC, 1960 series) #1 (1960) [1/4 page]; in Superboy (DC, 1949 series) #100 (October 1962) [1/4 page]; in Superboy (DC, 1949 series) #157 (June 1969) [1/4 page]; in Superman from the Thirties to the Seventies (Crown Publishers, Inc., 1971 series) #nn (1971); in Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-61 (1979); in Superman from the Thirties to the Eighties (Crown Publishers, Inc., 1983 series) #nn (1983); in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #1 (1989); in Superman: The Complete History (Chronicle Books, 1998 series) [1/3 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 in the Forties (DC, 2005 series) #nn; in Superman Chronicles, The (DC, 2006 series) #1 (2006); in Superman: Cover to Cover (DC, 2006 series) #nn |
| 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. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Jerry Siegel [as Jerome Siegel] (signed) |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster (signed) |
| Inks | Joe Shuster (signed) |
| Letters | Joe Shuster |
| 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!" |
| 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) |
| 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. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Jerry Siegel |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster |
| Inks | Joe Shuster |
| Letters | Joe Shuster |
| 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..." |
| 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). |
| 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. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Jerry Siegel |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster |
| Inks | Joe Shuster |
| Letters | Joe Shuster |
| 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. |
| Reprinted | from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #1 (June 1938) |
| 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. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Jerry Siegel [as Jerome Siegel] (signed) |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster (signed) |
| Inks | Joe Shuster (signed) |
| Letters | Joe Shuster |
| 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. |
| Reprinted | from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #2 (July 1938) |
| Characters | Superman (inset) |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster (illo) |
| Inks | Joe Shuster (illo) |
| Letters | typeset |
| Notes | Supermen of America fan club application (initial launch). Illustration accompanying promo also used on the pinup on the back cover. |
| 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) |
| 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. |
| Script | Jerry Siegel |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster |
| Inks | Joe Shuster |
| Letters | Joe Shuster? |
| 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. |
| 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). |
| 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. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Jerry Siegel [as Jerome Siegel] (signed) |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster (signed) |
| Inks | Joe Shuster (signed) |
| Letters | Joe Shuster |
| 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. |
| Reprinted | from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #3 (August 1938) |
| 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. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Jerry Siegel [as Jerome Siegel] (signed) |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster (signed) |
| Inks | Joe Shuster (signed) |
| Letters | Joe Shuster |
| 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. |
| Reprinted | from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #4 (September 1938) |
| Characters | Superman (inset); Jerry Siegel (photo); Joe Shuster (photo) |
| Genre | Fact |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster |
| Inks | Joe Shuster |
| Letters | typeset |
| Notes | Features photos and biographies of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the creators of Superman. |
| 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) |
| 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. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Jerry Siegel (signed) |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster (signed) (two spot illos) |
| Inks | Joe Shuster (signed) (two spot illos) |
| Letters | typeset |
| 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." |
| 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). |
| Characters | Zatara; Tong; Superman (inset) |
| Synopsis | Promotional house ad for Action Comics #14, for July of 1939, on sale July 2, 1939. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Pencils | Fred Guardineer |
| Inks | Fred Guardineer |
| Letters | typeset |
| 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). |
| 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] |
| Characters | Superman |
| Genre | superhero |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster |
| Inks | Joe Shuster |
| 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. |
| 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). |
| 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. |
| 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] |