Limited Collectors' Edition #C-31 is an issue of the series Limited Collectors' Edition (Volume 1) with a cover date of November, 1974.
Synopsis for "Europe at War"
This story is reprinted from Action Comics #22.
In Europe, Toran invades Galonia. Clark Kent and Lois Lane are sent from the Daily Star to cover the war. They cross the Atlantic in the passenger liner S.S. Baronta. Also aboard is foreign actress Lita Laverne, secretly a Toranian agent. Her mission is part of a scheme to attack a neutral ship, blame Galonia for the war crime, and bring the democracies in on the side of Toran. Also aboard is a Galonian assassin, who tries to murder Lita, but is foiled by Clark Kent, who soon forms some suspicions about Lita's espionage activities.
In Europe, at a reception, Clark interviews Lita Laverne, and confirms his suspicions, but the party is disrupted by an air raid. Clark leaves, Superman arrives, the bomber is dealt with, and Kent gets back on Lita's trail. Soon her plot is exposed and Lita is arrested, but the war is still just getting started.
Appearing in "Europe at War"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Lita Laverne (Single appearance)
- Galonian assassin
- Luthor (Behind the scenes)
Other Characters:
- soldiers
- policemen
Locations:
Vehicles:
- S.S. Baronta
- Toranian Submarine
- Toranian Bomber
Synopsis for "The Life Insurance Scam"
This story is reprinted from Action Comics #29.
Lois Lane, along with Clark Kent, visits the home of Mrs. Davis, an elderly woman. Lois learns that another woman, Mrs. Bradford, has died recently. Clark discovers that the woman's aspirin has been poisoned and believes the death was done for the insurance money. Investigating, the reporters visit Gram's Drug Store, the source of the aspirin. They find no evidence, as they are thrown out of the store, and they witness a hit-and-run accident in the street which kills another woman. A mob then attacks the drug store, which forces Superman to intervene to stop the riot. Lois observes that Tom Bruce, Mrs. Davis' neighbor, is the initiator of the riot.
Later, Lois and Clark call on the insurance agent, Mr. Fullerton. He is angered by the allegations and throws them out. Lois returns however, breaks into Fullerton's office, and gets grabbed by Tom Bruce and one other hood, and tied to a chair. Superman shows up and rescues her. Superman trails the hoods, while Lois confronts Fullerton again. Fullerton forcibly brings Lois to his own Political Boss Martin, who is also the boss of the hoods. Martin reveals he is behind the insurance scam, and he was trying to pin it on Fullerton, on whom he had taken out a large life policy, and whom he now shoots dead. Superman arrives too late to save Fullerton, but he does save Lois and knocks out the crooks by pinching their nerves. He rips open Martin's huge floor safe, and predicts that a whole lot of evidence will be found inside it, then departs just before Sergeant Casey and his cops arrive.
Appearing in "The Life Insurance Scam"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Martin, political boss (Single appearance)
- Tom Bruce, hood
- other hood
- Gram, pharmacist
Other Characters:
- Mrs. Davis (Single appearance)
- Mr. Fullerton, insurance agent (Single appearance; dies)
- Mrs. Grady (Single appearance; dies)
- Lizzie Bradford (Dead) (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Earth-Two
- Metropolis
- Parkview Apartments, #58 = Lois Lane's apartment
- 1819 Chestnut Street, in the slums = Mrs. Davis' residence
- Gram Drug Co. store
- Fullerton's Insurance office
- Daily Planet
- Police Station
- Boss Martin's Townhouse
- Metropolis
Vehicles:
- Clark Kent's open-top roadster
Synopsis for "The Men Who Had to Guard Superman!"
This story is reprinted from Superman #60.
After Clark Kent has heard the secret formula of a dying scientist, he must be under surveillance 24 hours by Secret Service agents.
Appearing in "The Men Who Had to Guard Superman!"
