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Mild Mannered Reviews - Classic Pre-Crisis Superman Comics

Action Comics #10

Cover date: March 1939

Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artist: Joe Shuster

The story starts off with a man calling the Daily Star requesting a reporter be sent to 18 Hogan Street for a story that will make headlines. Doubting, the Editor sends Kent to this story. When Kent arrives he is told to step in quickly as he's told he will get a story of terror, cruelty and shocking brutality if Clark agrees not to reveal his name. After Clark agrees the man removes his shirt revealing welts and lashes. Clark quickly asks where he got them. The man says they receive all sorts of bad treatment at the Corey Town Prison. The man (who reveals himself as the widely sought fugitive Walter Crane) wants Clark to tell the story of the prison to the public in hopes for a reform. Clark agrees to help.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Wyman is beating a prisoner when the Governor arrives. He quickly hides the prisoner until the Governor leaves. The Governor came to address the Daily Star's claims that the conditions at the prison are decaying. Wyman claims it's a lie and the Governor makes it clear that it better be. After the Governor leaves, Wyman realizes that Walter Crane is the ONLY way the paper could know this information.

Two days later Wyman shows up to the Daily Star demanding a retraction. The Editor says that they received the information from an authoritative source and that if he wanted to sue to go right ahead because it would make a good story in their paper! Wyman demands to talk to Kent who is quickly called into the office. He demands to know where Walter Crane is staying. Kent conforms to his cowardly disguise and blurts out where Walter is staying after a few threats about pressing charges for harboring a fugitive. When they get there Wyman immediately punches Walter in the face. Clark holds his head below his shoulders as Wyman takes Walter back to the prison, continuously punching him.

When Clark gets back the whole office is against him, including Lois and the Editor. Clark explains to the Editor that now he can get proof of Wyman's behavior. He suggests going down to Coreytown and getting photographs and testimonies.

The first step in Superman's plan is to get put in jail. He drives a car straight into superintendent Wyman's and punches him, claiming it was his fault. After going to jail Superman takes all the beatings and does all the work without sweat, the guards are amazed. At night he leaps out of the prison to get his Superman clothes and a camera, but meanwhile Walter Crane escapes and gets stuck in quicksand where Superman spots him. Walter faints and is brought back to the prison by Superman where he takes photos of Wyman breaking the law and beating prisoners. Superman grabs Wyman by the collar and shoves his face in a plate of the slop he makes the prisoners eat. Superman puts him in a small cage and dashes off stating that he would be back. Superman grabs the Governor during his sleep and takes him to see Wyman in the prison, forcing him to confess. Later the Editor apologizes to Clark seeing the full scope of his plan paid off in the long run.

Story - 4: I must say I LOVE how these early comics do such a great job of building a story around both news reporter Clark Kent AND Superman. This issue shows how Superman is out to protect EVERYONE. I also liked that we saw another triple disguise.

Art - 5: The art was very clear and detailed. We didn't have a bunch of repeat characters this time around. All-in-all it was great.

Cover Art - 4/5: The cover is very well done. Superman is still not "flying" in the traditional sense, but they are doing more and more with him in the sky. This cover shows him "owning" the air as he smashes this plane. My only issue is it looks like he is standing, they still haven't got the natural look to flight.

