Comic Title: Superman #161
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: May 1963
On Sale Date: March 21, 1963 Copyright Date March 21, 1963
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1963

Frequency: Monthly, with the exception of March, June, Sept. and Dec.
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mort Weisinger

Title: "The Last Days of Ma and Pa Kent"
Pages: 13

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

Writer: Leo Dorfman
Artist: Al Plastino

Reprinted In:
Superboy #165 (1970)
Superman Classic #161 [So Much Fun Exclusive] (1987)
Superman in the Sixties TPB (1999)
Showcase Presents Superman Vol. 4 TPB (2008)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Justice League of America #19; next appearance in Superman #161)

Guest Star(s)

• Superboy (appears in flashback; last appearance in Action Comics #507; next appearance in Superman #97)
• Jonathan Kent (appears in flashback; dies in this story; last appearance in Action Comics #508; no further appearances)
• Martha Kent (appears in flashback; dies in this story; last appearance in New Adventures of Superboy #54; no further appearances)

Villain(s)

• Lex Luthor (appears in flashback; last appearance in New Adventures of Superboy #50; next appearance in Superman:The Secret Years #1)
• Blackbeard the Pirate and his crew (no further appearances)
• Pegleg Morgan (a pirate; no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Lana Lang (appears in flashback; last appearance in New Adventures of Superboy #54; next appearance in Superman #97)

Other Character(s)

• Two unnamed doctors (no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Jor-El (image carved on an asteroid)
• Lara (image carved on an asteroid)

Comments:
This story is presented as "An Untold Story of Superman."

It is revealed that Jonathan and Martha Kent die from a tropical illness in this story.

Synopsis:
While on vacation in the caribbean, Jonathan and Martha Kent find a buried pirate’s treasure. The chest contains a scrap from the diary of Pegleg Morgan and presents them a mystery. Superboy carries them into the past to learn how Pegleg was stranded on the island by Blackbeard the Pirate.

When they return to present-day Smallville, the Kents become ill from jungle fever. Doctors are unable to find the cure, and Superboy is likewise helpless. Superboy tries to send them to the Phantom Zone, but solar flares prevent the projector from functioning.

Without a cure, the Kents die. Superboy blames himself for their deaths and gives up his Superboy career. He donates their money to charity, maintaining their house and store for himself. When searching through his father’s belongings he finds the diary scrap and learns that the chest the Kents found in the sand was the actually source of their illness. Relieved that his time-trip was not responsible for the death of his parents, Superboy resumes his career and treasures the memory of his Earth parents.