Action Comics #44 is an issue of the series Action Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1942.
Synopsis for Superman: "The Caveman Criminal"
A caveman frozen in ice is revived at the Museum of Natural History. The caveman runs amok, until Lois Lane soothes the savage beast. Later however the caveman seems responsible for the death of one of the museum scientists, Dr. Kemper, as well as a robbery spree. Lois checks the museum and finds the criminal caveman is an impostor used by Museum Professor Steffens and gangster Duke Brady. Superman tracks down the crooks and rescues Lois, but unfortunately the real caveman dies in the battle.
Appearing in Superman: "The Caveman Criminal"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Professor Steffans (Single appearance)
- Duke Brady (Single appearance)
- Pugsy (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- The Dawn Man (Single appearance; dies)
- Dr. Kemper (Single appearance; dies)
Locations:
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for Vigilante: "Galloping Gold"
Men working for the Shade begin killing white Arabian horses. Suspecting the crooks will go after the horse of stunt rider Daredevil Dan, Vigilante takes his place. When the killers strike, Vigilante saves the horse and captures the gunmen.
Vigilante then seeks to protect another horse on a movie set. When the horse is shot, the killer blames the Vigilante. Billy Gunn comes to his friend's aid, and they catch the killer.
Believing the crooks are searching for something hidden on one of the horses, Vigilante returns to Dan's horse. He discovers a map hidden in the horseshoe of the horse. The Shade strikes again, but Vigilante captures him this time, unmasking the crook as radio announcer Keyhole Carter. The map led to a supply of stolen bonds and was smuggled into the country using the horses.
Appearing in Vigilante: "Galloping Gold"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Betty Stuart
- Billy Gunn
Antagonists:
- The Shade (Final appearance)
- Rafferty (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Daredevil Dan (Single appearance)
- Miss Fairheart (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- Vigilante's Lasso
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for Three Aces: "The Diamond Mines"
The Aces are sent to South Africa to transport a million dollars in diamonds for the Hart Jewelry store. One of the employees, Harry Norris, plans to follow the trio and steal the diamonds for himself.
Appearing in Three Aces: "The Diamond Mines"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Harry Norris (Single appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Jim Hart (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- The Aces' Planes
Synopsis for Mr. America: "The Circus Saboteurs"
In the town of Powderville, bodies of factory workers fall from the sky for several nights in a row. Shultz, a worker at the munitions factory, quits and tries to get others to join him. As they are walking out, Mr. America arrives and convinces them to stay on the job. Shultz however is told to leave as he is an enemy agent.
Bob Daley follows Shultz to a circus where the spy meets with his partners. They plan to blow up the factory, and they catch Bob before he can spoil their plot. Mr. America finds Bob and the cannon which the spies are using to launch the bodies into the air. The spies load a bomb into the cannon, but Mr. America stops them from using it to destroy the factory.
Appearing in Mr. America: "The Circus Saboteurs"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Colonel Mitchell (Single appearance)
- Shultz (Single appearance)
- Bones (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Cannonball Kelly (Single appearance; dies)
Locations:
- Earth-Two
- Powderville
Items:
- Mr. America's Bullwhip
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for Congo Bill: "The Vanishing Airplanes"
Having ended up in Freetown, Sierra Leone, at the end of his last adventure, Congo Bill is contacted by the British to help investigate the disappearance of several airplanes, along the route from Freetown to Cairo. When Bill takes the next plane, he spots a crashed plane in the desert. He lands to help the pilot, only to discover it is a German trap. Colonel Kettz, the head of the German operation, offers Bill a chance to join them. Bill pretends to go along and baits a trap for the next pilot. However, he had planned for trouble and knows that a squadron of fighters is trailing the next plane (which is piloted by Dick McCarthy). Problems ensue, but Bill signals the British follow-on squadron, by using a lit cigarette to ignite the spilled fuel around Dick McCarthy's crashed plane. Together they stop the Germans, capture Colonel Kettz, and rescue the captured pilots.
Appearing in Congo Bill: "The Vanishing Airplanes"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Professor Joe Kent (Final appearance)
- Sheila Hanlen (Final appearance)
Antagonists:
- Colonel Hettz (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Major Joyce (Single appearance)
- Dick McCarthy (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- Several Airplanes
Synopsis for Zatara: "Theft by Rocket"
Zatara visits a newly discovered aluminum mine in Utah. He learns that the excavation crew has been abducted by a strange aircraft. Zatara quickly locates the airship. When he boards, he finds foreign agents are responsible for the work crew's abduction. Zatara rescues the crew and prevents the theft of the valuable aluminum.
Appearing in Zatara: "Theft by Rocket"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Foreign Agents
- Kurtz (Single appearance)
- Hans (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Bobby (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- Kurtz's Torpedo Ship
Notes
- The Caveman Criminal is reprinted in Superman: The Action Comics Archives Vol. 3 and Superman Chronicles Vol. 8.
Trivia
- "The Caveman Criminal" was not originally titled.
- "The Diamond Mines" was not originally titled.
- "The Circus Saboteurs" was not originally titled.
- "The Vanishing Airplanes" was not originally titled.
- "Theft by Rocket" was not originally titled.
See Also