Pre-Crisis Superman Comic Book Reviews

1938-1949

Action Comics #1 (June 1938)
Action Comics #2 (July 1938)
Action Comics #3 (August 1938)
Action Comics #4 (September 1938)
Action Comics #5 (October 1938)
Action Comics #6 (November 1938)
Action Comics #7 (December 1938)
Superman Archives: Volume 1 (1939)
Superman #1 (Summer 1939)
Action Comics #8 (January 1939)
Action Comics #9 (February 1939)
Action Comics #10 (March 1939)
Superman #13 (November/December 1941) - “The Archer”
Superman #19 (November/December 1942) - “Case of the Funny Paper Crimes”
Action Comics #60 (May 1943) - “Lois Lane - Superwoman”
Superman #30 (September/October 1944) - “The Mysterious Mr. Mxyztplk”
Action Comics #80 (January 1945) - “Mr. Mxyztplk Returns”
Superman #38 (January/February 1946) - “The Battle of the Atoms”
Superman #42 (September/October 1946) - “The Death of Clark Kent”
Superman #45 (March/April 1947) - “Lois Lane, Superwoman”
Superman #53 (July 1948) - “The Origin of Superman”
Action Comics #124 (September 1948) - “A Superman of Doom”
Superman #60 (December 1949/January 1950) - “The Two Identities of Superman” & “Superman Fights the Super-Brain”

1950-1959

Superman #76 (May/June 1952) - “The Mightiest Team in the World”
Superman #80 (January/February 1953) - “Superman's Lost Brother”
Superman 3D (1953) - “The Man Who Stole the Sun”, “Origin of Superman” and “The Man Who Bossed Superman”
Superman #87 (February 1954) - “The Prankster's Greatest Role”
Superman #88 (March 1954) - “The Terrible Trio”
Superman #89 (May 1954) - “Captain Kent the Terrible”, “Superman of Skid Row”, and “One Hour to Doom!”
Superman #91 (August 1954) - “The Superman Stamp” and “Great Caesar's Ghost”
World's Finest #88 (May/June 1957) - “Superman and Batman's Greatest Foes”
Superman #115 (August 1957) - “The Midget Superman!”
Superboy #65 (May/June 1958) - “The Amazing Adventures of Krypto Mouse”
Action Comics #242 (July 1958) - “The Super-Duel in Space”
Superman #123 (August 1958) - “The Girl of Steel”
Superman #127 (February 1959) - “Titano the Super Ape”
Action Comics #252 (May 1959) - “The Menace of Metallo” and “The Supergirl From Krypton”
Superman #129 (May 1959) - “The Girl in Superman's Past”
Superman #130 (July 1959) - “The Curse of Kryptonite!”, “The Super-Servant of Crime!”, and “The Town that Hated Superman!”
Jimmy Olsen #40 (October 1959) - “Jimmy Olsen, Supergirl's Pal”

