Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #52
Published September 1942
Cover Price 0.10
Pages 68
Editing Whitney Ellsworth, [Mort Weisinger, Murray Bolitnoff (assistants)]
Notes This cover featuring all of the Action heroes has been reprinted often.

Cover Details - "nonbe"

Characters Superman; Zatara; Congo Bill; Vigilante; Americommando.
Genre superhero
Pencils Fred Ray
Inks Fred Ray
Letters typeset
Notes This cover featuring all of the Action heroes has been reprinted often.
Reprinted In Superman: The Action Comics Archives (DC, 1997 series) #3 (2001).

13 page Superman story "The Emperor of America"

Characters Superman [Clark kent]; V: The Emperor of America [I]; Lois Lane; Jimmy Olsen; Perry White.
Synopsis The President of the United States his position in favor of The Emperor, who uses a non-resistance ray to take over America without firing a shot. He doesn't count on Superman providing any opposition, however.
Genre superhero
Script Jerry Siegel (signed)
Pencils John Sikela? (signed as Joe Shuster)
Inks John Sikela (signed as Joe Shuster)
Notes An imaginary story in post-war America, Archives credits pencils to Ed Dobrotka. New art id by Craig Delich and Bob Hughes 6/05. Modified synopsis added by Craig Delich 9-7-08.
Reprinted In Superman: The Action Comics Archives (DC, 1997 series) #3 (2001).

1 page Supermen of the U.S. Army filler "Sky Fighter"

Genre fact
Pencils Cliff Young?
Inks Cliff Young?

12 page Vigilante story "Sing a Song of Six Guns"

Characters The Vigilante (Greg Sanders](origin); Stuff.
Synopsis Greg's show is almost pulled off the air until he learns how to make the jive with some classical kids who've had their instruments heisted by Jiggers Jolton.
Genre superhero
Script Joe Samachson?
Pencils Mort Meskin [signed as Mort Morton]
Inks Cliff Young
Notes Tells his origin and reveals secret ID to Stuff. Writer id by Bob Hughes 6/05.

Half page Private Pete filler

Characters Pvt. Pete
Genre military humor
Script Henry Boltinoff
Pencils Henry Boltinoff
Inks Henry Boltinoff

6 page Three Aces story "The Battle of a Thousand Years"

Characters Three Aces: Fog Fortune, Gunner Bill and Whistler Will.
Genre adventure
Script Gardner F. Fox
Pencils Louis Cazeneuve
Inks Louis Cazeneuve
Notes Writer credit added by Craig Delich 9-7-08.

8 page Americommandos story "The Case of the Stolen Spectacles"

Characters Mr. America [Tex Thomson].
Synopsis Mr. America catches an escaped spy.
Genre war; superhero
Script Joseph Greene
Pencils Bernard Baily (signed)
Inks Bernard Baily (signed)
Notes A continuation of Mr. America- writer per Bails via Delich 5/05. Although billed as Americommandos, strip still features Mr. America and Fatman. Fatman does not appear in this story.

2 page text story "Wolf Hunt"

Genre adventure
Script Tex Slade (signed)
Letters typeset

Half page Little Gertie filler

Characters Little Gertie
Genre gag

6 page Congo Bill story "The One Man Army"

Characters Congo Bill
Genre jungle
Pencils Fred Ray
Inks Fred Ray

Half page Private Pete filler

Characters Pvt. Pete
Genre military humor
Script Henry Boltinoff
Pencils Henry Boltinoff
Inks Henry Boltinoff

Half page Laffs filler

Genre gag

9 page Zatara story "Crime on Ice"

Characters Zatara
Genre occult
Script Gardner F. Fox
Pencils Joseph Sulman
Inks Joseph Sulman