Appearing in "The Three Kingpins of Crime"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Lois Lane
- Perry White (First appearance)
- Sergeant Casey
Adversaries:
- Mike Moran (Single appearance)[1]
- Billings (Single appearance)[1]
- Nick Norton (Single appearance)[1]
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "The Three Kingpins of Crime"
Clark and Lois are sent to interview Metropolis' own genius prosecuting attorney, George Lash. The two reporters aren't that thrilled with the assignment. Lash was known to be a bit too headstrong; the fame he's received from his success gave him quite the ego. Once they get to meet him, his smugness rubs Lois the wrong way, with Clark trying to keep the peace. Lash gives them a quote for the paper, that he's going to take down the three biggest kingpins in Metropolis' criminal underworld, Mike Moran, Billings, and Nick Norton. Something that no other prosecutor has managed.
Clark and Lois spend the afternoon at a restaurant. Clark glances past Lois at the table across the way, where three well dressed men grab a seat. He recognizes each of them as Moran, Billings, and Norton, the kingpins themselves. Lois becomes excited, forcing Clark to introduce her so she can get their reaction to Lash's claim. After rebuffing the boys weak attempts at flirting, Lois asks them their opinion on what George Lash said. Mike Moran angrily tells her that Lash is "full of hot air".
After taking Lois home, Clark finds a secluded place to remove his outer garments to reveal his true identity as Superman! Prosecutor Lash may need some protection from those three thugs. While patrolling the city, Superman sees a figure being thrown out of a vehicle near the Metropolis Hotel. It was George Lash! He glides down to help, lifting Lash and taking him to his hotel room. At first glance, it looked like Lash had been drinking, but Superman notices little details that suggest he had been doped. But someone obviously wanted the public to think the prosecutor was a drunk. Superman goes to the police station, to pay Chief Watson a visit and report what happened. But before he enters, Superman hears Watson on the phone with Sergeant Casey. George Lash's wife was dead, and the murderer appeared to be Lash himself! Changing tactics, Superman lightly lands on the squad cars roof as it takes off for Lash's home. He learns through overhearing the officers conversation the George Lash had been trying to get his wife to sign for a divorce, but neither of them could ever agree on a mutually satisfying property settlement. Her refusal could have been his motive. Arriving at the house, Superman stays hidden outside, watching Casey and Watson through the wall with his x-ray vision. There was certainly enough evidence to suggest Lash had been there; recently smoked cigarettes in the ashtray folded twice, the way Lash was known to do, and a button off the suit he commonly wears clutched in his dead wife's hand. Chief Watson tells Casey to go to Lash's hotel room and arrest him, before he has a chance to arrange an alibi! Superman notices something the police overlook; a small bit of wood left lying on the carpet. He swoops off back to the hotel where Lash had just started to stir. Upon learning of his wife's murder and that he was the prime suspect, he frantically explains that, yes, he had gone to see his wife today, but it was only to get her signature on the settlement that was finally agreeable. The last thing he remembers, he arrived at his wife's house, then felt a hard whack on his head. He finally became conscious again here in his hotel room. Superman says the signed paper could help absolve him. Lash searches his pockets, but the documents were gone!
The police are right outside the door. Superman tells Lash to go with them willingly, or else it'll look bad. He leaps out the window before the cops enter.
Appearing in "The Gay City Plague"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Adversaries:
- Jim Stanley
- Kotzoff
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Earth-Two
- Gay City
- Metropolis
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Gay City Plague"
- Synopsis not yet written
Appearing in "Bert Runyan's Campaign"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Adversaries:
- Nat Burly
- "Gyp"
- Ralph Dale
- Captain McDay
- Morgan
- Lou
- "Red" Tyler
Other Characters:
- Bert Runyan
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Bert Runyan's Campaign"
- Synopsis not yet written
Appearing in "The Black Gang"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Adversaries:
- The Black Gang
- Peter Peeker
- Frank Jordan
- Jane Day
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Earth-Two
- Metropolis
- Daily Planet
- The Green Hat
- Morning Pictorial
- Metropolis
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Black Gang"
- Synopsis not yet written
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in Superman Archives, Volume 2.
- As seen in "Bert Runyan's Campaign":
- At the end of the 1930s and the beginning of the “golden age” of superheroes, as shown in several early Superman stories and at least one Green Lantern story, the municipal and state governments of Metropolis were riddled with corruption.
Trivia
- Lois Lane is kidnapped for the 8th time in the 4th Superman story of this issue, "The Black Gang."
- According to "The Black Gang" story Clark Kent's favorite song "Star Dust"