1960-1969

Superman #134 (January 1960) - “The Super-Menace of Metropolis”
Jimmy Olsen #42 (January 1960) - “The Big Superman Movie!”, “Perry White, Cub Reporter!”, and “Jimmy the Genie!”
Jimmy Olsen #44 (April 1960) - “The Wolf-Man of Metropolis”
Adventure Comics #271 (April 1960) - “How Luthor Met Superboy”
Jimmy Olsen #46 (July 1960) - “Jimmy Olsen, Orphan”
Superman #141 (November 1960) - “Superman's Return To Krypton”
Superboy #85 (December 1960) - “The Impossible Mission”
Jimmy Olsen #51 (March 1961) - “The Girl with Green Hair”
Jimmy Olsen #52 (April 1961) - “Jimmy Olsen, Wolf-Man”
Superboy #89 (June 1961) - “Superboy's Big Brother!”
Action Comics #279 (August 1961) - “The Super-Rivals”
Superman #147 (August 1961) - “The Legion of Super Villains”
Superman #149 (November 1961) - “The Death of Superman!”
Jimmy Olsen #57 (December 1961) - “Jimmy Olsen Marries Supergirl”
Superman #155 (August 1962) - “Superman Under the Green Sun” and “The�Downfall of�Superman”
Justice League of America #13 (August 1962) - “Riddle of the Robot Justice League”
World's Finest #129 (November 1962) - “Joker-Luthor, Incorporated”
Superman #158 (January 1963) - “Superman in Kandor”
Superman #160 (April 1963) - “The Mortal Superman”
Superman #161 (May 1963) - “The Last Days of Ma and Pa Kent”
Superman #162 (July 1963) - “The Amazing Story of Superman-Red and Superman-Blue”
Superman #163 (August 1963) - “Wonder-Man, the New Hero of Metropolis” and “The Goofy Superman”
Justice League of America #21 & #22 (August/September 1963) - “Crisis on Earth-One!” and “Crisis on Earth-Two!”
Superman #164 (October 1963) - “The Showdown Between Luthor and Superman”
Superman #165 (November 1963) - “The Sweetheart Superman Forgot”
Superman #166 (January 1964) - “The Fantastic Story of Superman's Sons”
Superman #167 (February 1964) - “The Team of Luthor and Brainiac”
Superman #168 (April 1964) - “Luthor - Super Hero” and “Lex Luthor, Daily Planet Editor”
Superman #169 (May 1964) - “The Man Who Stole Superman's Secret Life”
Action Comics #314 (July 1964) - “The Day Superman Became The Flash”
Justice League of America #29 & #30 (August/September 1964) - “Crisis on Earth-Three!” and “The Most Dangerous Earth of All!”
Superman #173 (November 1964) - “The Triumph of Luthor and Brainiac”
Action Comics #318 (November 1964) - “The Death of Luthor”
Action Comics #319 (December 1964) - “The Condemned Superman”
Superman #175 (February 1965) - “Clark Kent's Brother”
Superman #181 (November 1965) - “The Superman of 2965”
The Legion of Super-Heroes - Archives Volume 4 (1965)
Superman #184 (February 1966) - “The Demon Under the Red Sun”
Action Comics #338 (June 1966) - “Muto - Monarch of Menace”
Action Comics #339 (July 1966) - “Muto versus The Man of Tomorrow”
Superman #189 (August 1966) - “Krypton Lives Again”
Action Comics #346 (February 1967) - “The Man Who Sold Insurance to Superman” and “The Case of the Superman Imposter”
Superman #194 (February 1967) - “The Death of Lois Lane”
Superman #196 (May 1967) - “The Star of Steel”
Superman #199 (January 1967) - “Superman's Race With The Flash”
Superman #200 (October 1967) - “Super-Brother Against Super-Brother”
The Flash #175 (December 1967) - “Race to the End of the Universe”
Justice League of America #63 (June 1968) - “Time Signs a Death Warrant for the Justice League”
Superman #211 (November 1968) - “The Name of the Game is Superman!”
Superman #215 (April 1969) - “Lois Lane� Dead� Yet Alive”