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Gangsters
Other Characters:
- Professor Johns (Single appearance; dies)
- James Carson (Single appearance)
- Mrs. Carson (Single appearance)
- Bodyguards
- Morris of the Secret Service (Single appearance)
- Perry White
Locations:
Items:
- Rocket
- 300-inch Telescope
Synopsis for "Lois Lane's Secret Helper!"
This story is reprinted from Superman #142.
Krypto and Supergirl join up to go and secretly patrol Metropolis while Superman is away. In their task, they stop by Lois Lane's apartment where she is crying over never winning over Superman. Supergirl feels sorry for her, but both she and Lori Lemaris have tried to get Superman to settle down. Krypto, decides that he will make another attempt, because he likes the idea of his master settling down, getting married, and having children that he can play with. Krypto gets an idea that a beautiful song could put Superman in the mood to propose, and so he gets some birds to twitter for Superman and Lois while they have a moment sitting on a park bench. This however is foiled by a bunch of stray cats ruin the mood when they attack the bird. For their infraction, Krypto chases them all into a nearby lake as punishment.
Coming up with the idea that perhaps he would fare better getting Lois to fall in love with Clark Kent, he waits until the two are sent off on a boat by Perry White when the trio are relaxing together. Krypto then secretly causes the ship to be washed up on a deserted island. Krypto orchestrates things to make it look as though Clark Kent isn't as meek as he appears, and resourceful as the two spend time on the island. However, this is once more filed when a hidden Kryptonite meteor is exposed and Clark is weakened. They are rescued by a helicopter shortly thereafter, and Krypto decides to plot anew.
Getting another idea from watching two couples, Krypto thinks that maybe if someone proposes to a loved one in front of Superman, it might prompt him to do the same thing. Things play out for him when Lois gets a new dog, named Beauty, and has Superman build a dog house for her new pet. Krypto decides to court Beauty, and when Superman notices the two dogs showing affection for one another, he is about to propose to Lois. However, fate once more steps in when strays caught by a local dog catcher get loose. Superman rounds up all the dogs, and the catcher takes leave, taking Beauty (who is a lost dog anyway) with him. Superman then leaves to go on patrol, earning the anger of both Superman and Krypto. Krypto decides to try and teach his master a lesson by becoming Lois Lane's pet, and Lois is more than happy to oblige. When the two are spotted by Superman, Lois and Krypto treat him coldly, because he will not settle down. When a local police officer happens on the scene, both Lois and Superman agree that Krypto is her pet, and she is given a ticket for not having him licensed.
Appearing in "Lois Lane's Secret Helper!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- None
Other Characters:
- Lucy Lane
- Perry White
- Supergirl
- Venetian gondolier
- Maria, a Italian maiden
- Hans, a Swiss dude
- Gretta, a Swiss maiden
- Beauty (bitch)
- A Metropolis policeman
- Lori Lemaris (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- A desert island
- Italy
- Switzerland
- United States of America
Items:
- Green Kryptonite (Behind the scenes)
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Case of the Lethal Letters!"
This story is reprinted from Superman #204.
Lorraine Lewis, a female scientist who had been in love with Superman but who found herself blocked by his three "LL" sweethearts, lures him into a deathtrap by capturing Lori Lemaris, Lana Lang, and Lois Lane.
Appearing in "The Case of the Lethal Letters!"
Featured Characters:
- Superman (Flashback and main story)
Supporting Characters:
- Lori Lemaris (Flashback and main story)
- Lana Lang (Flashback and main story)
- Lois Lane (Flashback and main story)
Antagonists:
- Lorraine Lewis (Single appearance; dies) (Flashback and main story)
- Bal-Gra (Single appearance) (Flashback only)
Other Characters:
- Lorraine Delon
Locations:
Items:
- Q-Energy (First appearance)
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Origin of Superman!"
This story is reprinted from Amazing World of Superman #1.
Appearing in "The Origin of Superman!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Jor-El (Dies in flashback)
- Lara (Dies in flashback)
- Jonathan Kent (Dies in flashback)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- The issue includes a four-page tour of the "concept" for the Superman Theme Park by Neal Adams.
See Also
Links and References
