Action Comics Vol 1 267

Issue Details
	Pages 36 Original Price 0.10
"Hercules in the 20th Century"
	Writers Otto Binder Pencilers Wayne Boring Inkers Stan Kaye
"The Three Super-Heroes"
	Writers Jerry Siegel Pencilers Jim Mooney Inkers Jim Mooney Letterers Joe Letterese

Appearing in "Hercules in the 20th Century"

Featured Characters:

Superman

Supporting Characters:

Adversaries:

Lex Luthor

Other Characters:

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "Hercules in the 20th Century"

Although he is locked away in prison, Lex Luthor is able to build a time projector device using solar energy to power it. He uses the device to pluck Hercules out of the ancient past and make him appear in the present. Luthor tricks Hercules (by telling him he was imprisoned by an unjust king who took his gold) into breaking him out of prison. Taking Hercules to one of his secret labs, Luthor uses a device to teach him English and educate him on the 20th Century. Hercules is interested in news broadcasts about Superman, and Luthor intends to "tell" Hercules all about the Man of Steel after they get back "his" gold.

Later, when Hercules learns that he was tricked by Luthor into committing a crime, he saves the Man of Steel by throwing a chunk of Kryptonite that Luthor intended to use on Superman. Superman and Hercules then easily capture Luthor and turn him back over to the authorities. Afterwards, Hercules asks Superman to allow him to explore the 20th Century. Agreeing Superman sets him up in a civilian identity of Roger Tate, and takes him to the Daily Planet. There Clark gets him a job as a photographer, and Hercules is instantly smitten by Lois Lane.

When he's sent on assignment to photograph a lion tamer, "Tate" goes into action as Hercules when the animals break loose. Later he is ordered by Perry to bring Lois her lunch. Lois is at the Acme Studio posing for Moon Kiss Perfume, and he is even more enchanted by her when he sees her in costume. Eventually, Hercules proposes to Lois Lane and reveals his true identity to her. Lois declines his offer of marriage, telling him that she only loves Superman, but she will respect his secret identity.

Over the coming days, Hercules attempts to impress Lois with a series of super-feats, however they pale in comparison to what the Man of Steel is able to do. Jealous and seeking more power, Hercules takes an assignment in Greece. Arriving there he goes to the Cave of the Oracle and summons the Oracle. The Oracle then opens a portal to the temple of the gods. There he meets with Jove, Mercury, Venus, Vulcan, and Achilles and asks them to grant him with their powers so that he might be able to defeat Superman. Granting him with their powers, the Gods send Hercules off with their blessing, the demi-god returning to Metropolis and vowing to defeat Superman.

This story is continued next issue...

Appearing in "The Three Super-Heroes"

Featured Characters:

Supergirl

Supporting Characters:

Legion of Super-Heroes

Cosmic Boy
Saturn Girl
Lightning Lad
Chameleon Boy (First appearance)
Invisible Kid (First appearance)
Colossal Boy (First appearance)

Other Characters:

Superman

Locations:

Metropolis (30th Century)

Legion Clubhouse

Items:

Red Kryptonite

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "The Three Super-Heroes"

After watching a demonstration put on by her cousin Superman in her civilian guise of Linda Lee, Supergirl is visited by three teens who can exhibit extraordinary powers and happen to know Supergirl's secret identity. Supergirl decides to finally investigate when these teens manage to activate her Linda Lee robot.

Upon confronting these teens, they reveal themselves to be Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl, members of the Legion of Super-Heroes from the 30th Century. When Supergirl recalls her cousin telling her of his induction into the Legion when he was Superboy, the Legion members tell her that they are the children of the original Legion and that they want her to join their ranks.

Traveling to the 30th Century, Supergirl meets other new members of the Legion: Chameleon Boy who can change shapes, Invisible Lad who can turn invisible, and Colossal Boy who can grow to titanic heights. Her initiation into the group would require her to perform a super-feat for them. When it's learned that there is too much air traffic on the planet Earth, Supergirl digs a tunnel through the planet wide enough for air ships to fly through in order to lighten the load. However, when she emerges and returns to the Legion, she is shocked that she is a full grown woman and therefor is no qualified to be a member of the Legion who does not admit anyone over the age of 18.

Dismayed, the now Superwoman uses her X-Ray vision to find the cause, and finds that there was a chunk of Red Kryptonite that caused the change in her body. The Legion regretfully tells Superwoman that she will not be able to apply for membership for another year. Returning to her own time, and after the effects of the Kryptonite have worn off, Supergirl (in her civilian guise of Linda Lee) wonders if she'll be invited into the Legion again.

Notes

The Three Super-Heroes is reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Volume 1 and Supergirl Archives, Volume 1.

The Legion of Super-Heroes appeared last in Adventure Comics #267. They appear next in Superboy #86.

In the Supergirl story, the Legion Members Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl tell Supergirl that they are the children of the original members who met Superboy back in Adventure Comics #247. However, later stories where Supergirl and Superboy would interact in Legion of Super-Heroes stories would suggest that this idea was abandoned in favor of having both Supergirl and Superboy as members of the same generation of Legion of Super-Heroes.

Random Character

Random Comic

Random Creator

Random Publisher

Random Animated film

This page may contain some of the same content as the DC Database article. A more complete and current article is at the DC Comics Database Action Comics Vol 1 267.
The complete list of authors can be seen in that articles page history. We wish to thank all awesome contributors at the DC Database who have worked so hard to bring us this information..