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Appearing in "The Big Scoop"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Adversaries:
- None
Other Characters:
- None
Locations:
- Earth-Two
- Ohio
- Cleveland
- Daily Star
- Valleyho Dam
- Cleveland
- Ohio
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "The Big Scoop"
News comes in to the Daily Star that the Valleyho Dam is collapsing. Editor-in-chief George Taylor wants Clark Kent to head there to write the story. He tells Lois Lane to find Clark Kent and tell him to head for Valleyho. Instead she tells him that a story is waiting for him at the hospital, and immediately boards a train. He discovers her double-cross, and heads back to the office. Taylor chides him for wasting time (missing the last train to Valleyho in the process), and tells him he's fired.
Instead, he runs towards Valleyho, passing the train on the way. He discovers a bridge with a support out. He grabs the support and holds it in place while the train goes over it. Lois Lane arrives in Valleyho and takes a cab to the dam.
But Superman is already at the dam, trying to keep it from collapsing. He holds it as long as he can, enabling most people to escape in time. When he lets go, Lois Lane gets caught up in the ensuing flood. He pulls her out of the car, then runs ahead of the flood to a high mountain, which he pushes over in order to divert the flood, keeping the water away from Valleyho.
Lois Lane thanks Superman and kisses him. Superman leaves her in Valleyho as he runs off. He changes out of his suit and calls George Taylor, telling him that he took a plane to Valleyho and he has a scoop, if Taylor will give him his job back. Taylor quickly agrees.
Clark Kent sees Lois Lane, and he chides her for lying to him. "That wasn't a nice stunt you pulled on me! But I still like you." Lois responds, "Who cares! The spineless worm! I can hardly bear looking at him, after having been in the arms of a real he-man!"
Appearing in "Chuck Dawson: The 4-G Gang (Part 5)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- None
Adversaries:
- Trigger Holt
- Butch
- Steve (Final appearance; Dies)
- Sheriff of Red Gulch
Other Characters:
- None
Locations:
- Earth-Two (19th Century)
- Texas
- Red Gulch
- Texas
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "Chuck Dawson: The 4-G Gang (Part 5)"
The sheriff and the two gunmen, Trigger and Butch, spot the rope Chuck used to climb down on. They are too busy discussing what to do to notice Chuck pop out from behind a boulder behind them, with his gun drawn. He orders them to toss their guns, then tells the sheriff to stop tailing him, explaining Notch Logan's death was in self-defense. He leaves the trio shaken as he climbs back up the cliff. Chuck's shocked when he doesn't find his horse, Blacky, where he left him. A trail leads away from the area, likely leading to the horse-thief. Chuck follows the tracks up the mountain. He doesn't notice the gunman with the rifle until the shot is fired. Chuck falls forty feet into a small pond. Luckily the bullet only winged him. As the shooter rounds the bottom of the mountain path, he is ambushed and put at Chuck's mercy with his own six-shooter. Chuck tells him to lead him to his horse.
Meanwhile back up top, the sheriff returns to town to round up more men for help. Trigger and Butch decide to catch Chuck on their own, so they'll only have to split the reward money two ways, instead of three. Chuck emerges from the bushes with his captive. Butch and Trigger open fire. Chuck dodges and fires back. The captive is hit in the crossfire. Bullets continue to fly until Trigger whacks Chuck on the back of the head with the butt of his gun. Chuck's knocked out, putting him at the thugs' mercy.
