Price: 0.10 USD
Pages: 68
On-sale Date: 1939-11-15
Editing: Whitney Ellsworth ? (editor)
Cover Thumbnail for Superman (DC, 1939 series) #3 Edit Cover
Cover Gallery 

Amazing Adventures of the Greatest Man on Earth: Superman!
(Table of Contents)

Superman / cover / 1 page

Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
Joe Shuster (logo design, see notes)
typeset
  • Genre:superhero
Characters:
Reprints (8)

Indexer Notes

Joe Shuster hand drew Superman logos until the classic Ira Schnapp logo appears with Superman (DC, 1939 Series) #6 (September-October 1940).

Issue Data

  • Indicia / Colophon Publisher: Detective Comics Inc.
  • Indicia Frequency: quarterly
  • Printer: [none printed]

Indexer Notes

The November 10, 1939 on-sale date is the publication date reported in the U. S. Copyright Office filing in the Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part 2, Periodicals, New Series, Volume 35, January-December 1940, Numbers 1-4. However, a house ad in Action Comics #19 states the issue would be on sale on November 15, 1939. Class B periodical. Copyright number B 443035.

[no title indexed]
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 1)

Johnson Smith & Co. Catalog / advertisement / 1 page

Superman, America's Greatest Adventure Strip Character!
(Table of Contents: 2)

Superman / illustration / 1 page

Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
typeset
  • Genre:superhero
Characters:
Reprints (6)

[Superman and the Runaway]
(Table of Contents: 3)

Superman / comic story / 24 pages

Script:
Jerry Siegel (credited, signed)
Pencils:
Joe Shuster (credited, signed) (layouts)
Inks:
Dennis Neville (ghosted for Joe Shuster) (signed as Joe Shuster) (finished art)
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:superhero
Characters:
Frankie Dennis; Lyman (villain, introduction)
Synopsis:
When Superman saves a runaway boy from being run over by a train, he discovers the child is from an orphanage where the superintendent abuses the children in a variety of ways. So the Man of Tomorrow enlists the aid of the young man to act as an undercover agent to spy on things and report back to Clark Kent.
Reprints (6)

Indexer Notes

Art identifications by Jerry Bails.

The Greatest Contest in Comic Magazine History!
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 4)

Supermen of America / in-house column / 2 pages

[Superman and the Dam]
(Table of Contents: 5)

Superman / comic story / 9 pages

Script:
Jerry Siegel (credited as Jerome Siegel) (signed as Jerome Siegel)
Pencils:
Joe Shuster (credited, signed)
Inks:
Joe Shuster (credited, signed)
Colors:
?
Letters:
Joe Shuster (see notes)
  • Genre:superhero
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:Another astounding adventure of the strongest man on earth!!
Characters:
Synopsis:
Although Lois has double-crossed him and editor Taylor has fired him, Clark Kent (as Superman) heads to the Valley-Ho Dam to prevent it from collapsing. Unfortunately too late on the scene, the Man of Tomorrow manages to save Lois from drowning and divert the flood waters away from the city.
Reprints (3)

Indexer Notes

Superman's and Lois' first kiss.

The last panel on the last page of the sequence, which originally encouraged readers to turn to the inside back cover to learn how they can win one of the $25 prizes being given away, has been modified here into a plug for the Supermen of America.

Superman logo is a one-off version done by Shuster. It is without any 3D effect.

[no title indexed]
(Table of Contents: 6)

Fantastic Facts / cartoon / 1 page

Script:
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:non-fiction
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:Humuhumunukunkuapuaa is the name given by natives to Hawaii's smallest fish!
Synopsis:
The fantastic facts illustrated here include: 1) there is enough phosphorous in three old style kitchen matches to kill a person; 2) men once paid taxes on their beards; 3) gangster films were the reason the sales of men's caps had declined over the last ten years; 4) Humuhumunukunkuapuaa is the name given by natives to Hawaii's smallest fish; and 5) the water around an iceberg is warm.
Reprints (2)

Death by the Stars
(Table of Contents: 7)

text story / 2 pages

Script:
Bert Lexington (credited)
Pencils:
Fred Guardineer (spot illustrations)
Inks:
Fred Guardineer (spot illustrations)
Colors:
?
Letters:
typeset
  • Genre:horror-suspense
Characters:
Emil Brandwan (death); Sgt. Steve Hanley; Professor Louis Morton; Stephen Gregory; Jack Lowell; Robert Shelton (villain)
Synopsis:
Six men, gathered in an astrologer's exotic studio, are shocked to hear Emil Brandwan announce that, according to the stars, he is to die that very night at 7pm.
Reprints (2)

Indexer Notes

Art credits by Craig Delich.

