Action Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1959.
Synopsis for "The Man No Prison Could Hold"
While flying in space, Superman comes across a satellite and decides to track it to its source. He finds that it's beaming information to an uncharted island where a dictator, named Von Kamp, is forcing sailors, that were believed to be lost at sea, into building something called Project X. Superman decides to learn what he can about the project as Clark Kent and rents a boat with the intent of getting purposely captured. He soon finds that Jimmy Olsen has also stowed away on his ship when Kent is captured by the dictator and his men.
Superman not only has to work hard to protect his secret identity, but make sure the Jimmy stays out of danger, and prevent the boy from escaping before he can learn the secret of Project X. When thwarting Jimmy's escape attempt as Superman, and locked in a cell as Clark Kent, Superman uses his super-powers and smart thinking to secretly save Jimmy by putting a magnet under the firing squad that is to execute them disabling them. When he learns that Project X is a spy satellite for criminals, Clark changes into Superman, and puts a kaleidoscope, making Von Kamp believe that the device is a failure. Superman then returns to the island and smashes up Von Kamp's operations, freeing his slaves and shackling Von Kamp and his troops to a giant ball and chain. Taking leave to resume his Clark Kent identity, Jimmy "relates" the story to Clark while the wait for rescue to come.
Appearing in "The Man No Prison Could Hold"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Von Kamp
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Unnamed island
Items:
- Project X satellite
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Amazing Congorilla"
Congo Bill is summoned by a native of a village he is approaching and told that the village chieftan and medicine man, Kawolo, who is also a dear friend of Bill's, has fallen down a cliff and lies precariously on a ledge. Bill repels down to Kawolo and extracts him from the ledge and returns him to his village. Kawolo senses he is not long for this life and gives his friend, Congo Bill, a magic ring that will allow Bill, upon rubbing the ring, to change identities with the tribes god, the Golden Gorilla. He is told that during the transformation, his mind will reside in the gorilla, allowing him to use the god's strength for an hour, and the mind of the gorilla will reside in the body of Bill. A week after Kawolo's burial, Bill is exploring a cave system when a cave-in traps him. Bill decides to try the ring, though he doesn't expect it to actually work, and just as Kawolo said, Bill switches identities with the Golden Gorilla. On his way to clear the mouth of the cave, he sees an actress, part of a movie set filming a jungle scene, being stalked by a leopard. He chases the leopard away, but the director wants to capture him for use in his movie. During his tussle with the movie crew, the Golden Gorilla falls and hits his head and is knocked unconscious. When he awakens, he finds himself in a mobile cage. He causes the cage to roll down a hill and gets the door open, fleeing his captors. He steals the crew's airplane, but has the plane's engine shot by the crew. He then parachutes out and makes his way to the cave, where his body is still trapped, and frees himself. The movie crew comes running up just after Bill has regained his human form and he tells them that the gorilla had run off.
Appearing in "The Amazing Congorilla"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Kawolo
- Movie Set Director, Cast and Crew
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- Single-Prop Airplane
Synopsis for "The Graveyard of Space"
Appearing in "The Graveyard of Space"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Brent Wood
- Lor-Li (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- "The Man No Prison Could Hold" is reprinted in Showcase Presents: Superman Vol. 1 and Superman: The Man of Tomorrow Archives Vol. 2.
- "The Amazing Congorilla" is reprinted in Weird Secret Origins #1.
- Superman appeared last in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #34. He appears next in World's Finest Comics #99.
- Jimmy Olsen appeared last in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #34. He appears next in Superman (Volume 1) #127.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Congo Bill
- Superman Family Recommended Reading
- Action Comics (Volume 1)
- Adventure Comics (Volume 1)
- DC Comics Presents (Volume 1)
- Superboy (Volume 1)
- Superboy (Volume 2)
- Supergirl (Volume 1)
- Supergirl (Volume 2)
- Superman (Volume 1)
- Superman Family (Volume 1)
- Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane (Volume 1)
- Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (Volume 1)
- World's Finest (Volume 1)