Appearing in "The Newport Silver Cup Races"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Adversaries:
- None
Other Characters:
- Jimmy Young (Single appearance)[1]
Locations:
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Newport Silver Cup Races"
Pep Morgan is invited by his two friends, Tommy and Billy Watkins, to a sailboat race. Once the race begins, their boat, the "Nancy II", glides smoothly to the front of the pack. The boys friendly rival, aboard the "Ginger Snap", is right behind them. At the turn-around point, the Nancy is cut off by the Ginger Snap at the buoy, only barely avoiding collision. Luckily, Pep ensures that they still get back in the lead. But a deadly storm starts brewing above. Lightning hits the Nancy's mast, sending the mainsail loose to fall to the deck! Tommy keeps the boat on course while Pep hurries to climb up the mast and reattach the sail. The Ginger Snap is gaining on them, and will soon pass by. Pep knows what must be done and, wishing Billy and Tommy luck, he dives into the water. With the sudden loss of weight, the Nancy II picks up speed. They've won! The race is over, the two boys win the trophy, and Pep tells them that with quick thinking in times of crisis, they can win many more trophies down the line.
Appearing in "The Adventures of Marco Polo (Part V)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Nicolo Polo (Marco Polo's father)
- Maffeo Polo (Marco Polo's Uncle)
Adversaries:
- None
Other Characters:
- Ahmed (First appearance)
Locations:
- Iran (13th Century)
- Kerman
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "The Adventures of Marco Polo (Part V)"
continued from last issue... The snake quickly strikes at Maffeo, binding him in it's strong coils. Niccolo attempts to free his brother, but is tripped when the serpent wraps it's tail around his leg. Marco drew his sword and rushed the beast, beheading it in one stroke! Maffeo injured his leg while being constricted, so Marco and Niccolo prepared a makeshift gurney and carried him back to camp. First aid is given and Maffeo is left to sleep until morning.
When the next day rolls around, the camp gets ready to head off. Maffeo, though still in pain, manages to mount his camel and ride with his brother and nephew. After many hours, the caravan comes upon the small town of Kerman. The group pays the local inn to let them rest for the night. Inside, the innkeeper offers the Polos a dinner of roasted fowl and wild game which they heartily accept, having not eaten a good meal in days. Another caravan arrives, travelling in from Tibet. The innkeeper offers to introduce the Polos to the caravan leader, Ahmed, to talk, and exchange information on the road ahead. Ahmed talks of the Great Salt Steppe, an arid, desolate area, where the water is undrinkable. Niccolo muses that they'll need to carry extra supplies to make it through. Ahmed is eager to learn of the Polos journey as well, but it is late, so both parties agree to retire for the night and meet again the next morning...
Appearing in "The Nestralian Spy"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Adversaries:
Other Characters:
- Tex's "Wife" (a spy) (Single appearance)[1]
Locations:
- Earth-Two
- Southern Europe
- Nestralia
- Southern Europe
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "The Nestralian Spy"
Tex and his traveling companion, Bob, are staying at a hotel in a small town in Europe. Suddenly, answering a knock on the door has Tex facing a woman holding a gun. She forces her way inside, instructing Tex to tell anyone who asks that she is his wife. Minutes later, another knock, this time from a man identifying himself as a police officer. He asks after a woman who stole sensitive information and is on the run. Spotting the woman standing behind him, he asks Tex who she is. Just like she told him to, Tex replies that she is his wife. The man thanks them for their time and leaves. Tex asks the woman if she's a spy, but the woman responds that she just overheard some men talking about starting a revolution. They've been trying to capture her ever since. Tex decides to help her escape the area He takes her gun in hand with Bob backing him up the whole way. Outside, a beggar blocks their path, while another man ambushes them from behind. Both men have the trio at gunpoint. Tex, Bob, and the woman have no choice but to follow them, as the men lead our gang to the home of the revolutionist leader, Rowten. He puts on a polite front at first. But Tex sees through it, and asks Rowten what his pans for them are. Rowten responds, plainly, that they'll first be interrogated, and then he'll kill the lot of them. He has one of his guards "escort" Tex and Bob to the guardhouse, where they'll be kept until everything is ready. En route, Tex sucker punches the guard and begins struggling with him, making the man drop his gun. Bob runs off to find help while Tex beats the guard senseless.
