Action Comics #45 is an issue of the series Action Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 1942.
Synopsis for Superman: "Superman's Ark"
Perry White has given Clark and Lois the day off, so the two decided to go to the zoo. When they arrived at the zoo, they found that it was void of any visitor and animals. However, the two encountered a zookeeper named Charles, who told them that the city council refused to purchase any more animals and that the war in Europe also made acquiring new animals difficult. Suddenly, Mr. Morgan, a city councilman told Charles that he would be fired at the end of the week as the city council believed that the zoo was a waste of money. Clark, who had overheard the conversation, transformed into Superman and caught Charles who jumped off of a height. After they landed, Charles insisted that with the zoo closed, there was nothing worth living for. Superman pointed to an abandoned ark that the zoo once used as an exhibit and carried it to Africa.
When Superman arrived in Africa, he heard the sounds of hunters attacking elephants. He came in and was attacked by the hunters. After defeating the hunters, their leader, Count Von Henzel, recognized that he was fighting Superman and apologized for mistaking him for a "strange creature of the jungle." The count claimed that Superman had trespassed onto his domain, but offered him his hospitality. The two rode on an elephant to Von Henzel's residence. On the way to the residence, Superman told the count that he needed to return to America with a cargo of wild animals. Von Henzel claimed that he lived alone, but in his residence, a woman came out and was ordered by Von Henzel to return to her room. Von Henzel claimed that the woman was his sister. Next, Von Henzel showed Superman his trophy room. Then, Superman made himself at home. At night, the woman who Von Henzel claimed to be his sister entered Superman's room to tell him that he was in danger. Von Henzel caught the woman out of her room, scolded her, and ordered her to return.
The next morning, Superman and one of the hunters left the residence to search for animals. The first animal that they caught was a tiger, which they caught after climbing a mountain. Next, they put the tiger in a cage. Superman and the hunters continued to search for more animals. The hunters were intimidated by the animals, but Superman was able to capture all of them. After catching the animals, one of the hunters offered Superman a drink. Superman drank and was knocked unconscious. The hunters brought Superman back to the residence where Von Henzel trapped him in suspended animation in a refrigerator. The count brought the woman and her brother downstairs to look at Superman incarcerated. The count ordered the woman and her brother to enter the refrigerator and be turned to statues or be shot down. Suddenly, Superman got up and confronted Von Henzel, who tripped and fell inside the refrigerator. Next, Superman left with the cages full of animals for America and returned to collect the two siblings and the ark to bring them to America. Superman dropped the two siblings near a house before leaving with the ark for America.
Meanwhile, Charles was attempting to convince the city council not to fire him. Suddenly, the men heard cheering outside as Superman had returned with the ark full of animals.
Superman returned to the Daily Planet where he assumed his civilian identity of Clark Kent.
Appearing in Superman: "Superman's Ark"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Lois Lane
- Unnamed woman
- Unnamed man
Antagonists:
- Count Von Henzel (Single appearance)
- Mawb
- Von Henzel's hunters
Other Characters:
- Charles (a zoo keeper) (Single appearance)
- Mr. Morgan (a city councilman) (Single appearance)
- Perry White (Mentioned only)
Locations:
Synopsis for Vigilante: "The Case of the Bamboo Death"
In Chinatown, New York, three armed criminals entered a curio shop. Buggsy, one of the criminals approached lit up a lamp of incense, intending to summon The Head. Buggsy informed the boss that he and his colleague Lefty had learned that the third member of their group had been working for the police. The Head decided to punish the traitor with the "Bamboo Death", which involved pouring little drops of water out of a bamboo stick one at a time on a person's head, driving them mad. After dealing with the traitor, the Head told Buggsy and Lefty to get ready for a job on Hop Wing's Silk Loft. The two criminals disguised themselves as members of the White Lotus Tong.
When midnight came, the two criminals arrived at the Hop Wing Silk Warehouse and killed a guard. When the two entered the warehouse, they killed another guard, who attempted to sound the burglar alarm. The two criminals loaded silk aboard a truck.
The next morning, on the newspaper Chinatown News, the headline read that guards from Hop Wing's Silk Warehouse had been murdered. Two policeman were at the home of Lin Choo, the leader of the White Lotus Tong, questioning him about a hatchet that was found at the crime scene, making him a suspect in the murders.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Greg Sanders was talking with his publicity agent, who suggested that his first anniversary as a radio musician be played on the radio. Next, the agent suggested that they go to Chinatown for a dinner party. However, Greg expressed his dismay of eating Chinese food to Betty Stuart. When Greg was inside of the restaurant, photographers shot pictures of him. Later, Greg took a walk through Chinatown where he encountered Daniel Leong, the grandson of Lin Choo. Greg told the boy that he knew the Vigilante, who could help him and his grandfather.
