Superman #241 is an issue of the series Superman (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1971. It was published on June 25, 1971.
Synopsis for "The Shape of Fear!"
I-Ching helps Superman supernaturally regain his full powers from the sand-created duplicate, causing him to weaken and to open a portal into another dimension. The now-reinvigorated Superman goes back into action once more, but becomes more of a nuisance than a help when he builds a prison at super-speed in the middle of rush hour traffic to stop a fleeing burglar, among other things. I-Ching tells Superman that the head injury he sustained when he was without his full powers is now made permanent with his powers restored, but Superman doesn't believe him. I-Ching and Diana Prince now go off to find the sand-created duplicate and they discover that he came from the spirit dimension of Quarrm, and that he opened a portal to return to that dimension when he let loose another spirit from that realm. That spirit ends up inhabiting a paper-created monster creature from a Chinese parade, and Superman comes to the rescue of a boy being attacked by the monster when he ends up losing his full powers all over again.
Appearing in "The Shape of Fear!"
Featured Characters:
- Superman (Flashback and main story)
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
- Anti-Superman Gang
- Chinese Paper Monster
- Sand Superman (Flashback and main story)
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
- Green Kryptonite (Flashback only)
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Superman's Neighbors"
This story is reprinted from Superman #112.
Superman secretly (and sometimes overtly) takes care of his neighbors' pressing problems at Clark Kent's apartment building, but learns that one neighbor, Alexander Ross, is convinced that Kent is a crook posing as a reporter.
Appearing in "Superman's Neighbors"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Alexander Ross
- Joe Rollins
- Tommy Snead
- Mrs. Higgins
- Miss Wentworth
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Superman's Day of Truth!"
This story is reprinted from Superman #176.
Superman and Supergirl win no popularity contests in Metropolis or Midvale when, for one 24-hour period, they tell the unvarnished truth or give their honest opinion whenever asked.
When Superman has to testify at a trial, the lawyer for the plaintiff insists on having him write his secret identity's name on a blackboard--which he does, but at such super-speed that the blackboard melts from the friction before anyone can see it. When asked to give the location of his Fortress of Solitude, Superman gives the coordinates for his long-abandoned underwater Fortress.
Finally, Supergirl and Superman shrink themselves and go to Kandor, where they and the Kandorians celebrate the Day of Truth. This is a holiday observed in honor of the ancient hero Val-Lor, who spoke up boldly against the Vrang invaders who oppressed Kryptonians, died for his words, and sparked a revolt that liberated Krypton. Later, Superman and Supergirl reveal what they had to do to their friends, and are forgiven.
Appearing in "Superman's Day of Truth!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Jimmy Olsen
- Lana Lang
- Lois Lane
- Lucy Lane (Mentioned only)
- Perry White
- Professor Potter
- Supergirl (Flashback and main story)
Antagonists:
- Vrangs (First appearance) (Flashback only)
Other Characters:
- Atlanteans
- Brainiac (Mentioned only)
- Kandorians
- Supergirl Fan Club (Flashback only)
- Kryptonians (Flashback only)
- Val-Lor (First appearance) (Dies in flashback)
Locations:
- Earth
- Atlantis
- Tritonis (Unnamed)
- Fortress of Solitude
- Metropolis
- Midvale (Mentioned only)
- Atlantis
- Krypton (Flashback only)
- Jewel Mountains (Flashback only)
Items:
- Blackboard
- Kryptonian Book of Deeds
- Parachute
- Professor Potter's Onion Squeezing Device
- Red Kryptonite (Mentioned only)
- Val-Lor (Statue only)
Vehicles:
- Vrang Spacecraft (Flashback only)
Notes
- The Silver Age Wonder Woman in her depowered state with her mentor I-Ching makes an appearance in this story.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Superman Recommended Reading
- Action Comics (Volume 1)
- Action Comics (Volume 2)
- Adventures of Superman (Volume 1)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 1)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 2)
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest (Volume 1)
- DC Comics Presents (Volume 1)
- Superman (Volume 1)
- Superman (Volume 2)
- Superman (Volume 3)
- Superman (Volume 4)
- Superman (Volume 5)
- Superman (Volume 6)
- Superman/Batman (Volume 1)
- Superman Confidential (Volume 1)
- Superman: Son of Kal-El (Volume 1)
- Superman: The Man of Steel (Volume 1)
- Superman: The Man of Tomorrow (Volume 1)
- Superman/Wonder Woman (Volume 1)
- World's Finest (Volume 1)