Comic Title: Action Comics #312
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: May 1964
On Sale Date: March 26, 1964 Newsstand Date March 26, 1964
Source: House Ad, Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #49, Page 30

Copyright Date March 26, 1964
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1964

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mort Weisinger

Title: "King Superman Versus Clark Kent, Metallo"
Pages: 14

Feature(s):
Superman (of Earth-1)

Writer: Robert Bernstein
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: George Klein

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Action Comics #311; next appearance in Action Comics #311)

Supporting Character(s)

• Lois Lane (last appearance in Action Comics #311; next appearance in Action Comics #311)
• Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in Action Comics #311; next appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #76)
• Perry White (last appearance in Action Comics #311; next appearance in Action Comics #311)
• Lori Lemaris (last appearance in Action Comics #310; next appearance in Action Comics #312)
• Lana Lang (last appearance in Superman #170; next appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #50)

Villain(s)

• A robot invasion force from Bxpa (last appearance in Action Comics #311; no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Jimmy Olsen Fan Club (last appearance in Superman #170; next appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #76)

Other Character(s)

• Two Midvale patrolmen, several world leaders, and an Atlantean doctor (no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Professor Vale (in flashback to the first story of Action Comics #252)
• Metallo (John Corben; in flashback to the first story of Action Comics #252)

Comments:
This story is continued from the first story of Action Comics #311.

Synopsis:
Clark Kent and the other Daily Planet employees begin an underground movement to destroy King Superman. Clark sends three remaining Superman robots against his former self, but they are destroyed. Clark then searches Supergirl's home for some Kryptonite to use against the Man of Steel. Two patrolmen see Clark and shoot him.

Wounded, Clark stumbles to the river where he is found by mermaids from Atlantis. He awakens in the the care of Lori Lemaris, who explains that the wound is fatal. Clark recommends they operate to change him into a Metallo.

Clark then returns to King Superman's palace. He exposes Superman to his new Kryptonite heart. Dying, Superman reveals that he acted to prevent an alien attack upon Earth. He explains that an alien missile is on its way to Earth. Now he will not be able to stop it.

Clark shields Superman from the Kryptonite, hoping to prevent his death. Then the two merge back into a single being. Clark's metal body is left behind and the Kryptonite poisoning disappears. The restored Superman then stops the alien missile. After the threat has passed, Superman explains his actions to the world.