Comic Title: Superman:Tales from the Phantom Zone TPB
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 2009
On Sale Date: June 24, 2009 Direct Market Date June 24, 2009
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Direct Market Date June 24, 2009
Source: Previews, #246

Direct Market Date June 24, 2009
Source: Previews, DC Comics Previews May 2009

Cover Price: $19.99
Page Count: 144
Editor: Bob Joy

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "The Man from the Phantom Zone"
Pages: 13

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

Writer: Edmond Hamilton
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: George Klein

Reprinted From:
Action Comics #336 (1966)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #92; next appearance in Justice League of America #44)

Guest Star(s)

• Flamebird (as Ak-Var; next appearance in Superman Family #185)

Villain(s)

• Vas-Quor (aka Gan-Lar; a Kandorian criminal; no further appearances)
• Brenn-Bir and Kyl-Ibo (Kandorian criminals; no further appearances)
• Jax-Ur (last appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #59; next appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #101)
• General Zod (appears in flashback; last appearance in Adventure Comics #283; next appearance in Adventure Comics #293)
• Professor Vakox (appears in flashback; earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Superboy #104)
• Kru-El (last appearance in Action Comics #309; next appearance in Superman #223)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Van Zee (last appearance in Superman #158; next appearance in World's Finest Comics #240)
• Thara (Van Zee's niece; next appearance in Superman Family #186)

Other Character(s)

• Various Kandorians (Sirma Sen and Hab-Dis named; no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Jax-Ur (last appearance in Superman #234; next appearance in Superboy #104)
• Kru-El (last appearance in World of Krypton #1; next appearance in Superman #402)

Synopsis:
Superman releases Phantom Zone prisoner Ak-Var after his thirty year sentence has expired. Ak-Var is then sent to Kandor where most of society shuns him for his criminal past. Three members of his old gang remember him, but they are much older now since Ak-Var did not age while in the Phantom Zone.

Soon Ak-Var's former associates exhibit super powers and commit robberies. Ak-Var claims that he is innocent, but his former friends frame him. Superman returns to Kandor and helps Ak-Var clear his name by exposing the real crooks. He also explains that the super powers were the result of Ak-Var's exposure to Red Kryptonite, which caused him to transfer powers to other people.

After his name is cleared Ak-Var becomes Van Zee's lab assistant.