1970-1979

Superman #224 (February 1970) - “Beware the Super-Genius Baby”
Action Comics #393 (October 1970) - “Superman Meets Super-Houdini!” and “The Day Superboy Became Superman!”
Jimmy Olsen #133 (October 1970) - “The Newsboy Legion”
Action Comics #394 (November 1970) - “Midas of Metropolis” and “Requiem for a Hot Rod!”
World's Finest #198 (November 1970) - “Race to Save the Universe!”
Action Comics #395 (December 1970) - “The Secrets of Superman's Fortress” and “The Credit Card of Catastrophe”
Jimmy Olsen #134 (December 1970) - “The Mountain of Judgement!”
World's Finest #199 (December 1970) - “A Race to Save Time!”
Superman #233 (January 1971) - “Superman Breaks Loose!”
Jimmy Olsen #135 (January 1971) - “The Evil Factory!”
Superman #234 (February 1971) - “How to Tame a Wild Volcano”
Jimmy Olsen #136 (February 1971) - “The Saga of the D.N.Aliens”
Superman #235 (March 1971) - “The Sinister Scream of the Devil's Harp”
Superman #236 (April 1971) - “Planet of the Angels” and “The Doomsayer”
Jimmy Olsen #137 (April 1971) - “The Four-Armed Terror!”
Superman #237 (May 1971) - “The Enemy of Earth”
Superman #238 (June 1971) - “Menace at 1000 Degrees”
Jimmy Olsen #138 (June 1971) - “The Big Boom!!”
Superman #240 (July 1971) - “To Save a Superman”
Jimmy Olsen #139 (July 1971) - “The Guardian Fights Again!!!”
Superman #241 (August 1971) - “The Shape of Fear”
Superman #242 (September 1971) - “The Ultimate Battle”
Jimmy Olsen #141 (September 1971) - “Will the Real Don Rickles Panic?!?”
Jimmy Olsen #142 (October 1971) - “The Man from Transilvane!”
Jimmy Olsen #143 (November 1971) - “Genocide Spray”
Jimmy Olsen #144 (December 1971) - “A Big Thing in a Deep Scottish Lake!”
Superman #247 (January 1972) - “Must There Be A Superman”
Jimmy Olsen #145 (January 1972) - “Brigadoom!”
Jimmy Olsen #146 (February 1972) - “Homo-Disastrous!”
Jimmy Olsen #147 (March 1972) - “A Superman in Super-Town!”
Jimmy Olsen #148 (April 1972) - “Monarch of All He Subdues!”
Superman #292 (October 1975) - “The Luthor Nobody Knows!”
Action Comics #458 (April 1976) - “Make Me a Super-Hero!” and “Masquerade of the Nutty Kid!”
Superman vs. Muhammad Ali (Spring 1978)
Action Comics #484 (June 1978) - “Superman Takes a Wife!”
Superman #328 (October 1978) - “Attack of the Kryptonoid”
Action Comics #489 (November 1978) - “Krypton Dies Again” and “Where There's a Will... There's a Fray”
Superman #329 (November 1978) - “I Have Met The Enemy... And He Is Me!” and “The Secret of the Talking Car”
Superman #330 (December 1978) - “The Master Mesmerizer of Metropolis!”
Action Comics #490 (December 1978) - “No Tomorrow For Superman”
Action Comics #491 (January 1979) - “A Matter of Light and Death”
Superman #331 (January 1979) - “Lockup at 20,000 Feet”
Action Comics #492 (February 1979) - “Superman's Secret Afterlife”
Superman #332 (February 1979) - “The Eternity Cage”
Action Comics #493 (March 1979) - “The Metropolis UFO Connection”
Action Comics #494 (April 1979) - “The Secret of the Super S”
Action Comics #495 (May 1979) - “Attack of the Ultimate Warrior”
DC Comics Presents #14 (October 1979) - “Judge, Jury... and No Justice!”
The Superman Story (1979) - “The Life Story of Superman”

1980-1986

DC Comics Presents #57 (May 1983) - “Days of Future Past”
DC Comics Presents #67 (March 1984) - “'Twas the Fright Before Christmas”
DC Comics Presents Annual #3 (1984) - “With One Magic Word”
Superman: The Secret Years #1 (February 1985) - “Dreams and Schemes and Feeling Proud!”
Superman: The Secret Years #2 (March 1985) - “Reach Out and Touch”
Superman: The Secret Years #3 (April 1985) - “Terminus”
DC Comics Presents #80 (April 1985) - “A World Full of Supermen!”
Superman: The Secret Years #4 (May 1985) - “Beyond Terminus”
DC Comics Presents #85 (September 1985) - “The Jungle Line”
Superman Annual #11 (1985) - “For The Man Who Has Everything”
World's Finest #323 (January 1986) - “Afraid of the Dark”
DC Comics Presents #97 (September 1986) - “Phantom Zone: The Final Chapter”
Superman #423 & Action Comics #583 (September 1986) - “Whatever Happened To The Man of Tomorrow?”

Compilation Volumes

Showcase Presents: Superman Family - Volume 1 (October 2005)
Superman/Batman: Saga of the Super Sons (December 2007)

Miscellaneous

Not Brand ECHH #7 (April 1967) - “The Origin of Stuporman”

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