Comic Title: Action Comics #382
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 909 Third Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: November 1969
On Sale Date: September 30, 1969 Newsstand Date September 30, 1969
Source: House Ad, Detective Comics #393, Page 20

Copyright Date September 30, 1969
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1969


Newsstand Date September 30, 1969
Source: Newsdealer Magazine, V24 #7

Frequency: Monthly (semi-monthly, March)
Cover Price: $0.15
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mort Weisinger

Title: "Kill a Friend to Save a World"
Pages: 11

Feature(s):
Legion of Super-Heroes (of Earth-1)

Writer: James Shooter
Penciller: J. Winslow Mortimer
Inker: Jack Abel

Reprinted In:
Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 9 HC (2000)
Showcase Presents:Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 4 TPB (2010)
Legion of Super-Heroes:The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 3 HC (2020)

Feature Character(s)

• Legion of Super-Heroes (last appearance in Action Comics #381; next appearance in Action Comics #383)
• Superboy (last appearance in Superboy #160; next appearance in Superboy #161)
• Shrinking Violet (last appearance in Action Comics #381; next appearance in Action Comics #389)
• Mon-El (last appearance in Action Comics #380; next appearance in Action Comics #384)
• Ultra Boy (last appearance in Action Comics #381; next appearance in Action Comics #384)
• Lightning Lass (last appearance in Action Comics #378; next appearance in Superboy #172)
• Timber Wolf (last appearance in Action Comics #378; next appearance in Action Comics #387)
• Karate Kid (last appearance in Action Comics #381; next appearance in Action Comics #383)

Villain(s)

• Mister Cosvarr (no further appearances)
• Zorla (no further appearances)
• The Protectors (super powered robots; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Ultra Boy is ambushed by a super powered robot. A recording of his defeat is then used by Mister Cosvarr as proof that his new robot Protectors should be used for defense by the United Planets. He intends to use the robots to blackmail the U.P. and create a new arms race.

The Legion go undercover to stop Cosvarr and his partner Zorla. Light Lass poses as a wealthy buyer, while Timber Wolf and Shrinking Violet sneak into the manufacturing plant. Light Lass learns that Cosvarr has kidnapped Mon-El and Superboy and used them to create his robots.

Meanwhile Timber Wolf is nearly caught and is forced to call Karate Kid for backup. In order to maintain his cover, he is forced to fight his fellow Legionnaire. Zorla alerts Cosvarr only to discover that her partner is betraying her and offering partnership to the disguised Light Lass. Zorla then releases the trapped Legionnaires and destroys the plant with herself and Cosvarr inside.