Comic Title: Action Comics #223
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 480 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: December 1956
Approx. On Sale Date: October 30, 1956 Copyright Date October 28, 1956
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1956
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: 32
Editor: Mort Weisinger

Title: "The First Superman of Krypton"
Pages: 12

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

Writer: Edmond Hamilton
Penciller: Wayne Boring
Inker: Stan Kaye

Reprinted In:
Superman #193 (1967)
Superman in the Fifties TPB (2021)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #17; next appearance in Superman #110)

Supporting Character(s)

• Jor-El (in flashback; last appearance in Action Comics #378; next appearance in Superman #113)
• Lara (in flashback; name misspelled Lora in this story; last appearance in Action Comics #378; next appearance in Superman #113)

Villain(s)

• Val Arn and Khai Zor (criminal Kryptonians; in flashback; next appearance in Superboy #158)
• Several Kryptonians (in flashback; no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Kal-El (as a baby on Krypton; last appearance in Action Comics #378; next appearance in Superman #113)

Comments:
Kal-El is born in flashback in this story which is his first chronological appearance. This story also reveals that Kal-El was born during Krypton’s 10,000th year. However, the 10,000th year celebration is still going on when Krypton explodes. Since Kal-El spent two years on Krypton before it exploded, his birth year should be 9998 as given in World of Krypton #2.

The majority of this story is told in a series of flashbacks featuring Jor-El, Lara, and an infant Kal-El. Below is a listing of the events depicted and there appropriate chronology.

Flashback 1: (page 3, panel 3 - page 4, panel 4) Jor-El travels to Krypton’s core and learns the planet is unstable. This flashback recounts flashback 1 in the first story of Action Comics #216 (page 11, panel 2-6).

Flashback 2: (page 4, panels 5-6) Jor-El reveals findings to the Council of Science.

Flashback 3: (page 5, panels 1-3) Kal-El is born.

Flashback 4: (page 5, panel 4 - page 11, panel 5) Jor-El considers Earth as a location for relocation. This flashback occurs before the flashback in Superman #113 (page 3, panel 5 - page 18, panel 6).

Flashback 5: (page 12, panels 1-2) Jor-El sends Kal-El to Earth. This flashback recounts scene 2 in the third story of More Fun Comics #101 (page 3, panels 3-4).

Flashback 6: (page 12, panels 3-4) Jor-El finishes his journal. This flashback occurs between scene 2 (page 3, panels 3-4) and scene 3 (page 3, panel 5) of the third story of More Fun Comics #101.

Synopsis:
Superman finds pieces of Jor-El’s laboratory in drifting in space. Reviewing Jor-El’s notes and films, he learns of Jor-El’s prediction of doom for Krypton in the 10,000th year of their civilization. Jor-El discovers Earth and creates a valley that simulates Earth conditions. In this valley he gains super-human powers.

Two criminal Kryptonians plan to take advantage of Jor-El’s discovery by traveling to Earth and making themselves rulers. Jor-El tricks them into returning to the valley, where he defeats them with his powers.

Still, no one believes Jor-El’s prediction of doom. With little time remaining he sends his young son, Kal-El, to Earth. Krypton explodes leaving Kal-El the only survivor.