This Atomic Cauldron is fueled by radioactive Kryptonian elements which I got from Kandor! It will dissolve these super-weapons into their molecular components instantly! 
- — Superman
Action Comics #402 is an issue of the series Action Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of July, 1971. It was published on May 27, 1971.
Synopsis for Superman: "This Hostage Must Die!"
Superman remains a prisoner of the Navarro people who are fighting to keep their land. Their leader Red Hawk has rendered Superman powerless with a magical sand painting and he is threatening to hold Superman hostage until their stolen land is returned. They notify the world of Superman's plight through the use of smoke signals. Workers at the nearby rocket base notice the signals and inform their supervisor Frank Haldane of the Superman's abduction. Haldane is skeptical until Superman's cape is delivered to the front gate. Calls go out from all over the world for Superman's assistance, but he is nowhere to be found. Haldane reasons that the abduction must be true and reveals that he has an alternate motive for building the rocket base on Navarro land. He jumps into a special rocket which surprisingly does not shoot up into the sky but rather burrows underground into the Earth. In the meantime, Superman remains a captive of the Navarros. He looks up into the sky and notices that the search party helicopters do not seem to be able to see him even though he is tied up in plain view. Astro physicist Red Hawk reveals that he is using a Mirage Projector that he has developed to make it appear like the entire area is covered by cactus making it harder for helicopters overhead to spot Superman. Moon Flower continues to show sympathy for Superman especially when he helps and injured boy by revealing that he has a dislocated shoulder. She brings him over food and drink but accidentally spills some of it on the sand painting. Superman then reveals that he now understands the power behind the painting. He challenges the Navarro's to light his Pyre on fire and uses the smoke to make an escape. Superman had discovered that the jewel in the middle of the painting was siphoning power from a red sun causing Superman to lose his powers. He flies into the sky to locate Haldane to plead with him and is shocked to learn that Haldane has burrowed into the ground. Superman follows the burrow path of the rocket which leads him to an underground cavern. The cavern is crammed with ancient Aztec treasure. Haldane had used an ancient map to locate the treasure and he had confiscated Navarro land merely for the purpose of securing the treasure for himself. Superman takes Haldane into custody and turns over the treasure to Red Hawk and his people. They use their new found wealth to build schools, hospitals and farms. Superman himself carves out a huge door to the entrance of the new Montezuma Castle Museum. Moon Flower gives the man of steel a kiss and announces that he is their new hero.
Appearing in Superman: "This Hostage Must Die!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Don Hawks
- Old Snake
- Moon Flower
Antagonists:
- Frank Haldane
Synopsis for Superman and Supergirl: "Feud of the Titans!"
Superman and Supergirl are made hostile to each other and goaded into a super-feud when fumes from a "brainwash bomb" they are disposing of in the Fortress of Solitude's disintegration pit combine with Kryptonian elements there and make them hate each other. Superman begins to suspect the truth after seeing a two-headed bird's two heads quarrel with each other in the Fortress, and he rescues Supergirl from death when she falls into the disintegration pit. Once outside the Fortress, they regain their senses, and they clean the gas from their headquarters.
Appearing in Superman and Supergirl: "Feud of the Titans!"
Featured Characters:
Locations:
- Earth
- Tresor, Gem Planet (Mentioned only)
- Feminol, Amazon World (Mentioned only)
- Duplor (Mentioned only)
Items:
- Atomic Cauldron (First appearance)
- Jigsaw-Ray Gun
- Seismotron
- Vapor bomb
- Souped-up laser gun which can impenetrable superman's uniform
- Cryogen freeze wave projector
- Brainwash bomb
Notes
- Published by National Periodical Publications, Inc.
- Leo Dorfman is credited as "Geoff Brown" in this issue.
Trivia
- When Supergirl falls into the Atomic Cauldron on accident, Superman comments that her indestructible costume must be partially protecting her from the full disintegration effect. However, the costume used by Supergirl at this point in time was composed of regular Earth fabrics supplied by Wonder Woman and was explicitly established in Mike Sekowsky's Supergirl features in Adventure Comics not to be indestructible, as Supergirl's original costume was. Also, blinded by hatred, Supergirl accuses Superman of concealing a freeze-ray to later use against her, when such a weapon would both be redundant, due to the freeze-breath power that both of them share, and ineffective, due to Supergirl's invulnerability.
See Also
Recommended Reading
Main article: Supergirl Recommended Reading
- 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)