Comic Title: Superman #144
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: April 1961
On Sale Date: February 7, 1961 Newsstand Date February 7, 1961
Source: House Ad, Action Comics #274, Page 16

Copyright Date February 7, 1961
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1961

Frequency: Monthly with the exception of March, June, September and December
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mort Weisinger

Title: "The Super-Weapon"
Pages: 9

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

Writer: Jerry Siegel
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Stan Kaye

Reprinted In:
DC Super Stars #9 (1976)
Showcase Presents Superman Vol. 2 TPB (2006)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Action Comics #274; next appearance in Superman #144)

Supporting Character(s)

• Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in Action Comics #274; next appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #52)

Villain(s)

• Lex Luthor (last appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #23; next appearance in World's Finest Comics #117)
• Bert Talbot and his gang (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Lex Luthor gives his cellmate, Bert Talbot who is about to be released, the plans for a Weapon X, a weapon that can defeat Superman. Talbot builds the weapon and then disguises himself as Amos Dexter, owner of Ace Newsreels. Talbot offers Superman a donation to charity if he will perform a super stunt for Talbot’s camera. Using the super-force generated by Superman’s deed, Talbot has a power source for the weapon.

Talbot then begins committing robberies around town using the weapon. It even affects Superman since it is powered by his own super-force. Luthor is upset because Talbot has not helped him break jail, and Superman is puzzled as to the source of the weapon’s power.

After several encounters with the weapon, Superman is knocked backwards in time by the weapon’s force. In the past he observes how his own energy was drained to power the weapon. Superman returns to the present and has Jimmy Olsen use Kryptonite to weaken him while the weapon is absorbing his energy. When the crooks try to use the weapon again it malfunctions allowing Superman to capture them.