Comic Title: Superman:The Action Comics Archives Vol. 1 HC
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 1998
On Sale Date: December 10, 1997 Direct Market Date December 10, 1997
Source: ComicList, Diamond : New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, December 10, 1997

Direct Market Date December 10, 1997
Source: Usenet, Late Comics Report for the week of December 11, 1997

Shipping Date December 10, 1997
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #1256

Direct Market Date December 17, 1997
Source: ComicList, Diamond : New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, December 17, 1997

Copyright Date November 28, 1997
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1997

Direct Market Date November 26, 1997
Source: Previews, Vol. 7 #9 (#105)

Shipping Date November 26, 1997
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #1254

Cover Price: $49.95
Page Count: 224
Editor: Bob Kahan

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: (Superman and the Black Gold Swindle)
Pages: 13

Feature(s):
Superman (of Earth-2)

Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artist: Joe Shuster

Reprinted From:
Action Comics #11 (1939)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Action Comics #10; next appearance in Action Comics #12)

Supporting Character(s)

• George Taylor (last appearance in Action Comics #10; next appearance in Action Comics #12)

Villain(s)

• Meek and Bronson (two crooked stock brokers; no further appearances)
• Louie the Rat and Nate the Snake (hired killers; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• A police desk sergeant, a reporter, several stock buyers, and some oil wellmen (no further appearances)

Comments:
Superman is shown with X-ray eyesight for the first time.

First reference to the "Man of Steel."

This story originally was not titled; the title shown here was given on the contents page of Action Comics Archives Vol. 1 in which this story is reprinted.

Synopsis:
Clark Kent investigates a suicide and learns about a scandal involving the "Black Gold" oil well. Two stock brokers have sold worthless stock in the well to swindle their customers. Clark, disguised as Homer Ramsey, learns the names of the current stock owners and purchases their stock from them. Next, he visits the well as Superman and drills until he strikes oil.

When the brokers learn of the riches, the well is producing they attempt to repurchase the stock. They learn about Ramsey and contact him. Ramsey, secretly them Man of Steel, will not sell, so the crooked men hire two killers to bump him off. Using his X-ray vision, Superman learns of the plan.

He outwits his would be attackers which angers the brokers. Then, as Ramsey, he sells the stock back to the brokers for one million dollars. Happy with their purchase the brokers return home where they are rousted from bed by Superman. He carries them to the well which he then destroys, finishing it off by setting the oil on fire. Without their source of fortune the brokers are wiped out.