Action Comics Vol 1 382

Superman: "Clark Kent, Magician!"

Cover

Superman: "Clark Kent, Magician!"

Legion of Super-Heroes: "Kill a Friend to Save a World"

Editors

Mort Weisinger

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Action Comics # 381	Action Comics # 383

As a reporter, I was always at the center of vital events. Suppose I became a magician? Would the change interfere with my super-career?... It's a challenge... And I accept it!

— Superman

Action Comics #382 is an issue of the series Action Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of November, 1969. It was published on September 30, 1969.

Synopsis for Superman: "Clark Kent, Magician!"

Clark inherits an old trunk of magic tricks that was left to him by his late friend Mr Presto. He then observes that there are a number of balloons stuck to the ceiling and uses his flying ability to gather them into a neat bunch. Lois Lane then enters the room and her suspicions become aroused when she wonders how Clark managed to retrieve all the balloons from the high ceiling. Clark is quick to come up with an alibi. He states that he used a special plastic wand that creates a powerful static electricity attraction that allowed him to bring the balloons down. Lois then urges Clark to use his magical talents to levitate a sleeping Perry White from the couch. Clark uses his x-ray vision to excite the molecules in the steel springs of the couch to create a Negative Magnetism causing them to repel the metal cigar case in Perrys pocket thus lifting Perry just above the couch. Unfortunately Perry comes down hard and gets upset. He fires Clark who takes it surprisingly well as he announces that he can make a career as a magician going by the name Kento. The next day Clark visits a booking agency where he observes a strange man in a Superman suit. The costumed man turns out to be a criminal that wants to rob a necklace from the office vault. Clark uses his magicians want to hypnotize the thief by vibrating it at super speed. A booking agent observes Clarks feat and offers him a headliner position at the Royal Theater. During his performance at the theater, Clark foils an attempted robbery committed by a certain “Alibi Andy”. Clark is then asked to perform at the state prison but his performance is delayed when a prisoner attempts to escape. Clark uses his magical skills to bring the prisoner down from a high tower using a large water hose. Clark starts to become very popular and his escapades garner him a lot of attention in the media. In the days that follow, Kento breaks in a new illusion by introducing a life size puppet into his act. He seemingly brings it to life and gets it to perform feats of strength. His use of this puppets is observed by criminal elements that get the idea to steal the life size mannequin for themselves. They abduct the mannequin but are surprised to find that it is really Jimmy Olsen in disguise. Jimmy had been assisting Kento with his act after he too had been fired from his job at the daily planet. The criminals are still convinced that they can get Kento to assist them with their crimes using super puppets. They go back to the theater and observe Clark working with a different puppet dressed in a Superman Costume. The criminals overpower Clark and take the puppet for themselves. They instruct the super puppet to crash into a mountain to retrieve a super gem. The puppet follows instructions and comes out with a king size diamond. The giant gem was a carbonized space capsule that was turned into a diamond by heat from a passing comet. The capsule crashed and was lost until now. As the puppet is about to hand the gem to the criminals, it takes off its mask revealing itself to be Superman. The Gang is arrested and both Jimmy and Clark return to their normal jobs at the daily planet.

Appearing in Superman: "Clark Kent, Magician!"

Featured Characters:

Superman (First appearance as Kento the Great)

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Alibi Andy (Single appearance)
Rogan (Single appearance)
Slade (Single appearance)

Locations:

Metropolis

Items:

Vehicles:

Synopsis for Legion of Super-Heroes: "Kill a Friend to Save a World"

After Ultra Boy is publicly challenged and defeated by an android of his design, a man named Cosvarr appears at a conference of the Interworld Security Council offering to sell his creations to members of the United Planets. Called Protectors, these androids are said to be superior defense machines, eliminating the need for armies, weapons, and police. The Legion members deduce Cosvarr's scheme: Every planet will want his machines because those without them will be menaced by those who have them, and the resulting arms race will net him billions. Some time later, on Jupiter, Cosvarr and his partner, a young woman named Zorla, prepare to receive a guest, billionairess Carina Walter (actually a disguised Light Lass), who is interested in buying a Protector. Cosvarr tells her that he experimented on Superboy and Mon-El, whom he captured by hypnosis, and duplicated some of their powers in his Protectors. Meanwhile, Shrinking Violet, Karate Kid, and Timber Wolf (disguised as one of Cosvarr's workers) emerge from Carina's ship to investigate the premises. When Zorla discovers Timber Wolf's presence, he is forced to battle Karate Kid in order to maintain his masquerade. Zorla causes components on an assembly line to fly at Karate Kid and knock him out. She then tries unsuccessfully to alert Cosvarr, whom she finds trying to persuade Carina to replace Zorla as his lover and ally. She confronts him, and as the Legionnaires rescue Superboy and Mon-El and escape, Zorla has her revenge by pressing a button which destroys Cosvarr's entire base.

Appearing in Legion of Super-Heroes: "Kill a Friend to Save a World"