Type Comic
Date 1940-05-23
Tags social issues, polio, fiction

Action Comics #26

Action Comics #26 (1940-07)

Superman

Summary: The Daily Planet refuses "to accept advertising from any concern making questionable claims". This angers 'Professor' Clarence Cobalt, who claims to be able to cure infantile paralysis (which is to say polio--also mentioned in New York World's Fair Comics and other forms of bone and joint malformations at his clinic. Clark and Lois investigate, and find that the good doctor is a fraud. Ultimately, Superman sees them arrested and their ill-gotten gains sent to President Roosevelt's infantile paralysis fund.

Notes: It's kind of nice (even if it's a little hypocritical) to see Superman protecting the crooks against the kind of vigilante justice he himself usually dishes out. The comic ends with a solicitation for contributions to the infantile paralysis fund. Is it the first time a comic has been used for this kind of purpose?

Supermen of America

SUPERMAN'S SECRET MESSAGE!

(Code Pluto No 8)

TMB CA ITT ABZQDM BW JCQTL WCZAMTDMA QVBW BZCM ACXMZUMV

Translated:

LET US ALL STRIVE TO BUILD OURSELVES INTO TRUE SUPERMEN

Zatara and the Jagtooth Gold Mine

Summary: A man has stolen Zatara's friend's gold mine and intends to kidnap a girl. Zatara stops him and sets things to rights.

Notes: Zatara turns Tong into a metal man. Bizarre looking.