Later that night, Greg arrived at Lin Choo's residence as the Vigilante. Lin Choo told the Vigilante about his problem. Later, Greg followed Daniel through Chinatown, referring to him as "Stuff". Meanwhile, two criminals attempted to kill a policeman and frame Lin Choo for the murder. However, the Vigilante and Daniel intervened and beat up the criminals. Across the street, the Head witnessed the Vigilante and Stuff defeat the criminals. The Vigilante turned the two criminals to a police officer named Clancy. Stuff picked up the criminals' hatchets and noticed that they were marked with the symbol of the White Lotus Tong. Vigilante realized that the two men were trying to frame his grandfather. The two criminals claimed that their names were Hop Lee and Wing Lee, but Stuff wiped their faces with a rag and discovered that they were white men and not Chinese. Stuff said that he knew that they were not Chinese, because their first names would be similar like other Chinese people. Suddenly, the two vigilantes heard the sound of a gong ringing, attracting criminals to the Vigilante's position. The criminals defeated the Vigilante and Stuff and brought them to the Head. The Head ordered the two prisoners to be executed with the Bamboo Death. Suddenly, the Vigilante had an idea and cut an electrical wire with the spur on his boot. This gave Stuff the opportunity to attack the guards and free the Vigilante. Next, the Vigilante and Stuff beat up the criminals and the Head. The Vigilante discovered the sign of the Dagger of Kali, a society of Japanese secret agents. The Head confessed that his plan was to start a Tong war in Chinatown, so that the Chinese in the city would be too occupied to focus on helping China. Later, the Vigilante and Stuff returned to Lin Choo's residence and informed him that the Head had been sent to prison.
Next, Stuff continued to follow the Vigilante back to the warehouse formerly frequented by the Head and fought criminals who were present. The two vigilantes beat up and tied up the criminals. Afterwards, the Vigilante and Stuff learned that the Head was able to appear as a spirit due to an illusion caused by mirrors aided by incense.
Later at the broadcasting studio, Betty and Greg were reading a newspaper article about the Vigilante's recent actions.
Appearing in Vigilante: "The Case of the Bamboo Death"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Stuff, the Chinatown Kid (First appearance)
- Betty Stuart
Antagonists:
- The Head (Single appearance)
- Buggsy (Single appearance)
- Lefty (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Clancy
- Lin Choo (First appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- Vigilante's Lasso
Synopsis for Three Aces: "The City with the Golden Domes"
The Aces discover a golden city sitting atop Mount Shaska. But when they go in to investigate, their planes are struck by strange light waves, and they are captured by robed men. Gunner, Whistler, and Fog then meet Ferro, the robed ones leader. Ferro was a brilliant scientist among his people, the Lemurians. Descended from an ancient race akin to Atlanteans, the Lemurians built a city at the mountains peak to avoid the flood waters. They've been living here for thousands of years ever since.
Ferro shows off his invention a machine that can take radio-waves from all over the world and turn them into lethal vibrations that can cause terrible damage across the world. The Aces are tossed into a cell where they can watch the world end. Luckily, Will is able to slice through his bonds by rubbing them against the coarse wall. The Aces escape the guards and run upstairs towards the roof. Gunner had an idea how to stop Ferro's mad plan.
At the highest point in the city, Gunner begins waving his arms around in a signal. After a few minutes, Will and Fog watch as an explosion rocks a neighboring tower. Ferro and his entire laboratory are destroyed in the flames! Gunner explains that he figured Professor Harkin would be keeping an eye on the golden city through his telescope, so Bill sent him a signal to tell all the broadcast stations in the nation to direct their transmissions at full power towards Mount Shaska. Ferro's machine simply couldn't handle it!
The Lemurian people are happy that Ferro's reign has ended. In the future, they will not allow any one person to take control of their lives, instead living a peaceful existence here in the city.
Appearing in Three Aces: "The City with the Golden Domes"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Ferro (Single appearance; dies)
- New Lemurians (Single appearance) (reformed)
Other Characters:
- Professor Harkin (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Earth-Two
- California
- Mount Shasta
- New Lemuria
- Mount Shasta
- California
Vehicles:
- The Aces Planes
Synopsis for Mister America: "... versus The Thunderbolt!"
Appearing in Mister America: "... versus The Thunderbolt!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- The Thunderbolt (First appearance)
- Smitty (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Benson (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- Mr. America's Bullwhip
- Thunderbolt's Electrical Weapon
Synopsis for Congo Bill: "The Haunted Castle"
Appearing in Congo Bill: "The Haunted Castle"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Dick Baldwin (Single appearance)
- Tony (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Dr. Standish (Single appearance)
- Ann Standish (Single appearance)
Locations:
Synopsis for Zatara: "The Cobra"
Appearing in Zatara: "The Cobra"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- The Cobra (Single appearance)
- Butch (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Sandra Norris (Single appearance)
- George (Single appearance)
Notes
- Published by Detective Comics, Inc.
- Superman's Ark is reprinted in Superman: The Action Comics Archives Vol. 3 and Superman Chronicles Vol. 8.
Trivia
- "Superman's Ark" was not originally titled.
See Also