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

Issue Details

Issue #11
Published July-August 1941
Cover Price 0.10 USD
Pages 68
Editing Whitney Ellsworth; [Murray Boltinoff; Mort Weisinger]
Notes Assistant editor dates approximate. All notes and synopses added by Craig Delich and revised 2010-01-02.

Cover Details - "World's Greatest Adventure-Strip Character!"

Characters Superman
Genre superhero
Pencils Fred Ray
Inks Fred Ray
Letters typeset
Notes Cover art verified by Fred Ray.
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991); in Superman Chronicles, The (DC, 2006 series) #6 [minus publisher and distributor emblems and trademark, and with a white background]

1 page Superman illustration "Superman: America's Greatest Adventure-Strip Charcater"

Characters Superman
Genre superhero
Pencils Paul Cassidy [as Joe Shuster] (signed)
Inks Paul Cassidy [as Joe Shuster] (signed)
Notes Frontispiece. Also used as frontispiece in Superman (DC, 1939 series) #9 with slightly different coloring.
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991)

13 page Superman story "Zimba's Gold Badge Terrorists"

Characters Superman [Clark Kent]; Lois Lane; Perry White; Sgt. Casey; Rolf Zimba (villain, intro, death); Gold Badge Organization (villains, intro, deaths); Daily Planet building (globe with ring)
Synopsis When the ruthless Gold Badge Organization causes tremendous damage in the city of Metrodale through the use of bombs, its leaders then turn their attention to the city of Metropolis. But when they threaten, and nearly destroy, the Daily Planet building, Superman devises a plan to impersonate the group's leader, call a meeting of all members in one place, and have the Police round them up, all in one fell swoop.
Genre superhero
Script Jerry Siegel (signed)
Pencils Leo Nowak [as Joe Shuster] (signed)
Inks Leo Nowak? [as Joe Shuster] (signed)
Notes The title is used in the table of contents of the reprint.
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991); in Superman Chronicles, The (DC, 2006 series) #6

1 page Popsicle advertisement "Look Kids! See How Easy to Get These Swell Prizes"

Synopsis Ad promoting prizes that can be won by readers for mailing in the bags from Popsicle and Fudgicle bags to the nearest Popsicle Service Department office.
Letters ?; typeset (some)
Notes Sequence added by Craig Delich (January, 2006).
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991)

Half page Tony's Diner filler "untitled"

Genre gag
Script Henry Boltinoff?
Pencils Henry Boltinoff?
Inks Henry Boltinoff?
Letters Henry Boltinoff?
Notes Credits by Craig Delich (January, 2006 and January, 2010). Besides the cartoon, this page also has ads for fireworks, a new auto guide and a coupon for readers to subscribe to the magazine "Model Airplane News" w/illustration by unknown artist.
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991)

1 page Facts.... filler "untitled"

Characters Charles Zimmy
Synopsis This fact half-page spotlights the grave of Francis Scott Key, and talks about the legless swimmer, Charles Zimmy, who holds the world's endurance swimming record of seven days and five minutes.
Genre fact
Script Henry Boltinoff (signed)
Pencils Henry Boltinoff (signed)
Inks Henry Boltinoff (signed)
Letters Henry Boltinoff
Notes The last half of this page is a house promotional ad for Action Comics #38 (July, 1941) with cover.
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991)

12 page Superman story "The Corinthville Caper"

Characters Superman [Clark Kent]; Perry White; Lois Lane; Emil Carlstrom (intro); Carol Carlstrom (Emil's daughter, intro); Grant Fellows (villain, intro)
Synopsis Editor White sends Lois and Clark to Corinthville in response to public sightings of giant animals, and they visit the laboratory of Dr. Carlstrom, who assures the pair that his experiments are being done to try to extend the life span of animals. Later, Superman confronts the culprit involved who explains that he made up the story about giant animals, and only used a large gorilla and snake to support his story, because he had discovered a hidden gold mine beneath Carlstrom's lab.
Genre superhero
Script Jerry Siegel (signed)
Pencils Leo Nowak [as Joe Shuster] (signed)
Inks Leo Nowak? [as Joe Shuster] (signed)
Notes The title is used in the table of contents of the reprint.
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991); in Superman Chronicles, The (DC, 2006 series) #6

1 page Little Orphan Annie; Quaker advertisement "Boys! Girls! So Easy to Get Exciting Things Free"

Characters Little Orphan Annie
Synopsis Ad promo from the Quaker Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice Company for readers to mail in a coupon, plus cereal guarantee seals from the boxes of their products & a certain amount of money, to get Little Orphan Annie merchandise, such as a mysterious magnifying ring, magic-secret detecto-kit, a "Little Wonder" flashlight, a 3-power leatherette focusing telescope and a genuine Univex snapshot camera.
Genre adventure
Letters ?; typeset (some)
Notes Sequence added by Craig Delich (January, 2006).
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991)

1 page Superman promo (ad from the publisher) "Supermen of America"

Characters Superman
Synopsis Promo from Superman asking readers if they have entered Superman's Super-contest, offering at least $1000 in cash prizes, to all readers of Action Comics, and that cash prizes are doubled for Supermen of America members. A coupon is provided for readers to join the Supermen of America club.
Genre contest
Pencils Joe Shuster (spot illustration)
Inks Paul Cassidy (spot illustration)
Letters typeset
Notes Sequence added by Craig Delich (January, 2006).
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991)

