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 Orphans of Space"
Pages: 8

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

Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artist: Al Plastino

Reprinted In:
Superman #213 (1969)
Showcase Presents Superman Vol. 2 TPB (2006)
Showcase Presents:Supergirl Vol. 1 TPB (2008)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Superman #144; next appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #24)

Guest Star(s)

• Supergirl (last appearance in Action Comics #274; next appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #52)
• Krypto (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #51; next appearance in Action Comics #276)

Other Character(s)

• Members of the Interstellar Council (dream appearance)
• Two Kandorians (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Superman, Supergirl, and Krypto are at the Fortress of Solitude when the Man of Steel notices a plane trying to land nearby. Superman uses the capes of the three heroes to make warning flags so the plane does not land and discover the Fortress. When the plane leaves Superman returns the capes and experiments with a machine he has found.

The machine causes a huge explosion that destroys Earth. The super-trio are the only survivors. Shortly, the Interstellar Council brings Superman up on charges for destroying the planet. All three are stripped of their powers and relocated to a primordial planet.

The three awaken to discover that it was a Red Kryptonite induced hallucination. Apparently their capes were exposed to a Red K mist while used as flags. Superman removes the dust and stores it in a lead container in the Fortress.