Action Comics #595 is an issue of the series Action Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of December, 1987.
Synopsis for "The Ghost of Superman"
A black-and-white clad woman with a skull-painted face calling herself the Silver Banshee terrorizes Metropolis by rampaging through bookstores looking for a certain book while killing whoever she touches. When Superman confronts her, he discovers (though seemingly a bit too late) that it's not her touch that kills, but rather her voice. As Metropolis mourns for the loss of Superman as he lies lifeless in his coffin, his ghost seemingly emerges to carry on the fight. As Silver Banshee plows through another bookstore in order to find the book, she confronts Superman's ghost, who is unaffected by her killing voice, nor by her deadly scream. As she vanishes, Superman appears alive, revealing that the Silver Banshee's voice had only rendered him unconscious, and that his "ghost" was really the Martian Manhunter, who both discover that the Silver Banshee's power has no effect over somebody whose identity is masked.
Appearing in "The Ghost of Superman"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Silver Banshee (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Construction Workers
- Two Men (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Man (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Only appearance; dies)
- Engel's Used Book Store Occupants
- Two Men (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- One Woman (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Man (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Only appearance; dies)
- Metropolis Police Department
- Officer (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Bert (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Ben Friendly (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Jamie Sawyer (Unnamed) (Mentioned only)
- Metropolis Special Crimes Unit
- Midge (Cameo)
- Vinnie (Cameo) (Only appearance; dies)
- Vern (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Pee-wee Herman (Mentioned only)
- Daily Planet Employees
- Three Members (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- News Anchorman (Unnamed) (Cameo) (On a TV or computer screen) (Single appearance)
- Mindy Cheng (Mentioned only)
- Justice League International
- Batman (Bruce Wayne) (Cameo)
- Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance) (Cameo)
- Lex Luthor (Cameo)
- LexCorp Personnel
- Four Women (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Citizens of Metropolis (Cameo)
- Manhunters
- Five Members (Unnamed) (Cameo)
Locations:
- Alien Dimension (Mentioned only) (from Adventures of Superman #435)
- Metropolis
- Construction Site
- Engel's Used Books
- Metropolis Police Department
- Daily Planet
- Perry White's Office
- Metropolis General Hospital (Mentioned only)
- LexCorp
- City Hall?? (Unnamed) (location of Superman's body lying in state)
- Metropolis Book Fair (Mentioned only)
- California
- Star City (Mentioned only)
- New York
- Kansas
- Smallville
- Manhunters' Underground Base (Cameo)
- Smallville
- Ireland (Mentioned only)
- Castle Broen (Mentioned only)
- Library (Mentioned only)
- Castle Broen (Mentioned only)
Items:
- Encylopedia Britannica (Mentioned only)
Vehicles:
- Metropolis Special Crimes Unit Van #15
Notes
- This issue was reprinted in Superman: The Man of Steel Vol. 6.
- Superman appeared last in Adventures of Superman #435. He appears next in Millennium #1.
- Batman appeared last in Booster Gold #23. He appears next in Justice League International #8.
- Black Canary and Martian Manhunter appeared last in Booster Gold #22. They appear next in Justice League International #8.
- Dan Turpin appeared last in Superman (Volume 2) #10. He appears next in Superman Annual (Volume 2) #2.
- Jimmy Olsen and Maggie Sawyer appear next in Superman (Volume 2) #13.
- Lana Lang appeared last in Superman (Volume 2) #9. She appears next in Secret Origins (Volume 2) #22.
- Lex Luthor appeared last in Booster Gold #23. He appears next in Superman (Volume 2) #13.
- Lois Lane appeared last in Booster Gold #23. She appears next in Adventures of Superman #437.
- Perry White appears next in Action Comics #598.
- The Silver Banshee makes a chronologically earlier appearance in Superman (Volume 2) #23. She appears next in Superman (Volume 2) #17.
Trivia
- At this point in the title's publishing history, Action Comics served as a Superman team-up book. The guest star for this issue was intended as a mystery with the cover copy reading, "Superman & ??????????". The surprise guest star for this issue was the Martian Manhunter.
- This is the first time that Luthor is maddened to know that Superman would not have died by his hands. He would repeat this behavior when Superman died in the fight against Doomsday.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Superman (Volume 2) #17
- Superman (Volume 2) #23
- Action Comics #662
- Supergirl (Volume 4) #10
- Supergirl (Volume 4) #11
- Supergirl (Volume 4) #12