13 page Superman story "The Yellow Plague"

Characters Superman [Clark Kent]; Lois Lane; Perry White; Dr. Sanford Franklin; Pedro Carlos (death); Dr. Karl van Breeden; Major Burt Crandall; Wacouches (Chirroba Chief); Quismado (villain, intro, death); un-named gangster (villain, intro, death)
Synopsis Assigned by Perry White to write an article on the life of an internee, Lois and Clark meet with their friend, Dr. Sanford Frank, who then introduces them to internee Pedro Carlos from Latin America. The reporters soon learn that Carlos is a member of a South American tribe, the Chirrobans, who suffer from a yellow plague that is now affecting people in Metropolis, thanks to Quismado, a Chirroban. Heading to South America, Superman succeeds in stopping Quismado and securing a cure for the yellow plague in Metropolis.
Genre superhero
Script Jerry Siegel (signed)
Pencils Leo Nowak [as Joe Shuster] (signed)
Inks Leo Nowak? [as Joe Shuster] (signed)
Notes The title is used in the table of contents of the reprint.
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991); in Superman Chronicles, The (DC, 2006 series) #6

1 page Baby Ruth advertisement "Energy in the Pinches"

Synopsis Ad promoting Baby Ruth candy bars.
Letters ?; some typeset
Notes Sequence added by Craig Delich (January, 2006).
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991)

2 page text story "Timely Rescue"

Characters Captain Eddie Wales; Iris Davis
Synopsis Eddie Wales takes his ship, the "Narcissus", into the water, and Iris did the same for her ship, "Ardor". The weather was brewing up a storm, and the storm damaged the "Ardor", breaking its masts, but Eddie saved the day, promising to repair the masts that afternoon. They both got out of the wading pool they had been in sailing their miniature racing yachts!
Genre sea adventure
Script Nelson Edwards (signed)
Pencils Stan Kaye [as Stanley Kaye] (signed) (spot illustration)
Inks Stan Kaye [as Stanley Kaye] (signed) (spot illustration)
Letters typeset
Notes This text story is surrounded by many different ads, including for the Moo newspaper, Stillicious Dairy Chocolate Drink, fireworks, and a promo for the Superman Radio Show [listing all the stations nationwide that air the show].
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991)

1 page It's So -- filler "untitled"

Synopsis Two single fact cartoons: one is about how much all the body's chemical elements are worth in dollar amount, and the other tells how many letters are in the Hawaiian alphabet.
Genre Fact
Script Henry Boltinoff (signed)
Pencils Henry Boltinoff (signed)
Inks Henry Boltinoff (signed)
Letters Henry Boltinoff
Notes The last half of this page is a house promo for Batman #5 (Spring, 1941).
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991)

1 page promo (ad from the publisher) "All-Star #5 & All-Flash #1"

Characters The Justice Society of America [The Flash (also as solo star); Green Lantern; Spectre; Atom; Sandman; Hour-Man; Hawkman; Doctor Fate]
Synopsis Two promotional ads: one with the cover for All-Star Comics #5 (June-July, 1941) with head-views of every JSA member illustrated by Everett E. Hibbard, and the cover to All-Flash Quarterly #1 (Summer, 1941).
Genre superhero
Pencils Howard Purcell (All-Star cover); Everett E. Hibbard (JSA figures and All-Flash cover)
Inks Howard Purcell (All-Star cover); Everett E. Hibbard (JSA figures and All-Flash cover)
Letters ?; typeset (some)
Notes Sequence, credits and information added by Craig Delich (January, 2006).
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991)

13 page Superman story "The Plot of Count Bergac"

Characters Superman [Clark Kent]; Perry White; Patricia Randall (intro); Count Bergac [Ricky Hanlon](villain)
Synopsis Patricia Randall returns from overseas and calls a Board of Directors meeting for the Randall Department Store Company, and informs them that from that point on, she was taking charge. After she leaves, a French Count in attendance informs the board that if he has his way and marries her, that he would return control of the company to them: for $100,000 a year!
Genre superhero
Script Jerry Siegel (signed)
Pencils Leo Nowak [as Joe Shuster] (signed)
Inks Leo Nowak? [as Joe Shuster] (signed)
Notes The title is used in the table of contents of the reprint.
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991); in Superman Chronicles, The (DC, 2006 series) #6

1 page World's Finest Comics #2 promo (ad from the publisher) "All Aboard!"

Characters Superman; Batman; Robin
Synopsis Promotional house ad for World's Finest Comics #2 (formerly World's Best Comics), on sale May 16th.
Genre superhero
Pencils Fred Ray [comic cover]; Stan Kaye? (figure)
Inks Fred Ray [comic cover]; Stan Kaye? (figure)
Letters ?; typeset (some)
Notes Sequence, credits and information added by Craig Delich (January, 1991).
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991)

1 page Spencer Fireworks Company advertisement "Fireworks"

Synopsis Advertisement from the Spencer Fireworks Company, encouraging readers to buy their fireworks from the company, and to send for their catalog so that the readers can sell Spencer's fireworks to their friends and thereby get their own fireworks for free.
Letters ?; most typeset
Notes Sequence added by Craig Delich (January, 2006).
Reprinted in Superman Archives (DC, 1989 series) #3 (1991)