Comic Title: Action Comics #353
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: August 1967
On Sale Date: June 29, 1967 Newsstand Date June 29, 1967
Source: Direct Currents, Superman #199, Page 29

Copyright Date June 29, 1967
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1967


Newsstand Date June 29, 1967
Source: Newsdealer Magazine, V22 #4

Frequency: Monthly (semi-monthly, March)
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mort Weisinger

Title: "The Battle of the Gods"
Pages: 16

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

Writer: Otto Binder
Artist: Wayne Boring

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #76; next appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #105)

Villain(s)

• Zha-Vam (last appearance in Action Comics #352; no further appearances)
• Zeus (last appearance in Metal Men #19; next appearance in Wonder Woman #162)
• Hercules (last appearance in Wonder Woman #132; next appearance in Wonder Woman #105)
• Achilles (last appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #40; next appearance in Action Comics #267)
• Vulcan (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Action Comics #267)
• Apollo (no further appearances)
• Mercury (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Wonder Woman #105)
• Prometheus (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• The Oracle (no further appearances)
• Atlas (no further appearances)
• Poseidon (called Neptune in this story; last appearance in Aquaman #17; next appearance in Adventure Comics #255)

Comments:
This story continues in part from the first story of Action Comics #352.

Synopsis:
While returning to Earth after a mission in space Superman is blocked by his enemy Zha-Vam. Zha-Vam uses the shield of Orion to prevent Superman's passage back to Earth. The Man of Steel circumvents the obstruction by traveling back in time to the days of the Greek gods. He visits Mount Olympus and discovers Zha-Vam's origins.

The Oracle has told Zeus that one day the gods will be forgotten and Superman will be hailed by the people. Angry, Zeus orders the construction of a pseudo-man powered by the gods themselves. He then sends the newly created being, Zha-Vam, into the future to battle Superman.

Superman then privately discusses the situation with the Oracle. She leads him to Neptune who gives Superman a belt of his own that contains the powers of even more gods. Superman then returns to his own time where using the new belt he is finally able to defeat Zha-Vam. He brings his foe back to Olympus where Zeus destroys his creation.