Comic Title: Famous First Edition C-61
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Cover Date: 1979
On Sale Date: December 14, 1978 Newsstand Date December 14, 1978
Source: House Ad, DC Comics Presents #7, Page 16-17

Newsstand Date December 14, 1978
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #25

Copyright Date December 14, 1978
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1978

Newsstand Date December 12, 1978
Source: Comic Reader, #163

Shipping Date November 21, 1978
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #25

Newsstand Date October 12, 1978
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #23

Shipping Date September 19, 1978
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #23

Newsstand Date June 20, 1978
Source: Comic Reader, #157

Frequency: Quarterly
Cover Price: $2.00
Page Count: 64
Editor: Paul Levitz

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Title: (Superman, Gridiron Hero)
Pages: 13

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

Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artist: Joe Shuster

Reprinted From:
Action Comics #4 (1938)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Action Comics #3; next appearance in Action Comics #5)

Villain(s)

• A hit-and-run driver (dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Coach Randall (Dale University football coach; no further appearances)
• Two hired thugs (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Two train engineers (no further appearances)
• Tommy Burke and Mary (a football player and his girlfriend; no further appearances)
• The Cordell University football team and Oliver Stanley (the coach; no further appearances)

Comments:
This story originally was not titled; the title shown here was given on a text page of Action Comics Archives Vol. 1 in which this story is summarized.

Synopsis:
Overhearing, the crooked college football coach of Dale University plotting to stock his team with thugs to defeat Dale’s major rival, Cordell University, Superman decides to take action. He imprisons and takes the place of a member of Cordell’s team whom he closely resembles: Tommy Burke, the team’s "champion bench-warmer." With his powers, Superman quickly impresses Cordell’s coach and is put on the roster for the championship game against Dale. Prior to taking the field, Superman (as Burke) confronts Dale’s coach and threatens to expose the coach’s scheme. The coach instructs his hired thugs to take down "Burke," but Superman proves to be more than a match for Dale’s ringers. Shamed, Dale’s coach resigns his position and Burke resumes his identity to enjoy his newfound fame and an early retirement from football.