Comic Title: Superman:The Earth Stealers #1
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 1988
On Sale Date: January 19, 1988 Shipping Date January 19, 1988
Source: DC Releases, #48

Shipping Date January 19, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #134

Newsstand Date February 11, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #134

Copyright Date January 19, 1988
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1988

Cover Price: $2.95
Page Count: 48
Editor: Dennis J. O'Neil

Title: "The Earth Stealers"
Pages: 47

Feature(s):
Superman (Post-Crisis)

Writer: John L. Byrne
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Jerry Ordway
Colorist: Bill Wray

Reprinted In:
Superman:The Man of Steel Vol. 3 HC (2021)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Wonder Woman #16; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #440)

Supporting Character(s)

• Lois Lane (last appearance in Superman #17; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #440)
• Perry White (last appearance in Superman #17; next appearance in Action Comics #600)
• Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in Superman #17; next appearance in Action Comics #600)

Villain(s)

• The captain and crew of a gatherer (Queeg, Zizik, and Gunge named; no further appearances)
• The processors (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• The astronauts of Moonbase One (Skipper, Buzz, Linc, and Sally named; no further appearances)
• Tom (an employee at the Daily Planet; no further appearances)
• Two Soviet cosmonauts (Ivan named; no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Batman (as a thought projection)
• Green Lantern (as a thought projection)
• Lex Luthor (as a thought projection)
• Metallo (as a thought projection)
• Jor-El (as a thought projection)
• Lara (as a thought projection)

Synopsis:
Researchers on the moon detect an anomaly in space which is blotting out a section of stars. The anomaly is actually a giant ship that is capable of moving entire planets. The ship captures the Earth and its moon and begins flying it into deep space. Superman tries to stop the ship, but he is knocked back to the moon where he meets the team at the moon base.

Once he has regained his strength, Superman goes after the ship again as it enters hyperspace. He is unable to prevent the Earth from being taken through hyperspace as well. Superman clings to the exterior of the ship during the journey which weakens him. When they reach the other side he enters the ship and is captured.

Superman is brought before the ship's captain, a mercenary who is planning to put the Earth inside an enormous machine that will extract its resources for use by the aliens. Superman learns that his friends Lois, Jimmy, and Perry have been taken as hostages, so he must agree to fight in an arena to win Earth's freedom.

Superman is pitted against Gunge, a giant who is drawing energy directly from Superman's friends. When the Man of Steel discovers this, he uses his heat vision to sever the connection. He then defeats Gunge. The captain and crew flee the ship forcing Superman and his friends to take control of it. The engines are nearly dead, so Superman is forced to push to ship back through hyperspace while Lois, Jimmy, and Perry pilot the ship.

Once back to their own solar system, the group place Earth back into proper orbit using the ship's computers. With everything set right again, Superman gets the others to agree to keep the entire story a secret from the rest of the world who has no idea that the entire planet was removed from orbit.