1939 - February

 Action Comics #9, February 1939

Cover: 

• A racecar and its driver are crashing into what appears to have been a fence.
• The cover boasts “64 Pages of Thrills!”
• The cover image has no apparent connection to any of the interior content.
• The cover is signed by Fred Guardineer.
• A text blurb shares, “In this issue: Another Thrilling Adventure of SUPERMAN!”

Story: 

• “Untitled” - 13 pages, credited to “Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster”
• First story in the anthology-style book

Fabulous Firsts:

• It’s the second time Superman is mentioned on the cover, but the first time he is mentioned on a cover that does not feature him.
• First time in Superman stories that "Jerome" Siegel is identified as "Jerry" Siegel.

Origin:

• This story contains no mention of Superman’s origins.

Costume:

• Superman’s costume is pretty consistent throughout this story and with what readers would come to expect.
• The “S” on the chest emblem consistently appears as red.
• The chest emblem does not have a red border.

Powers:

• “Lifting tremendous weights”
• “Jumping stupendous heights”
• “Running faster than a bullet”
• “Rending steel with his bare hands”

Characterization:

• Superman is very confident in his abilities.
• Clark allows himself to be bullied by the visiting policeman.
• Clark also sullenly walks away when Lois rejects him, only to break out in laughter when he is alone.

Supporting Cast:

• Unnamed Police Chief, presumably Chief Burke from the previous story
• Unnamed Newspaper Reporters
• Detective Captain Reilly, dick from Chicago
• Lois Lane
• Mortimer Snoop, amateur detective
• Saunders, escaped mental patient
• Unnamed Nurse
• Unnamed Doctor
• Unnamed Daily Star Editor
• Unnamed Police Officers
• Unnamed Hospital Orderlies
• Unnamed Door Attendant at Duncan Party
• Unnamed Party Attendee

Synopsis:

Continuing from last issue’s story, the police are out to capture Superman for the act of destroying the slums. The Police Chief hires Detective Captain Reilly from Chicago because he has a 100% success rate. Reilly yells at Clark for his whispering about Reilly’s arrogance, which gets back to Lois. Lois rejects Clark’s request for a date and admits that she is interested in Superman. Clark’s moping about Lois turns into laughter when he is alone as he enjoys the humor of the situation.

Meanwhile, Reilly decides to post a $5,000 reward for anyone who can find and capture Superman. This intrigues Mortimer Snoop, a private eye, who just happens to catch Clark in the act of changing to Superman. Even though he does not recognize Clark, Snoop calls Reilly with this information. Based on an invitation in Clark’s left-behind clothing, they determine that Superman is going to be at a party at the Duncan residence that evening.

The two show up at the party and proceed to examine everyone in attendance, making Clark nervous as he is wearing his Superman gear underneath his evening suit. Reilly begins to remove Snoop from the investigation, so Snoop responds by shutting off the lights, which allows Clark to change to Superman. Reilly and Snoop charge at Superman and are knocked unconscious by Superman’s “tough skin”. Reilly gives up his pursuit of  Superman and returns to Chicago, however now with a 99% success rate.

Favorite Quotes:

• “I absolutely loathe you, you contemptible weakling! – Don’t you dare even to talk to me any more!”
• “Clark! It’s you! Ok, I’ve never been happier to see anyone in all my life!”

Oddities and Analyses:

• The first “splash” panel shows Superman lifting and smashing a tank, somewhat reminiscent of the cover of Action Comics #1. The panel seems to have no connection to the story itself, unless it is previously unseen event from the military’s unsuccessful attempt to apprehend Superman in the previous issue’s story.
• This is the second time that a Superman story continues the narrative from the previous issue’s story. (The first time being the stories from Action Comics #1 and Action Comics #2.)
• Although there are many newspapers represented by the reporters, the Daily Star is the only one mentioned by name.
• I am still a bit bothered by the police’s and reporters’ attitude towards Superman’s actions from the previous issue. Chief Burke says, Superman “has torn down a slum area, causing modern apartments to replace crowded tenements” and goes on to say that he personally approves of Superman’s actions. The characterization of what happened sort of supports my cautionary wondering in the previous post. If the apartments are not crowded, as the tenements were, that makes me think that it is not the same people living in the new structures that had lived in the slums. At the very least, it’s not all of the same people. It seems that Superman has increased homelessness in the city, and everyone thinks it’s a great idea!
  
• The scene with Lois and Clark where Clark sadly leaves but then erupts in laughter when alone reminds of a similar scene in Action Comics #424 from June 1973.
• Wouldn’t people at the party, or at least Lois, realize that Clark is also gone after Superman appeared and left?
• I am curious to see if the police continue to try to hunt down Superman in upcoming stories. My guess is that the answer is, “No.”
• There is no “Acquiring Super-Strength” lesson in this issue.
• The last panel reads, "Further Adventures of Superman are to be Found Only in Action Comics - Don't Miss an Issue!"

Apropos of Nothing:

• Both Tex Thomson and Zatara seem to spend a lot of time in Asia.

All comic-related images are the copyright of DC Entertainment.