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: (Superman and the Purple Plague)
Pages: 13

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

Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artist: Joe Shuster

Reprinted From:
Action Comics #19 (1939)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Action Comics #18; next appearance in Action Comics #76)

Villain(s)

• Ultra-Humanite (last appearance in Action Comics #17; next appearance in Action Comics #20)
• Ultra’s henchmen (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Henry Travers (a research professor; no further appearances)
• Several doctors and victims of the Purple Plague (no further appearances)

Comments:
As revealed in his next appearance, Ultra does not die in this story.

Ultra is drawn with some hair in a few panels in this story.

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 strange plague which causes purple blotches menaces Metropolis. A science professor, Henry Travers believes he knows of a similar disease known as the Purple Plague which struck mankind during the Middle Ages. Discovering this link, Travers works on an antidote for the malady.

Ultra keeps a close eye on Travers, and kidnaps him when the scientist believes he has discovered the cure. Superman rescues Travers from Ultra’s men. Travers then unveils his cure to the medical community, but it doesn’t work.

Superman convinces him to continue his work, but Superman falls victim to Ultra’s electric-gun. Ultra then attempts to mind control Superman into unleashing more of the plague. The Man of Steel only faked his control in order to smash the stockpile of plague serum. Travers discovers a working cure, and Superman confronts Ultra which leads to the villain’s death.