Comic Title: Action Comics #18
Publisher: DC (Detective Comics, Inc.)
Address: 480 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: November 1939
Approx. On Sale Date: September 28, 1939 Copyright Date September 25, 1939
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1939
Until 1958 DC did not report actual on sale dates to the copyright office
The publication dates listed in LoC records are NOT release dates.

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 64
Editor: Vincent A. Sullivan

Title: (Superman's Super-Campaign)
Pages: 13

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

Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artist: Joe Shuster

Reprinted In:
Superman:The Action Comics Archives Vol. 1 HC (1998)
Superman Chronicles Vol. 2 TPB (2007)
Superman:The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2013)
Superman:The Golden Age Vol. 1 TPB (2016)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Action Comics #17; next appearance in Action Comics #19)

Supporting Character(s)

• Lois Lane (last appearance in Superman #2; next appearance in Superman #3)
• George Taylor (last appearance in Action Comics #17; next appearance in Superman #3)

Villain(s)

• Gene Powers (a reporter and blackmailer; no further appearances)
• Hamilton and Trixie (a publisher and an accomplice; no further appearances)
• An unnamed photographer (dies in this story; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Senator Hastings and a distraught woman (no further appearances)

Comments:
Superman’s X-ray vision is visually depicted for the first time, it was first mentioned in the first story of Action Comics #11.

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:
Senator Hastings is set up by a blackmailing reporter, Gene Powers. Powers threatens to expose pictures of the senator with a woman Powers paid unless Hastings pays him off. Clark Kent learns of the scheme and also learns that Powers’ publisher is involved when he confronts Powers.

The publisher, Hamilton, sends Powers to kill his accomplice and the photographer, while he presses the senator for payment. Superman arrives in time to save the girl, but not the photographer. He then warns Powers to leave town.

Then Superman hurries back to the newspaper office, where the photos are being published since Hastings refused to pay. Superman destroys the printed papers before distribution and wrecks the printing press. Finally, the Man of Steel tears up the sordid photos, so the scandal remains secret.