Action Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1958.
Synopsis for Superman: "The Lady and the Lion"
After putting on a show for children, Superman returns to his Fortress of Solitude where he places his newly awarded plaque with the others. He then spots a woman in trouble in the Mediterranean with his x-ray vision and goes to her rescue. Saving her from her crumbling ancient home, Superman soon learns that this woman is a descendant of Circe and she comes from a different planet. Inviting Superman in for a drink, she asks the Man of Steel to marry her. Rejecting the offer, Superman leaves, but not before she tells him that she put an evolution potion in his drink and that if he will change into an animal-man, she tells him that he has until dawn to come back and accept her marriage proposal or she will leave him in that state.
True enough, Clark Kent changes into a man-lion while at work at the Daily Planet, and has to quickly change into his Superman outfit. Everyone is mortified (especially Lois) that Superman has turned into a beast. Rushing back to where Circe's spaceship was parked, he finds her gone telling him that he will never find what planet she escaped to.
After a series of adventures in his lion form, Superman returns to his Fortress of Solitude to try and figure out a solution to his problem. It's at that moment that his Kryptonite detector goes off, and he realizes that one of the base ingredients in the potion must have been Kryptonite -- just enough to allow the transformation with no ill effects. Deducing that this Circe must have had some ties to Kryptonite, or even be a Kryptonian herself, Superman searches the records in the bottle city of Kandor. He quickly finds the antidote, and is able to cure himself. Returning to Metropolis, Superman surprises Lois with the good news.
Appearing in Superman: "The Lady and the Lion"
Featured Characters:
- Superman (First appearance as Super-Lion)
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Circe II (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Circe (Mentioned only)
- Great Caesar (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Africa
- Greece
- Aeaea
- Temple of Circe (Destroyed)
- Aeaea
- Fortress of Solitude
- United States of America
- Metropolis
- Daily Planet
- Metropolis Zoo
- Metropolis
Synopsis for Tommy Tomorrow: "Puzzle of the Perilous Planetoid"
Appearing in Tommy Tomorrow: "Puzzle of the Perilous Planetoid"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Other Characters:
- Space Sandman (disc jockey)
Vehicles:
- Space Ace
Synopsis for Congo Bill: "The Five from the Future"
Appearing in Congo Bill: "The Five from the Future"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Five from the Future (Venusian invaders)
Locations:
Notes
- "The Lady and the Lion" was reprinted in Superman (Volume 1) Annual #3, Superman: The Man of Tomorrow Archives Vol. 1 and Showcase Presents: Superman Vol. 1.
- "Puzzle of the Perilous Planetoid" was reprinted in World's Finest (Volume 1) #156.
- Superman appeared last in Superman (Volume 1) #123. He appears next in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #4.
- Lois Lane appeared last in Superman (Volume 1) #123. She appears next in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #4.
- Perry White appeared last in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #30. He appears next in Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #4.
- The Circe that appears in this issue is allegedly a descendant of the Greek sorceress, Circe, known to frequently plague Wonder Woman.
Trivia
- In 2008, DC Direct produced an action figure of Superman with an interchangeable lion-head, inspired by this issue.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Congo Bill
- Superman Family Recommended Reading
- Action Comics (Volume 1)
- Adventure Comics (Volume 1)
- DC Comics Presents (Volume 1)
- Superboy (Volume 1)
- Superboy (Volume 2)
- Supergirl (Volume 1)
- Supergirl (Volume 2)
- Superman (Volume 1)
- Superman Family (Volume 1)
- Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane (Volume 1)
- Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (Volume 1)
- World's Finest (Volume 1)