Comic Title: Action Comics #592
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: September 1987
On Sale Date: June 23, 1987 Newsstand Date June 23, 1987
Source: DC Releases, #40

Newsstand Date June 23, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #119

Shipping Date June 2, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #119

Copyright Date June 2, 1987
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1987
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.75
Page Count: 32
Editor: Andrew Helfer

Title: "...a Walk on the Darkside"
Pages: 22

Feature(s):
Superman (Post-Crisis)
Big Barda (Post-Crisis)

Writer/Penciller: John L. Byrne
Inker: Keith Williams
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Thomas J. Ziuko

Reprinted In:
Superman:The Man of Steel Vol. 5 TPB (2007)
Superman:The Man of Steel Vol. 2 HC (2021)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Adventures of Superman #432; next appearance in Action Comics #593)
• Big Barda (last appearance in Justice League International #7; next appearance in Action Comics #593)

Villain(s)

• Darkseid (in flashback; before coming to power on Apokolips; earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Secret Origins #33)
• Sleez (next appearance in Action Comics #593)
• Fancy Man (a pimp; no further appearances)
• A purse snatcher (dies in this story; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Doctor Kincaid (next appearance in Action Comics #593)
• Molly and Mr. Lucas (patients of Dr. Kincaid; no further appearances)
• The patients of Dr. Kincaid (next appearance in Action Comics #593)

Comments:
This story continues in Action Comics #593.

Synopsis:
Barda is assaulted while walking in Suicide Slum. When her purse is stolen she chases the thief into the sewer. The thief is caught and killed by Sleez, an outcast from Apokolips. He finds Barda's Mega-Rod inside the purse and uses it to subdue the female warrior.

Meanwhile, Clark Kent is visiting a hospital where several elderly people are being treated for advanced age. He detects a strange radiation in their bodies. Superman traces the radiation to Suicide Slum.

In the sewers, Sleez has used mind control to force Barda to be his puppet. Superman comes to her aid and is able to break her from Sleez's control. However, Barda does not believe he is the real Man of Steel. She attacks him thinking that he is a ploy being used by Sleez to trick her. As Barda and Superman fight, Sleez recovers, then traps them both.