After securing the woman in a room, Rowten returns to the foyer to find Tex standing there, taunting him. Enraged, he hands Tex a sword and challenges him to a duel. During the fight, each man attempts to intimidate the other with tales of their swordsmanship. Unfortunately, Rowten swings his sword down hard enough to break Tex's blade in two. But Tex's luck continues, as the woman appears behind Rowten with his own gun in her hand. Rowten just laughs as she pulls the trigger. the gun clicks, but does not fire. He always removes the bullets from that pistol when he isn't using it. Just then, in another burst of luck, the police arrive through the front door. Bob had gone to fetch them, and he showed them right where the revolutionaries leader was hiding. Rowten is arrested on the spot. The woman lean in and gives the blushing Bob a kiss on the cheek.
Appearing in "Gentleman Jack, the Bank Robber (Part I)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Rusty James
Adversaries:
- "Gentleman Jack" (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Chief of the Bulletin
- Sheriff of Red Rock (Only appearance; dies)[1]
- Officer Johnson (Only appearance; dies)[1]
- Amos Perkins (First appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "Gentleman Jack, the Bank Robber (Part I)"
A series of bank robberies being committed by "Gentleman Jack" are plaguing the city. The police are always one step behind the robber. Until one day, a lead that Gentleman Jack may be based in a small Kentucky town drops in at the Bulletin. Rusty even accidentally got a picture of him while on vacation there! With enough to go on, Scoop takes Rusty along to get the story on the bandit.
The local sheriff at first doesn't believe that the gentleman who makes hefty donations to the town's charity every year can be a crook. But Scoop persists, showing the evidence until the sheriff agrees to bring Jack in. According to the radio, the police have Jack and his fellow robbers inside the town's bank. The robbers manage to shoot their way out before the sheriff, Scoop, and Rusty can get there. They follow the bandits car up into the hills until they lose it's trail. The hills are home to the poorer folk that Jack has been donating to. They revere him as their own savior, so the sheriff tells Scoop it's unlikely they'll give him up.
The next day, the sheriff and his men get word of another bank robbery, so they drive out. On the way, the sheriff spots the bandits car stopped on the side of the road. He orders his men to approach, carefully. But it's an ambush. Jack and his goons spring out of the bushes and gun the sheriff and his boys down in cold blood...
Appearing in "The Egyptian Wizard"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Adversaries:
- Amen-Hotep (Single appearance)[1]
Other Characters:
- Professor Dunn (Single appearance)[1]
- George (Single appearance)[1]
- Priestess (Single appearance)[1]
Locations:
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "The Egyptian Wizard"
Zatara and Tong find themselves in Egypt, where an ancient wizard has abducted an expedition group. Along with Professor Dunn, the magician and his allies travel to the Temple of Philae, on the Nile River, to face the evil sorcerer. Zatara investigates the temple and learns that the other members of the expedition are trapped inside. Zatara enters the temple and battles the magic of Egyptian wizard Amen-Hotep. He locates the missing expedition members and rescues them. Then Zatara returns to battle Amen-Hotep. Once the wizard is defeated, the temple is safe for the expedition members to explore.
(Synopsis adapted from summary @ Amazing World of DC Comics)
Notes
- "The Big Scoop" is reprinted in Superman (Volume 1) #3, Superman Archives, Volume 1 and Superman Chronicles, Volume 1. The title for this story however is provided in Action Comics Archives, Volume 1. Originally this story was not titled. The Grand Comic Book Database credits this story as "Superman and the Dam".
- Fred Guardineer is also credited as Gene Baxter in this issue.
- Russell Cole is credited as Edwin Alger in this issue.
See Also
- Write your own review of this comic!
- Discuss Action Comics Vol 1 5 on the forums
- Images from Action Comics Vol 1 5
Recommended Reading
- Action Comics
- All-Star Comics
- All-Star Squadron
- Superman (Volume 1)
Links and References
- Read "The Big Scoop" online
- Grand Comics Database
- Mike's Amazing World of DC
- Superman article at Wikipedia
- Zatara article at Wikipedia
Footnotes
Try Your Luck
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