[Superman's Phony Manager]
(Table of Contents: 8)

Superman / comic story / 12.67 pages

Script:
Jerry Siegel (credited as Jerome Siegel) (signed as Jerome Siegel)
Pencils:
Joe Shuster (credited, signed)
Inks:
Joe Shuster (credited, signed)
Colors:
?
Letters:
Joe Shuster (see notes)
  • Genre:superhero
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:Dedicated to assisting the helpless and oppressed, is a mystery-man named Superman...
Characters:
Nick Williams (villain)
Synopsis:
Clark Kent is introduced to a fighter manager who claims to be Superman's personal manager. But when Lois discovers the existence of a phony Superman, who is tied to that manager, the real Superman must act quickly to save Lois' life.
Reprints (2)

Indexer Notes

Paul Cassidy removed as possible penciler (along with Shuster) and as possible inker by Craig Delich.
Superman logo is a one-off version done by Shuster. It is without any 3D effect.

Muscle-Training
(Table of Contents: 9)

Acquiring Super-Strength / comic story / 0.33 page

Script:
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:non-fiction
Synopsis:
Illustrated are several techniques on muscle training that, if practiced, can give someone a crushing hand grip.
Reprints (3)

Indexer Notes

Sequence information, including credits, from Craig Delich.

Attaining Super-Health: A Few Hints from Superman!
(Table of Contents: 10)

Superman / comic story / 1 page

Script:
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
  • Genre:non-fiction; superhero
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:The secret if building powerful muscular control is regular daily exercise!
Characters:
Johnny; Larry
Synopsis:
Readers are encouraged by Superman to have regular, daily exercise, join an exercise club, don't slouch, and eat a well-rounded diet.
Reprints (6)

Indexer Notes

Corrected title and letterer credit from Craig Delich.

Good Luck Charm
(Table of Contents: 11)

text story / 1 page

Script:
Pencils:
Fred Guardineer (spot illustrations)
Inks:
Fred Guardineer (spot illustrations)
Colors:
?
Letters:
typeset
  • Genre:adventure; crime
Characters:
Tony Carrenzo (villain); Lucky Malone (villain, death); Rhani Kor (death)
Synopsis:
Lucky Malone had killed a Hindu mystic to get some jewels and a locket from him years ago. Now that he and Tony have successfully escaped from prison, Lucky once more believes the locket is his lucky charm, able to see him through any situation...or so he thinks!
Reprints (2)

Indexer Notes

Art credits by Craig Delich.

[no title indexed]
(Table of Contents: 12)

Shorty / comic story / 1 page

Script:
Pencils:
Inks:
Colors:
?
Letters:
  • Genre:humor; anthropomorphic-funny animals
  • First Line of Dialogue or Text:Danger! Keep Away
Characters:
Synopsis:
Shorty chases after another dog who steals his bone.
Reprints (2)

Indexer Notes

Sequence information from Craig Delich.

[Superman and the Jewel Smugglers]
(Table of Contents: 13)

Superman / comic story / 8 pages

Script:
Jerry Siegel (credited, signed)
Pencils:
Joe Shuster (credited, signed)
Inks:
Paul Cassidy (ghosted for Joe Shuster) (signed as Joe Shuster)
Colors:
?
Letters:
?
  • Genre:superhero
Characters:
Lew Frawley (villain, introduction)
Synopsis:
Superman must save Lois' life and stop criminals who are smuggling in jewels for Europeans to escape paying custom duties.
Reprints (6)

Superman!
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 14)

Superman / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page

[no title indexed]
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 15)

Johnson Smith & Co. Catalog / advertisement / 1 page

3 Ways to Git a Carbine fer Christmas
(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 16)

Daisy Air Rifles / Daisy B-B Guns / advertisement / 1 page

Editing
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View Change History
Table of Contents ToC
    Table of Contents
  1. Amazing Adventures of the Greatest Man on Earth: Superman!
    Superman
  2. [no title indexed]
    Johnson Smith & Co. Catalog
  3. Superman, America's Greatest Adventure Strip Character!
    Superman
  4. [Superman and the Runaway]
    Superman
  5. The Greatest Contest in Comic Magazine History!
    Supermen of America
  6. [Superman and the Dam]
    Superman
  7. ["Humuhumunukunkuapuaa is the name given by natives to Hawaii's smallest fish!"]
    Fantastic Facts
  8. Death by the Stars
  9. [Superman's Phony Manager]
    Superman
  10. Muscle-Training
    Acquiring Super-Strength
  11. Attaining Super-Health: A Few Hints from Superman!
    Superman
  12. Good Luck Charm
  13. ["Danger! Keep Away"]
    Shorty
  14. [Superman and the Jewel Smugglers]
    Superman
  15. Superman!
    Superman
  16. [no title indexed]
    Johnson Smith & Co. Catalog
  17. 3 Ways to Git a Carbine fer Christmas
    Daisy Air Rifles / Daisy B-B Guns
Related Links
Issue was modified by, among others
  • Katie
  • Ray Bottorff Jr
  • John Censullo
  • Steve Dasinger
  • Craig Delich
  • Matthew Head
  • Bob Hughes
  • Jerzy Kiekrz
  • R. S. Martin
  • Per Sandell
  • Daniel Thingvold
  • Jim Van Dore
  • Sean Williams
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