You do not know how much I desire to stay, dear Lana... But it would be an unpardonable waste of the hyper-powers that fate has bequeathed to me! Earth has enough super-heroes! I must seek out a new world for myself... And a struggling civilization in desperate need for a champion! Such is my destiny, Lana-- But it cannot diminish the love I will always feel for you! Perhaps, if all goes well... And if you are willing to wait... I could even come back some day... 
- — Vartox
Action Comics #499 is an issue of the series Action Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 1979.
Synopsis for Superman: "As the World Turns... For the Last Time!"
Vartox and Superman must find a way to counteract a deadly chain-reaction taking place within Earth's atmosphere, or the human race is doomed. Vartox’s strong telepathic powers are causing panic all over the world, as everyone can feel his overwhelming angst over the fact that he already destroyed his home, and now Earth also, thanks to a highly reactive new substance he picked up in space, which unleashes the atomic energy inside Oxygen atoms. Superman discovers that the fragments of Valeron, Vartox brought to Earth (not poisonous to him like Green-K) actually destroy the substance, so they travel back to the destroyed planet, and saturate Earth’s atmosphere with microscopic chunks. Vartox confesses to Lana about who he really is, but Lana accepts him. Vartox decides to leave Earth as the planet has enough heroes already, and he wants to help a less fortunate planet, but he says he might come back for Lana, someday…
Appearing in Superman: "As the World Turns... For the Last Time!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Jimmy Olsen
- Lana Lang
- Lois Lane
- Perry White
- Vartox/Vernon O'Valeron (Flashback and main story)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Amos (A Wisconsin man preaching about the end of the world) (Single appearance)
- Jennifer (A WGBS secretary) (Single appearance)
- Kryptonians (Flashback only)
- Kryptonian Science Council (Flashback only)
- Jor-El (Flashback only)
- Kryptonian Science Council (Flashback only)
- United Nations Security Council (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Earth
- Arctic Circle
- Eurasia
- United States of America
- Metropolis
- Galaxy Communications
- Metropolis Park
- Wisconsin
- Corlyville
- Metropolis
- Jerusalem (Mentioned only)
- Krypton (Flashback only) (Destroyed)
- Valeron (Flashback only) (Destroyed)
- Earth's Moon (Mentioned only)
- Mars (Mentioned only)
Items:
Vehicles:
- Kryptonian Rocket (Flashback only)
Notes
- This issue concludes the story begun in the previous issue.
See Also
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)