Comic Title: Superman #19
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: July 1988
On Sale Date: March 22, 1988 Shipping Date March 22, 1988
Source: Direct Currents, #2

Shipping Date March 22, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #137

Newsstand Date April 14, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #137

Copyright Date March 22, 1988
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1988

Cover Price: $0.75
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mike Carlin

Title: "The Power That Failed"
Pages: 22

Feature(s):
Superman (Post-Crisis)

Writer/Penciller: John L. Byrne
Inker: John R. Beatty
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Petra Scotese (Goldberg)

Reprinted In:
Superman:The Man of Steel Vol. 9 TPB (2017)
Superman:The Man of Steel Vol. 4 HC (2022)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Batgirl Special #1; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #442)

Supporting Character(s)

• Lois Lane (last appearance in Adventures of Superman #441; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #442)
• Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in Action Comics #600; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #442)
• Catherine Grant (last appearance in Adventures of Superman #441; next appearance in Superman #20)
• Maggie Sawyer (last appearance in Action Comics #600; next appearance in Superman #20)
• Supergirl (last appearance in Adventures of Superman #441; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #442)

Villain(s)

• Lex Luthor (last appearance in Action Comics #600; next appearance in Superman #21)
• Psi-Phon (first physical appearance; last appearance in Adventures of Superman #441; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #442)
• Dreadnaught (first physical appearance; last appearance in Adventures of Superman #441; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #442)
• Professor Thaddeus Killgrave (first appearance; next appearance in Starman #28)

Other Character(s)

• Gretchen Kelley (last appearance in Action Comics #600; next appearance in Superman #28)
• Sarah Olsen (last appearance in Superman #17; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #442)
• Chris (a police investigator; no further appearances)
• Two unnamed scientists (no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Perry White (in a photograph)
• James Olsen (Jimmy's father; in a photograph)

Comments:
This story continues in Adventures of Superman #442.

Synopsis:
An alien spaceship lands in the West River near Metropolis. The ship is extremely hot and boils the river water. Superman investigates and finds the ship to be empty. During his search of the ship he suddenly finds that his ability to breathe underwater is compromised causing him to surface quickly.

Since the search of the ship turned up no information of value, Superman returns to his normal business puzzled by the sudden loss of power. When Professor Thaddeus Killgrave escapes from prison later, the Man of Steel captures him. In the process, Superman's powers disappear one-by-one. After his invulnerability vanishes a giant alien creature named Dreadnaught confronts him, claiming that someone named Psi-Phon is responsible for stealing Superman's powers.