Comic Title: Superman:The Action Comics Archives Vol. 1 HC
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 1998
On Sale Date: December 10, 1997 Direct Market Date December 10, 1997
Source: ComicList, Diamond : New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, December 10, 1997

Direct Market Date December 10, 1997
Source: Usenet, Late Comics Report for the week of December 11, 1997

Shipping Date December 10, 1997
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #1256

Direct Market Date December 17, 1997
Source: ComicList, Diamond : New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, December 17, 1997

Copyright Date November 28, 1997
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1997

Direct Market Date November 26, 1997
Source: Previews, Vol. 7 #9 (#105)

Shipping Date November 26, 1997
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #1254

Cover Price: $49.95
Page Count: 224
Editor: Bob Kahan

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: (The Return of the Ultra-Humanite)
Pages: 13

Feature(s):
Superman (of Earth-2)

Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artist: Joe Shuster

Reprinted From:
Action Comics #17 (1939)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Superman #2; next appearance in Action Comics #18)

Supporting Character(s)

• George Taylor (last appearance in Superman #2; next appearance in Action Comics #18)

Villain(s)

• Ultra-Humanite (last appearance in Action Comics #14; next appearance in Action Comics #19)
• Ultra’s thugs (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• A rescue crew, an investigation team, and passengers of the Clarion (no further appearances)
• The manager of the Deering Shipping lines (no further appearances)

Comments:
This story originally was not titled; the title shown here was given on the contents page of Action Comics Archives Vol. 1 in which this story is reprinted.

Synopsis:
A crippled steamship sends an SOS that draws the attention of Superman. Using his mighty powers, Superman puts out a fire aboard the ship and tows it ashore. Later, he investigates as Clark Kent and learns the ship was sabotaged. Clark visits the manager of the shipping line and learns of an extortion plot against them.

Clark is hassled by the racketeers when he leaves the manager’s office, but he deals with them as Superman. The leader of the racketeers is his old foe, Ultra, who steps up his threats against the company.

The owner brings a payoff to Ultra’s men, followed by Superman. Superman breaks into Ultra’s hideout and recovers the money. He is unable to capture Ultra because the mastermind has already left, leaving behind only a projected image of himself.